TK-Living History Photos

September 15, 1940 - The Battle of Britain Day

September 15 is considered a record day for the Royal Air Force in the history of the Battle of Britain.
It shot down over 100 German aircraft. The RAF had ALL available squadrons in the air on this day, with no reserves on the ground. On the one hand, this was a very risky strategy and on the other, it dealt the German Luftwaffe a severe blow.
As a result of this devastating defeat, "Operation Sea Lion" (the landing of German soldiers in England) was postponed indefinitely.

Side fact: In the film "Battle of Britain", the big air battle at the end of the film is based on September 15, 1940.
A great movie that I can only recommend to everyone.
The photos show parts of the beautiful Battle if Britain Memorial in London, which is not far from Big Ben on the Thames, as well as photos of the types of aircraft that took part in the Battle of Britain: Supermarine Spitfire, Messerschmitt Bf109-E and Hawker Hurricane. The photos were taken at the RAF Museum in London.

⚠️⚠️Trigger warning:
The following images show a representation of an abdominal injury.
Artificial blood was used.
None of the people involved were really injured⚠️⚠️

WAR IS HELL

First aid for a shot in the abdomen by DRK nurses and a Wehrmacht helper.

Photos was taken during the Eyewitness Living History Event 2024 at Oorlogsmuseum Overloon
Big thx to the 7./901 Panzergrenadier-Lehr-Regiment Group

A few preview shots of a great day at Oorlogsmuseum Overloon -Eyewitness Event 2024

Battle of Overloon- Eyewitness Event 2024

WAR IS HELL

Wounded British paratroopers are taken further behind the front line by jepp after initial treatment in the field hospital. Oosterbeek 1944

"Incoming Fire!"

30th Infantry Division, 117th Infantry Regiment Comp B, 1944

No man is left behind!

30th US Infantry Division, Ardennes 1944

75th US Infantry Division
Somewhere in the ardennes

©️WW2 reconstruction by TK-Living History Photos 2024

U-995 Naval Memorial Laboe near Kiel

In June 2024, I was near Kiel and of course a visit to U-995 was a must.
This is a type VII C/41 from the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War.
Nowadays it can be visited and gives you an insight into life on a submarine during the Second World War.

Battle of Normandy 1944:

Hill 108 - Purple Heart Hill/Battle of the Bocage - In the footsteps of Staff Sergeant James M. Gillece, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th US Infantry Division
The 29th US Infantry Division Memorial at Villiers-Fossard:

For me personally, visiting Purple Heart Hill and seeing the Memorial was a very moving one. This is because I am the Primary Sentinal of Memory of SSGT James M. Gillece, 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th US Infantry Division since 2020.
He landed on the beach at Verville-Sur-Mer on June 7, 1944, DDay+1, with the 175th. The trip to Normandy was a resie in his footsteps for me.
Here is the inscription of the plaque at the Memorial:

175th Infantry Regiment (5th Maryland), 29th Infantry Division
Hill 108 (Purple Heart Hill)
June 18, 1944

The 175th Infantry Regiment is one of the oldest military organizations in the United States. Founded in December 1774 as the Baltimore independent cadets, it fought heroically throughout the American Revolution. Designated the 5th Maryland Regiment in 1794, the unit defended Washington and Baltimore in the War of 1812. During the American Civil War many members of the 5th Maryland fought with distinction in the Confederate Army. The regiment was federalized in April 1917 for service in the Great War and served in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in 1918. In February 1941, the 5th Maryland was again federalized with a new designation, the 175th Infantry, and sailed for England in October 1942 as a component of the 29th Infantry Division.

The 175th landed on Omaha Beach on d+1, June 7, 1944, and immediately pushed westward, liberating Isigny on June 9. The 29th Division progressed steadily toward St. Lô the following week, its right flank anchored by the 175th on the Vire river. At 8 am June 16, the 29th Division launched and offensive toward St. Lô spearheaded by the 175th Infantry. Led by its 1st Battalion under the command of Lt. Col. Rogers Whiteford, the 175th resumed its attack at 7:30 am June 17 against stiffening enemy resistance. By nightfall Whiteford’s 1st Battalion had secured a vital intermediate objective, Hill 108, and pressed further south to a position one kilometer west of Villiers-Fossard.

At 8:20 am June 18 the enemy initiated a severe artillery bombardment followed by a strong counterattack against the 1st Battalion. Heavily outnumbered, Whiteford’s men stalwartly held their ground. Nearly surrounded, running low on ammunition, and out of communication with its supporting artillery unit, the 224th Field Artillery Battalion, the battalion hung on for more than twelve hours of combat at pointblank range. At the peak of the battle, the enemy called upon the americans to surrender, but the wounded Whiteford bluntly rejected that offer. By dusk, the 1st Battalion had suffered more than 200 casualties, but had yielded not a foot of ground. In honor of its valorous stand on Hill 108, the US Army would grant the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry, the illustrious Presidential Unit Citation, only five of which were awarded to 29th Division units during World War II. That citation noted: "by steadfastly refusing to yield ‘Purple Heart Hill,’ so named by those gallant men who defended it, the 1st Battalion, the 175th Infantry, firmly established the Allied spearhead toward St. Lô and assisted materially in the advance on that city. The cool courage, combat skill, and indomitable fortitude displayed by the 1st Battalion were and inspiration to all troops in the vicinity and reflect the highest credit on the armed forces of the United States." The French government would also recognize the 1st Battalion’s heroism by awarding it the prestigious Croix de Guerre with silver-gilt star.

Early on June 19, the depleted 1st Battalion was relieved on Hill 108 by the 3rd Battalion, as the 175th Infantry continued to fiercely engage the enemy west of Villiers-Fossard. Shortly thereafter the 2nd Battalion was rotated into the line. From June 16 to 19, the 175th Infantry suffered more than 600 casualties, including 164 killed.

The people of Normandy would soon be free.

This monument is placed in lasting tribute to the members of the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, and their contribution to freedom in World War II
Twenty-nine, let’s go!

Photo 1 shows the Memorial of the 29th US Infantry Division, 2nd photo myself, photo number 3 the plaque with inscription, dedicated to the 175th Infantry Regiment.
Photos 4 and 5 show Hill 108 today (photo 4) and a typical narrow hedge path in Normandy, just to the left of Purple Heart Hill (photo 5).

D-Day 1944 - The HMS Belfast:
The HMS Belfast is a light cruiser of the Town class, was commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1939 and is now a museum ship in London.

Technical data:
Order: September 21, 1936
Keel laid: December 30, 1936
Launching: March 17, 1938
Commissioning: August 5, 1939
Decommissioned: August 24, 1963

Ship dimensions and crew:

Length: 187.0 m (Lüa)/ 176.5 m (Lpp)
Width: 19,3 m
Draft (max.): 6,02 m
Displacement 10,550 tn.l. /max. 14,900 tn.l.
Crew: 750 to 850 men

Engine plant:
Engine: 4* Admiralty three-drum boiler/
8 × Parsons turbine
Engine power: 80,000 hp (58,840 kW)
Maximum speed: 32 kn (59 km/h)
Propeller: 4

Armament:
12 × 152 mm L/50 Mk XXIII
12 × 102 mm L/45 Mk XVI
16 × Flak 40 mm L/39 pom pom
8 × Vickers .50 machine gun
6 × torpedo tube ⌀ 533 mm Mk IV

Armor:
Belt: 114 mm
Deck: 51-76 mm
Turrets: 102 mm
Transverse bulkheads: 64 mm

Story:
HMS Belfast was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast, launched on March 17, 1938 and commissioned into the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet on August 5, 1939.
In 1939, she took part in operations and patrols in the North Sea around Scapa Flow and Norway. On November 21, 1939, she struck a magnetic mine, injuring 46 crew members and severely damaging the Belfast.
On June 28, 1940, she was repaired to the extent that she was able to sail under her own power to Devonport Naval Base, where she was fully repaired.
After the work was completed, HMS Belfast was returned to active service on November 3, 1942 and took part in convoy es**rt missions.
On December 26, 1942, the crew of HMS Belfast sighted the German battleship "Scharnhorst" and took part in the battle and pursuit of the Scharnhorst. On the evening of December 26, 1942, after a sea battle lasting 2 hours, the Belfadt fired its last torpedoes at the Scharnhorst, which hit the badly damaged battleship and it sank as a result.
1944:
In February she again took part in convoy protection missions and on March 30, 1944 in Operation Tungusten, before being overhauled in Rosyth from April 30 to May 8, 1944.

D-Day - Operation Overlord:

As part of Operation Overlord, HMS Belfast served as the flagship of Bombardment Force E under the command of Rear Admiral Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton. She supported the British and Canadian landing forces in the "Gold" and "Juno" landing zones with her firepower. On July 10, after five weeks of combat, she returned to Devonport Naval Base for a major overhaul.
1945 - today:
After the end of the Second World War in Europe, she became part of the British Pacific Fleet.
With the beginning of the Korean War in 1955, the Belfast became part of the US Navy's Task Force 87. In 1952, she returned to Great Britain and was decommissioned and placed in reserve on December 1, 1952. In 1955 it was decided to modernize the HMS Belfadt immediately, so she received modern Bofors 40mm twin guns, the 102mm guns, modern fire control computers etc.. After the modernization, she was put back into active service and was deployed in the Indian Ocean and East Asia from 1959 to 1963.
On February 23, 1963, she was decommissioned and reassigned to the reserve and transferred to Portsmouth.
In 1971 she was towed from Portsmouth to the Thames to be converted into a museum ship. On October 14, 1971, HMS Belfast reached her current berth at Tower Bridge in London, where she can be visited as a museum.

The photos show HMS Belfast in December 2023, which I took during my visit to London.

The battle for the La Fiere bridge:

One of the most important objectives of the 82nd Airborne Division on D-Day, was the capture of La Fière Bridge. It was only a small bridge, but it was one of only two possible crossings where tanks could cross the Merderet River.

The strategic importance of the bridge was further enhanced by the fact that the Germans had extensively flooded the surrounding areas. This flooded area of operations was immediately to the rear of the UTAH land section, thus blocking the path of U.S. forces to the west. The bridge and causeway connecting the small hamlets of Cauquigny and La Fière Manor were therefore one of the most hotly contested targets in Normandy. After A Company of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) occupied La Fière Manor and the bridge, German troops counterattacked. The GR 1057 and several light tanks of the 100th Panzer Training and Replacement Division, both units of the 91st Airborne Division, occupied the small hamlet of Cauquigny and advanced on the bridge via the causeway. Fighting raged for 4 days for the river crossing until finally American reinforcements were able to repel the Germans.

American units:
- 1/505 PIR / A Company and parts of C Company (40 men) / 6 to 09 June 1944.
- 307th Gilder Engineer Battalion (some men + 57 mm PAK).
- 3/325 GIR /
- 1/507 PIR / parts

German units:
- 1057th Grenadier Regiment / 91st Airborne Infantry Division (about 250 men)
- 100th Panzer Training and Replacement Division

Staff
Staff Company with
- Intelligence Platoon
- Workshop Platoon
- le.Pz.Zug (5 Pz.Kpfw. Renault R35)

1st company
- I.(Pz.) Platoon (5 Pz.Kpfw. Renault R35)
- II.(Rifle) Platoon
- III.(Riflemen) Platoon

2nd Company
- Grp.Fhr. (2 Pz.Kpfw. III 5 cm)
- I.(Pz.) Platoon (1 Pz.Kpfw. Somua, 4 Pz.Kpfw. Renault R35)
- II.(Pz.) Platoon (1 Pz.Kpfw. Renault B 2, 4 Pz.Kpfw. H-39 Hotchkiss)
- III.(Pz.) Platoon (1 Pz.Kpfw. III 5 cm, 4 Pz.Kpfw. H-39 Hotchkiss)

3rd Company
- I.(Pz.) Platoon (5 Pz.Kpfw. Renault R35)
- II.(Riflemen) Platoon
- III.(Riflemen) Platoon
German tanks:

- 1 Kwk 7,5 cm (f) (1 Pz.Kpfw. Renault B2)
- 3 Kwk 5 cm (d) (3 Pz.Kpfw. III)
- 2 Kwk 4,7 cm (f) (1 Pz.Kpfw. Somua, 1 Pz.Kpfw. Renault B2)
- 8 Kwk 3,7 cm (f) (8 Pz.Kpfw. Hotchkiss)
- 19 Kwk 3,7 cm short (f) (19 Pz.Kpfw. Renault R35)

The battles and events around the bridge of La Fiere:

Around the bridge, 28 German soldiers had set up for defense in the buildings and surrounding area, awaiting the Americans.
The men of A Company, after landing, oriented themselves along the roads, toward the La Fiere Bridge. Lieutenant John J. "Red Dog" Dolan's and several of his soldiers were the first men to reach the bridge. They were boxed in by machine gun salvos from the buildings as they arrived, so they tried to avoid the houses to the north. But here, too, they encountered German soldiers who opened fire on them. Shortly thereafter, a force of 80 men from the 507th PIR, led by G Company commander Captain Ben Schwartzwalder, reached the contested area. This unit had dropped northwest of the bridge, in LZ T, and had made its way along the rail line to the bridge. At the same time, other American reinforcements arrived, including the regimental commander of the 508th PIR, Colonel Roy Lindquist, who led a group of 40 men from C Company / 505th PIR. Under Lindquist's direction, a plan was devised to capture the estate. The attack was scheduled for 12:00 noon, but due to a communications failure, the action went very erratically. Eventually, however, some Americans entered the manor through the back yard and one of the soldiers fired a bazooka shell directly into the main house. The remaining German defenders surrendered and the battle for La Fière Manor was over for the time being.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Timmes, commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 507th PIR, had posted his men north of the bridge, in an orchard on the western edge of the flood plain. He sent a small patrol of 10 men, led by Lieutenant Louis Levy, to the village of Cauquigny to secure the west end of the causeway there. The bridge and causeway were now occupied by the U.S. paratroopers, whereupon Captain Schwartzwalder and his men of the 507th PIR withdrew and also proceeded to Lieutenant Colonel Timmes' assembly point. The paratroopers of the 505th PIR began to dig in at La Fière Manor. Two bazooka teams were posted near the bridge and they positioned a 57mm PAK on the road, above La Fière Manor in such a way that the crew could see down the causeway to the right bend in the road. The men also rolled an old truck onto the road and laid some mines in front of it.
Alarmed by the events at La Fière Bridge, the Germans set in motion a company of GR 1057 and some light tanks of the 100th Panzer Training and Replacement Division, both units of the 91st Airborne Division. The tanks included French H-39 Hotchkiss and Renault R-35 loot tanks. At about 0530 hours, Lieutenant Levy's small squad, still guarding the west end of the causeway, was attacked by the Germans. However, the handful of Americans put up a fight and even managed to destroy 2 tanks with "Gammon" demolition charges before they were forced to withdraw. Three tanks now began to advance across the causeway towards the bridge. A fierce firefight ensued, during which two tanks were knocked out by Private Lenold Peterson's bazooka and a third tank by the 57mm PAK (two R-35s and one Panzer III). The German soldiers, who were moving almost unprotected along the causeway, also suffered heavy losses. Finally, the Germans had to retreat to the western side to Cauquigny.
On the morning of June 7, 1944, the Germans launched another attack on the defenders of La Fière. This time, however, the advance was initiated by heavy mortar fire. Once again infantry and 4 tanks advanced across the causeway. But also in this attempt one of the tanks (H-39) was knocked out, this time by the 57mm PAK. The German infantrymen nevertheless fight their way to the bridge, where a fierce firefight ensues. However, the Germans fail to cross the bridge, whereupon the men retreat once again.
North of the bridge, the 1st Battalion of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR) crosses the Merderet flood plain at 0700 hours. They are to provide combat support to the men of Lieutenant Colonel Timmes' 507th PIR. South of the orchard held by the 505th PIR, the men under Major Teddy Sanford, commander of the 325th GIR, advanced on the German positions at Cauquigny. But the closer they got, the stronger the opposition became. Finally, the American attack was ended by a German counterattack and the 325th GIR fell back to the orchard.

General Matthew Bunker Ridgway, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, now ordered an attack by the 3rd Battalion of the 325th GIR on the German position at Cauquigny. A force of the 507th PIR was to be available as a reserve. At 10:30 a.m. on 09 June 1944, six 155mm howitzers of the 345th Field Artillery Battalion opened a 15-minute bombardment on the German position. Immediately thereafter, Captain John Saul led the men of G Company/325th GIR across the 500-yard causeway to Cauquigny. Under heavy opposition, Saul and 30 of his men managed to reach the other side. Companies E and F were not so lucky. The soldiers were mowed down by the German machine guns in rows and soon the causeway was littered with dead and wounded. A Sherman tank that had driven up the causeway was hit, blocking the way for more vehicles. It was now decided to also send the reserve of the 507th PIR, led by Captain Rae across the causeway. Advancing in two lines, the 80 paratroopers were able to pick up more men from the 325th GIR along the way. Eventually, most of the men reached the other side and were able to support Captain Saul's force. In the meantime, the damaged Sherman was moved out of the way and a column of more Sherman tanks was able to advance unimpeded toward Cauquigny. Together they threw the German troops back. Another heavy attack followed the next day against the still uncoordinated Americans, but it was soon repulsed. The crossing over the Merderet River was finally completely secured.

The following photos show the Iron Mike Memorial not far from the La Fiere Bridge, various placards around the Memorial, the La Fiere Bridge over the Merderet.

Crash of a Dakota C-47 near Beuzeville-Au-Plain.

The C-47s, which were transporting paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division to their drop zones, came under heavy anti-aircraft fire from German units as they flew over Normandy. Many of the C-47s crashed.
One of these was the aircraft carrying LT Thomas Meehan, commander of the 506th PIR "Easy Company," as well as other members of Easy Company HQ.
The aircraft that was hit left formation and crashed into a field without braking. There it exploded.

The 2 photos show the memorial in Beuzeville-Au-Plain for all 22 soldiers who lost their lives. The last photo shows the findings, which were found at the crash site, among others the wedding ring of Thomas Meehan.
This can be seen at the D-Day Experience/Dead Man's Corner Museum.

Battle for Normandy: The church of Angoville-Au-Plain

Two medics of ‘Screaming Eagle’ 101st Airborne, Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore, with Lieutenant Ed Allworth, quickly went into action setting up an aid station inside the 11th century church at Angoville-au-Plain.
They braved open countryside to search for the injured, taking them back to the church to carry out life saving aid.
Shortly afterwards the Americans were forced to withdraw from the village. As the battle intensified Lt Allworth left the medics, aware that as a soldier if he stayed he would endanger the medics, and those in their care.

Kenneth Moore described that first evening:

“By the evening we had 75 of them (wounded personnel and one local infant, in the church). Our own folk had come to tell us that they could not stay any longer. So we we’re left with the wounded. A German Officer soon arrived and asked if I could tend to his wounded too. We accepted. During the night the churchyard was the scene of another battle.
Two of our casualties died. But among those I could tend, none lost their lives. I tended all sorts of wounds, some were skin deep but others were more serious abdominal cases.”

The battle for Angoville-au-Plain raged around the church for three days, with possession lurching back and forth between the two sides.
At one stage German troops forced their way in, but seeing the medics were impartially treating injured from both sides, withdrew and placed the international symbol of medical aid on the church door. The red cross flag.
A mortar hit the building causing further injuries but the medics struggled on. To their shock on 7 June two German observers surrendered to them, after hiding all that time in the church tower.
By 8 June the battle was finally over and Angoville-au-Plain became the established headquarters of Robert F Sink, the officer in command of the 506th PIR Robert and Kenneth had a well earned sleep.

The photos show the church of Angoville Au Plain and the pews where blood can still be seen today:

On D-Day morning, June 6, 1944, a small patrol of Easy Company of the 506th PIR, led by Lt. Richard D. Winters, took out two German batteries of four 105mm howitzers each of the 2nd Battalion, 191st Mountain Artillery Regiment, which were in their positions near Brécourt Manor farm.

The squad, led by Winters, crept up to the gun positions from the houses, under cover of the hedgerows.
One gun after another was taken and rendered useless.
To this day, "Brecourt Manor Assault" is still taught at West Point Military Academy as tactics and leadership for a small unit in overcoming a larger force.
Easy Company's memorial stands in a meadow not far from Brecourt Manor farmhouse. If you look across this meadow, you can see the hedgerows and trees in the background where the 4 German guns were located at the time.
On the memorial is engraved on black marble a map drawn by Richard Winters. On it you can see the positions of the Germans, as well as the path that Winters and his soldiers took.
A copy of this map is also in the Utah Beach Museum.
In episode 2 of the Band of Brothers series, the attack on the gun emplacement is shown.

The photos show the Brecourt Manor Memorial, as well as the meadow with the hedges and Richard Winters' map.

Battle for Normady - The British Sector: Battle of the Pegasus Bridge

D Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment of the British 6th Airborne Division under Major John Howard was to land in the area of operations on the night of 5-6 June, capture and hold key bridges-the Benouville Bridge over the Caen Canal and the Horsa Bridge over the Orne River-and wait for the main British unit to advance from the Sword beach section.

In order to be able to land surprisingly quickly with a sufficient number of soldiers as precisely as possible at the targeted object, six Horsa-type cargo gliders were chosen as means of transport. Each glider could carry a fully equipped platoon that would be ready for action immediately after landing. These gliders landed at 00:16AM about 50m away from the Pegasus bridge.
Despite the hard landing, the British quickly realized that the German soldiers had not noticed anything. Major Howard gathered his platoons, gave the orders and his men began the attack and capture of the bridge.
With comparatively few casualties, the bridge was taken. After the capture, the sappers set about removing the explosives from the bridge. Major Howard and his soldiers defended the bridge until relief by the British soldiers from the beaches.

D Day - The Beaches
Utah and Omaha:
At 4:15AM, the soldiers of the first landing waves began boarding the landing craft (LCVPs and LCAs). At approximately 4:30 a.m., the first boats were on their way to Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. They had to cover a distance of about 8km to the beach, on the way there they had to fight with high waves, strong winds and currents. Most of the GIs became seasick.
At 05:55, the warships off the coast began shelling the beaches, and shortly thereafter B26 bombers took off to bomb the German coastal positions. Fearing to hit their own people, many pilots released their bombs later and hit the civilian population inland.
At 06:30, the first wave landed on the beaches. However, since many of the emplacements and bunkers were intact, the landed GIs were met by heavy defensive fire. In the Omaha section in particular, the First Infantry Division and the 29th U.S. Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties.
The Omaha section was not completely captured until late afternoon. The 4th US Infantry Division, which landed in the Utah section, was more fortunate. Due to the strong current and swell, their boats were driven off to a less fortified section.

British-Canadian sector: Gold, Sword and Juno

At 7 a.m. the Royal Air Force began to bombard the German positions in the Sword, Juno and Gold sectors. The British and Canadian landings began between 07:25 and 07:45.
Here, too, the Allied soldiers were met by heavy defensive fire. Especially the Canadians had heavy losses, because the German soldiers entrenched themselves in the ruins of the destroyed houses.

By the end of the day, the Allies had landed in Normandy at a width of 32km and a depth of 9km. Especially the Americans had to accept high losses in the Omaha section, until the afternoon the situation there was so critical that one considered to evacuate the beach.

The ensuing battle in Normandy dragged on until August 1944, when the liberation of Europe had begun.

The following images were taken at Omaha, Utah, Gold and Sword beaches in March 2022.

D-Day Operations:
About midnight, a small fleet of 40 Hudsons, Halifaxes and Stirlings were over the Cotentin Peninsula. At 0:11 a.m., two SAS teams landed at Yvetot 50 kilometers west of Dieppe as part of Operation Titanic. Together with 200 Paradummies, they had the task of creating confusion among the Germans and distracting them from the actual landings. During the jumps, aluminum strips (so-called chaff) were also dropped to deceive the radar signals, which significantly increased the number of signals. On the ground, SAS agents launched co-dropped machine gun fire simulators and the dummies, which from a distance looked like British paratroopers, self-destructed shortly after landing with an explosive charge and burned up. This looked to the Germans like the burning of a parachute and they had to assume that the associated soldier had taken cover. The SAS agents had strict orders to shoot at the Germans with live ammunition, but to let some escape to let them pass on the pretend landing sites. After about 30 minutes they withdrew. Similar jumps took place 8 kilometers west of Saint-Lô with 200 paradummies, east of the Dives with 50 paradummies, and southwest of Caen with another 50 dummies. Lieutenant Noel Poole was the first soldier to bail out over Normandy as part of this operation. Of the 40 planes, the Germans shot down two Stirlings.

The picture shows a paradummy, which is exhibited in the Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum, Caen.

D Day - Jump of the Paratroopers

On the evening of June 5, 1944, soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division boarded C-47 Dakotoa and Glider aircraft at various airfields in England. From here the planes took off in the direction of Normandy. The landing and drop zones were marked beforehand by the Pathfinders, who secretly dropped behind the German lines and set up the transmitters.
Later, when the armada of C-47s flew over Normandy, they came under heavy FLAK fire from the Germans. Many planes had to leave their formation or were shot down. Because of this chaos, many Airborne soldiers missed their actual drop zones and were scattered across Normandy around St. Mere Eglise and Sainte Marie Du Mont. For example, soldiers from the 82nd jumped directly over St. Mere Eglise into the arms of the German occupation forces.
The chaos caused groups from the 82nd and 101st Airborne to intermingle. Together, these scattered groups fought in the Normandy rear. By the end of the first day, only one in three soldiers had returned to their units.

The first picture shows the C-47 Dakota "SNAFU SPECIAL", which is on display at Battery de Merville.
The other pictures show displays from different museums in Normandy, for example the Airborne Museum in St. Mere Eglise.

June 5th, 1944: The day before:
D-Day, the day the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy. Dwight D. Eisenhower issued this letter to his troops the night before:

"Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of N**i tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the N**i triumphs of
1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats,
in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their
strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home
Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions
of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.
The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to
Victory!

I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in
battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great
and noble undertaking.“

Dwight D. Eisenhower

This photo shows an original letter issued to Allied troops the day before D Day. It is on display at the Dead Man's Corner/ DDAY Experience Museum, Normandy.