merged into a combined parachute and glider on a blue base with a red circle. (Note: During World War II the term "Airborne" included parachute, glider, and air-landing units. With the elimination of glider and air-landing units from the force structure in the post-war years, Airborne became synonymous with parachute units only.) Glider Operations during World War II U.S. Army glider units participated in eight glider-airborne operations during World War II: Invasion of Sicily (Operation HUSKY) July 9-13, 1943 1st Air Commando Group in Burma (Operation THURSDAY) March-May 1944 Invasion of Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE, airborne phase of Operation OVERLORD) June 6-8, 1944 Invasion of southern France (Operation DRAGOON) August 15, 1944 Invasion of Netherlands (Operation MARKET, airborne phase of Operation MARKET GARDEN) September 17-23, 1944 Re-supply of Bastogne (a flight on December 25, 1944 and Operation REPULSE) December 26-27, 1944 Rhine River crossing at Wesel (Operation VARSITY) March 24, 1945 Aparri, Luzon, PI (Operation GYPSY) June 23, 1945 See also Obsolete badges of the United States military Badges of the United States Army United States Army Airborne School Parachutist Badge (United States) United States Army Air Assault School Air Assault Badge Military glider References United States military badges Gliding in the United States Military gliding