The 13th Airborne Division was a U.S. Army airborne formation in World War II. Although it was active between August 1943 and February 1946, it never saw combat. The division's training was disrupted by providing reinforcements for the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and by a lack of transport aircraft for training exercises, as divisions in combat had priority for their use. The division was combat-ready by January 1945 and was transferred to France, but arrived too late to participate in Operation Market Garden, the third major airborne operation conducted by the Allies. The division was selected for Operation Varsity, supporting 21st Army Group crossing the River Rhine, but there were insufficient transport aircraft to carry it into combat. Several other operations were planned for the division, but these were cancelled because of the rapid advance of Allied ground forces. After the end of the conflict in Europe, it was shipped home before the planned invasion of Japan, but the conflict in the Far East ended before it was required. After deactivation of the division, combat personnel transferred to the 82nd Airborne Division.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Airborne_Division_(United_States)
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1805:
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the longest and highest aqueduct in Great Britain, opened. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontcysyllte_Aqueduct
1922:
Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon became the first people to enter the tomb (burial chamber pictured) of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in over 3,000 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KV62
1950:
Korean War: With the battles of Chosin Reservoir and the Ch'ongch'on River, China launched a massive counterattack against United Nations forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Ch%27ongch%27on_River
1983:
Six robbers broke into the Brink's-MAT warehouse at London Heathrow Airport and stole three tonnes (6,612 lb) of gold bullion, much of which has never been recovered. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brink%27s-MAT_robbery
2008:
A coordinated group of shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai began, ultimately killing a total of 173 people and wounding more than 300 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Mumbai_attacks
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
unearthly: 1. Not of the earth; non-terrestrial. 2. Preternatural or supernatural. 3. Strange, enigmatic, or mysterious. 4. Ideal beyond the mundane. 5. Ridiculous, ludicrous, or outrageous. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/unearthly
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Why do people always expect authors to answer questions? I am an author because I want to ask questions. If I had answers, I'd be a politician. --Eugène Ionesco https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Ionesco