504th Parachute Infantry Regiment – Personalized WWII Tour at Anzio
In the Footsteps of the “Devils in Baggy Pants”

This private tour is dedicated to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, one of the most respected airborne units of the U.S. Army during World War II. Known as the “Devils in Baggy Pants,” the 504th earned a legendary reputation for their courage during the Battle of Anzio in early 1944.

Whether you are a relative of a veteran or a military history enthusiast, this experience allows you to follow the regiment’s path through the Anzio beachhead, visit the exact locations where they fought, and understand their vital role in resisting the German counteroffensive.

Each itinerary is fully personalized and combines field exploration, historical storytelling, and archival research to honor their legacy.

Historical Background – The 504th PIR at Anzio

After serving with distinction in Sicily and Salerno, the 504th was deployed to Anzio in January 1944 as part of the 82nd Airborne Division.

Though trained as paratroopers, they fought as elite ground infantry at Anzio. From late January through March, they held key front-line sectors under relentless pressure from German forces.

During the German counteroffensives of February 1944, they helped prevent the collapse of the Allied beachhead — despite being outnumbered and lightly equipped.

German reports referred to them as “devils in baggy pants”, a nickname they wore with pride.

Who Is This Tour For?

  • Families of 504th PIR veterans or members of the 82nd Airborne

  • Descendants tracing a loved one’s WWII journey

  • Military history enthusiasts focused on airborne operations

  • Reenactors, educators, battlefield researchers

  • Anyone seeking a private, research-based experience

What the Tour Includes

  • Custom itinerary based on your historical interest or family records

  • Archival research on unit movements and battle positions

  • Private transport in Mercedes van 

  • On-site interpretation with wartime photos and maps

  • Visits to documented front-line positions

  • Optional lunch and refreshments

  •  Guided tour of the American Cemetery in Nettuno

Key Locations You May Visit

Anzio Beachhead
Landing zones and defensive lines where the 504th held ground.

Aprilia – “The Factory”
Scene of repeated German assaults; one of the most dangerous sectors.

Buonriposo Ridge and the Flyover
Vital ground for controlling access to the Alban Hills; site of continuous fire.

Carroceto – Church of Sant’Antonio
Shelter and aid station during the battle. Today, a plaque honors the 504th. The surrounding fields were part of their defensive line.

Nettuno
Rear area and rest zone for paratroopers.

American Cemetery in Nettuno
Final resting place of over 7,800 U.S. soldiers. We can help you locate specific names from the 504th.

Other Units Connected to the 504th at Anzio

  • 82nd Airborne Division

  • 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

  • 3rd and 45th Infantry Divisions

  • 1st Armored Division

  • U.S. Navy Beach Battalions

  • British 1st Infantry Division

Why Choose a Personalized Tour?

This is not a standard group excursion. It’s a tailored historical experience, built around your interest or your family’s wartime story.

As a licensed battlefield historian, I combine academic research and on-the-ground knowledge to give meaning and depth to each place we visit.

Whether you’re honoring a relative or following a unit you’ve studied, I will guide you with respect, accuracy, and passion.

Start Planning Your 504th PIR Tour

Let’s walk the ground where the 504th earned their name. Let’s honor their courage — and keep their memory alive.

Contact Dr. Danila Bracaglia
Email: danila.bracaglia@gmail.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +39 338 2458831
Website: www.anziotours.com

danila.bracaglia@gmail.com
+393382458831
(c) http://www.anziotours.com. Vat N° 02911970602

Anzio Battlefield Tours by Dr. Danila Bracaglia
Tel 0039 338 2458831 email: anziotours@gmail.com - Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter - Privacy Policy
 
Newsletter
Privacy Policy
INFORMATION ON TREATMENT OF PERSONAL DATA (ex article 13 D. Lgs. 196/2003) 1. In compliance with and in the manner provided by the provisions of the article 13 D. Lgs, 196/2003 Danila Bracaglia, as Controller, informs you about the purpose and the use of personal data, its communication and diffusion and the nature of the requested information. 2. Information collected by the Controller through this website are processed and used for the following purposes: a) providing you the services and information requested (this treatment is necessary) b) with your prior consent, sending you commercial information of the Controller's services, via email, sms, fax. (this treatment is discretionary). 3. Personal data are processed through paper and electronics means by internal in charge personnel. Data are stored in paper or electronics archives in full respect of minimum security measures required by law. 4. Personal data may be accessible to Information Technology Service Provider with which the Controller has an agreement. In this case the Controller will take all the necessary measures to bind the third party to comply with the privacy law. 5. You have the right to obtain confirmation of the existence or non-existence of your personal data, even if not yet recorded, and the communication of the said information in an intelligible form. You have the right to obtain the following: a) the source of the personal data; b) the purpose and the means of processing; c) the logic applied if the data is processed using electronic means; d) the personal information concerning the controller, the officers in charge and the representatives nominated in accordance with Article 5, subparagraph 2, D. Lgs. 196/2003; e) the subjects or categories of subjects to whom the personal data might be communicated or who might know them being appointed as representative for the territory of the State, of officer(s) in charge or of designated person(s). You have the right to obtain: a) the update, the correction, or the integration of the data, when interested; b) the cancellation, the transformation into an anonymous form or the blocking of the data which have been processed unlawfully in addition to the data which do not need to be preserved in relation to the purposes for which the said data have been collected and subsequently processed; c) the certification that the operations pursuant to letter a) and b) have been made known, also with regards to their content, to those to whom the data have been communicated or published, with the exception of those cases in which the said fulfillment becomes either impossible or requires the use of means disproportionate to the protected right. You have the right to oppose partially or in full: a) for legitimate reasons, to the processing of your data personal even if the data pertain to the purpose of the data collection; b) to the processing of your personal data for purposes related either to advertising materials or direct selling or for the performance of market research or for commercial communication. You may exercise the rights mentioned above contacting the Controller at the address specified below. 6. This website uses technical cookies as defined by "Provvedimento del Garante della Privacy of May 8 2014". TECNICAL COOKIES: NAME LIFE DESCRIPTIONS PHPSESSID Session This cookie is used for the proper operation of the site displayCookieConsent Session This cookie is activated by accepting the use of cookies However, some of its pages include content from other external sites. As a result, you may be sent cookies, profiling cookies, included from these sites: - YouTube: link - Tripadvisor: link - Google Analytics (anonymized): link You can allow, block or delete the cookies installed on your computer by changing the options of your browser. For the most popular browsers are here are the links: Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Apple Safari 7. Controller of personal data is Danila Bracaglia, via Tiburtina 58, 03100 Frosinone, ITALY, e-mail danila65@inwind.it