Does anyone knows if some 504th men served as pathfinders during Operation Varsity (like they did in Normandy)?

Frank,

The Regimental History says that "504 men stood on the ground and peered into the clouds as the sky trains roared overhead into the East. The dirty work in the airborne crossing of the Rhine was left to the 17th Airborne Division.

This same regimental history does note that some pathfinders jumped in Normandy. So it does try to take into account small parties of men. So my guess is that no 504th troopers jumped in Varsity.

However I would have guessed that no 101st men jumped but we all know the example of Capt. Nixon from 2nd Bn. 506th.

Jim

I have reference to individuals who jumped Pathfinder in Varsity who were "with" the 504th--but this is qualified as follows:

Originally members of the 507 when it was with the 82nd in Normandy. The 507 transferred to 17th Airborne. The 17th participated in Varsity. They participated in Pathfinder related duties with the 17th.

When 17th was disbanded they were transferred and outprocessed through the 504th, so their record shows last unit of record as 504 with participation in Varsity.

In research I call this a "false positive".

Dave Berry
PS: Elements of 101st PF provided PF duties in a ground oriented mode on the Allied side of the Rhine. They arrived there by truck.

Thank you for the answers on my question Dave and Jim!