This 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment pennant is made of silk with gold fringe on the edges and measures roughly 19 ¾ x 28 ¼ inches. The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment has a long and proud history since becoming the first airborne unit designated in the U.S. military when it was activated in November 1942. Attached to the famous 101st Airborne Division, the 501st played a crucial role in the development and deployment of airborne units. In fact, the U.S. Army proclaims the 501st as “the prime ancestor of all American Parachute Units.” During World War II, the 501st was part of the famous night drop into Normandy and ran into fierce resistance battling their way behind enemy lines. The regiment lost 898 men killed, wounded, missing or captured before returning to their base in England in mid-July. Intensive training followed in preparation for the ill-fated airborne drop in the Netherlands codenamed Operation Market Garden. Then, came the Battle of the Bulge where once again the 501st suffered a high casualty rate. The 501st remains an active unit to this day, having gone on to see combat in the wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection