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17th Airborne Division Headquarters

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Brig. Gen. John L. Whitelaw
Asst Divsion Commander

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Brig. Gen. Joseph V. Phelps
Divsion Artillery Commander

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Col. Willard K. Liebel
Chief of Staff

The 17th Airborne Division was activated 15 April 1943 at Camp Mackall, North Carolina under the command of Major General William Miley. After completing basic training, specialist training, and a variety of training maneuvers, the unit left with the Division for England on 17 August, 1944.

 

When the Division arrived in England, HQ was set up at Camp Chisledon, the 17th Airborne Division staging area, on 26 August, 1944. Flight and tactical training continued and night maneuvers were added to the training schedule. They remained in England until leaving for France in late December.

 

As part of the Division, the HQ Company engaged in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns.

 

Military government duties began 12 April, and active contact with the enemy ceased 18 April 1945. The division came under the XXII Corps on 24 April. It continued its occupation duties until 15 June, 1945 when it returned to France for redeployment. Many troopers were then transferred to the 82nd and 101st Airborne and for occupation duty in Berlin and Austria. Others joined the 13th Airborne Division, which returned to the US to be readied for the Pacific. The remainder of the division was deactivated on 15 September, 1945 at Camp Miles Standish, Massachusetts.

© 2024 Scions of the 17th Airborne

This website, and the Scions organization, is dedicated to all the veterans who served with the 17th Airborne Division at any time during its period of activation. The site is administered by the "Scions of the 17th Airborne Division, Inc.", an organization chartered by 17th veterans to honor the service of all its veterans and to insure that the story of the 17th Airborne is told. The website will be updated to add information and documents related to the 17th Airborne.

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