Squadron Signal Publications 3011: Lrrp's in Action Combat Troops Number 11 (repost)

The Russians. Italians and Germans had experimented with parachute troops long before the British gave serious consideration to the formation of parachute units. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was always interested in new techniques, especially those that would instill an aggressive spirit and take the war to the enemy. During June of 1940, he suggested that a corps of at least 5,000 parachute troops be formed to carry out commando style raids against the enemy. Initially, the concept was opposed by the Royal Air Force, which feared that such a force would put a drain on its severely limited resources of transport aircraft.