Operation Varsity Jump

A singular leap across the Rhine as an observer with the 17th Airborne Division.

On March 24, 1945, Lewis Nixon III participated in Operation Varsity as an observer with the 17th Airborne Division under Major General William Miley's command. This mission marked one of the few instances where a member of the 101st Airborne jumped alongside another division or regiment. The operation involved crossing the river Rhine to support Allied advances into Germany. Nixon was assigned specifically as an observer with Major General Miley's forces during this massive airborne assault, distinguishing him from his usual duties within the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Quick Facts

Date: March 24, 1945
Location: Crossing of the river Rhine
Affiliation: 101st Airborne Division (Observer with 17th Airborne Division)
Key figures: Lewis Nixon III, Major General William Miley

Lore & Background

Nixon's involvement in Operation Varsity was unique among his comrades. While he spent most of the war with E Company and later the 506th Regimental headquarters, he was assigned to observe the 17th Airborne Division during this specific operation under Major General William Miley. This assignment made Nixon one of the very few men from the 101st to jump with an external division or regiment. The mission took place on March 24, 1945, placing him directly in the path of intense combat as the airborne forces crossed the Rhine River into Germany. His presence was not that of a standard rifleman but as a designated observer representing the 101st's interests during this critical phase of the war.

Reader's Guide

Operation Varsity required paratroopers to jump east of the Rhine River into heavy German resistance and intense anti-aircraft fire. For observers like Nixon, the mission involved riding with the 17th Airborne Division rather than their home unit. The operation demanded precise coordination between airborne and ground forces to secure bridgeheads. Pilots faced severe flak, leading to direct hits on transport aircraft, as experienced by Nixon's plane. Survivors had to land in hostile territory, regroup immediately, and establish observation posts or combat positions. The success of the operation relied on holding key positions against counterattacks while ground forces crossed the river, a task complicated by friendly fire risks and scattered landing zones.