In the midst of the Second World War, the Germans introduced a new kind of warfare that had never been seen before, featuring a new kind of soldier: the paratrooper. The public and military alike were astonished by the feats of daring and martial prowess displayed by the intrepid troops, who soon became the epitome of the modern combat soldier.

The Allies countered by setting up their own airborne forces. In Canada, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion was established to serve as the “tip of the spear” of Allied attacks. In fact, it was this battalion that was first into Normandy for the D-Day invasion.

Tip of the Spear tells in stunning black-and-white pictures the story of the Battalion from its inception in 1942 to its disbandment in 1945. Without question, the Battalion – or more accurately, its members – laid the foundation and established the airborne legacy that other Canadian airborne establishments could proudly follow and build on.

Michel Wyczynski