Beach Jumpers Unit 1

Beach Jumpers Unit 1 was established by the United States Navy in March 1943 during World War II, under the leadership of Lieutenant Douglas Fairbanks Jr. The unit specialized in tactical deception operations, using innovative techniques such as loudspeakers, smoke generators, and radar-reflective balloons to simulate amphibious landings and mislead enemy forces. Beach Jumpers played a significant role in several key operations, including the invasions of Sicily and southern France, effectively diverting enemy attention away from primary assault locations. Their pioneering work laid the foundation for modern naval psychological operations and deception tactics.