2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion

The 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion was an extremely shortlived airborne formation. It was created at the same time as the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on  July 1, 1942. However, unlike the 1st, it would not become part of British Airborne Forces. 

The name of "2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion" was apparently a cover designed to attract minimal publicity. The true fate of the unit was to become part of an American-Canadian Commando Unit, the First Special Service Force. They would be paid by the Canadian government, but housed and equipped by the Americans. Their goals were based on a plan, dubbed Operation Plough, to attack hydroelectric plants across Nazi-occupied Norway by using powered sleds to get around. But Operation Plough was abandoned in the autumn of 1942 and eventually accomplished by Norwegian commandos.  

The chaotic and slightly confusing circumstances of the Battalion's institution were recalled by Bill Story: 

"Volunteers that Spring and Summer knew only they were to become Canada's first airborne soldiers. Training, most assumed, would be at Fort Benning, Georgia, where the United States Army was putting together its first major airborne units, or at least, training the personnel. And sure enough, a good-sized group made it to Ft. Benning under the name: 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. But there were still more airborne volunteers who had gathered in Ottawa and at Calgary in July 1942, who assumed they too would be going to Benning. They found out they were to be the 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion. They were puzzled by the battery of tests, and by the request to volunteer for hazardous duty. They figured jumping was hazardous enough - why this second request? And why the emphasis on obeying orders of those in another army? 

...our train was wandering down to Sweetgrass, Montana. And God only knows where after that. "Where" turned out to be Helena, Montana; specifically. Fort William Henry Harrison which, at the time, seemed to consist mainly of dust clouds, bulldosers, and funny, (to our eyes) squarish-looking tents that seemed to be going up instantly. And that was the first time most of us heard of something called the "First Special Service Force" and that the 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion would exist only on paper for records (and pay, dammit!). We would be integrated totally with U.S. soldiers, also all volunteers. It happened that first day - fresh off the train we were paired off...we found out quickly [the tents] were called pyramidal tents and were U.S.A.G.I (United States Army Government Issue)

...The 2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion continued in being until some time in 1943, as I recall. Then came a name change: "1st Canadian Special Service Battalion". 

The Battalion underwent early training at Fort William Henry Harrison in Helena, Montana, where they arrived at noon on August 6, 1942. Its first OC was Canadian Lt. Col. J.G. McQueen, who broke his ankle on his first jump at Helena. The overall commander of the joint force was Lt. Col. Robert Frederick, a 35 year old American and graduate of West Point. 

A few war diaries of the Battalion are available online. This includes a declaration that members had to sign, which refers to "warfare under winter conditions".

Compiled with information from:

Airborne Assault Archive (Boxes 3F2 3.17.1 and 3F2 3.17.2)

2nd Canadian Parachute Battalion War Diary

'What the Devil's Brigade Did in World War II', Warfare History Network

'Let us Dare': A History of the Canadian Special Forces