The Airborne Mafia

The Paratroopers Who Shaped America's Cold War Army

By: Robert F. Williams

Narrated by: Jim Seybert

The Airborne Mafia explores how a small group of World War II airborne officers took control of the US Army after World War II. This powerful cadre cemented a unique airborne culture that had an unprecedented impact on the Cold War US Army and beyond.

Robert F. Williams reveals the trials and tribulations this group of officers faced in order to bring about their vision. He spotlights the relationship between organizational culture, operational behavior, and institutional change in the United States Army during the Cold War, showing that as airborne officers ascended to the highest ranks of the army they transmitted their culture throughout their service in four major ways—civil-military relations, preparation for potential atomic combat, helicopter airmobility, and strategic response forces.

Experiences of training and commanding airborne divisions in World War II led these men to hold sway in army doctrine by the mid-1950s. Dominating institutional thought and imparting their values, beliefs, and norms throughout the service they enjoyed a special privilege within the group culture. Williams demonstrates this impact, privilege, and power by focusing on the paratrooper triumvirate of Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and James Gavin and the lasting impression they made on how the US Army fought.

©2025 Cornell University (P)2025 Highbridge Audio

Unexpected Pleasure and Learning Experience

I hesitatingly bought this book. I spent over 13 yrs in Airborne units out of 21 yrs in the Army. I saw the author was a former Airborne NCO and was kind of expecting some "hoah-hoah" kind of book and felt it was a stretch to try and prove the impact of Airborne training and culture on the overall Army experience since 1940. Boy was I proven wrong. The author tackles the subject with authority and makes his points well. As much as I abhor the idea of air assault being in the same vein as Airborne, the author has forced me to change my mind - I still don't have to like them though. This book is a short read at 10 hrs and an easy read as you want to keep reading it. The analysis of famous Airborne personalities, like Gavin, Ridgeway and others was interesting and necessary. I believe this book should be mandatory reading for Airborne junior officers and junior NCOs. Sadly, in the time I've been out of the Army, I feel like the Airborne legacy, through its traditions, culture, and "specialness" has faded. I highly recommend this book.

On a personal note: I joined for the reasons the author gives for many soldiers going to Airborne school and joining Airborne units - I wanted to live that life of risk and adventure and the Airborne soldiers of WW2 started it all and set the standard. They motivated me to join and go Airborne.

Must Read. Great Overview of the Transformation and Impact of Airborne Forces.

This is a well written, well narrated, and well organized history of Airborne forces and their impact on the U.S. Army. I couldn’t put it down. Discussion of the evolution of the Pentomic Division abs Air Cavalry concepts have given me a different perspective on our Army’s structure. Tactical abs strategic mobility remain a lynchpin of our fighting force and their ability to hit hard across the battlefield.