General "Jumpin'' Jim" Gavin shared the risks of all his men of the 82nd Airborne Division, parachuting into enemy territory, often only armed with his GI issue rifle. His Airborne Warfare outlines in fascinating detail the conception, birth, training, and ultimate deployment of the first paratroopers who descended on Europe in 1944 with devastating results for the Wehrmacht and its patrolling Panzer divisions. General Gavin had been at the forefront advancing the use of airborne troops in the US army, writing the first field manual for their combat long before World War 2. His memoirs provide an essential eyewitness glimpse into the origins of airborne operations, as well as a unique perspective on the contribution made by paratroopers during World War 2.