Fort Bragg Forever: The Historical Archive

Documenting the history of the Center of the Military Universe (1918–2023)

The Major Drop Zones of Fort Bragg

For generations of paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division and USASOC, the Drop Zones (DZs) of Fort Bragg were the proving grounds. Below is a historical record of the primary DZs utilized for static line and freefall operations.

Drop Zone Name Primary Use / Location Details Historical Notes
Sicily DZ Heavy Drop & Mass Tactical / Northern Training Area One of the largest and most frequently used DZs; named after the WWII airborne invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky).
Normandy DZ Personnel & Equipment Named in honor of the D-Day airborne landings. Often used for night jumps and Joint Forcible Entry exercises.
Salerno DZ Personnel & CDS Drops Named after the combat jumps during the invasion of Italy.
St. Mere Eglise DZ Advanced / SOF Training Named after the famous French town liberated by the 82nd Airborne during Overlord.