The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, also known as the Triple Nickels, was an all-Black airborne unit of the United States Army during World War II. The 555th Parachute Infantry Association moving image collection consists of one video recording of the unit's fiftieth anniversary commemorative ceremony in 1994.
Formed in 1944, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, also known as the Triple Nickels, was an all-Black airborne unit of the United States Army during World War II. The Triple Nickels received recognition throughout the armed forces for their accomplishments. They were the first African American parachute unit, the first to become smokejumpers fighting forest fires, and the first African American battalion to integrate the armed forces. In addition, the Triple Nickels were participants in Operation Firefly, a mission to locate and dispose of balloon bombs dropped by the Japanese over parts of the midwestern United States at the start of World War II. By 1950, the unit was disbanded. Many former members went on to serve in the Korean War (1950-1953).
The 555th Parachute Infantry Association moving image collection consists of one video recording of the fiftieth anniversary commemorative ceremony of the Triple Nickels in 1994. The ceremony included speeches, performances by the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus, and presentation of certificates to former Triple Nickels members. The video quality is poor.
Gift of Bruch Johnson, 2001.
Collection inventoried by Stacey Doyle Ference. Collection processed and described by Ornella U. Baganizi, archivist; and Shola Lynch, curator. Finding aid published in 2024.
See the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division for the 555th Parachute Infantry Association collection 1949-1998 [bulk 1998], Sc MG 687.
See the Photographs and Prints Division for the 555th Parachute Infantry Association photograph collection, Sc Photo 555th Parachute Infantry Association Collection.
All American News moving image collection, Sc MIRS All-American 1992.