1st Canadian Parachute Battalion

point sometimes.

When you walk into like our display, which is 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, yes, there's weapons, but we're not shooting anybody with them.

Yes, there's medical, but we don't have anybody who's actually bleeding out right now.

Yes, there's a, well, the thing is we don't like reenactors bleeding out.

Officially, it was named Project Plow.

As for Canadian recruitment, in July of 1942, the Canadian Minister of National Defense, James Ralston, approved the assignment of 697 officers and enlisted men for Project Plow, under the guise that they were forming Canada's first airborne unit, the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

While its members remained part of the Canadian Army, subject to its code of discipline and paid by the Canadian government, they were to be supplied with uniforms, equipment, food, shelter, and travel expenses by the U.S. Army.

It was agreed that a Canadian would serve as second in command of the force, and that half of the officers and one-third of the enlisted men would be Canadian.

The day the unit was disbanded, the American commander held a parade honoring the unit.

To end the ceremony, the Canadian elements were dismissed by being honored by the American troops with a pass and review, eyes right, officers salute.

After the unit's breakup, the Canadians were sent to other Canadian units, most of them becoming replacements for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

Some American members were sent to airborne divisions as replacements, others to ranger battalions, and still others formed the 474th Infantry Regiment, which served with the 3rd United States Army and performed occupation duty in Norway.