The 101st Airborne in Normandy, June 1944
By: Yves Buffetaut with Yoann Marlière ; translation by Hannah McAdams
Contributors: Marlière, Yoann, author; McAdams, Hannah, translator
Series: Casemate Illustrated; Casemate illustrated
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2018
Language: eng
Number of pages: 128
ISBN-13: 9781612005232
Subjects: Campaigns; United States; United States. Army. Airborne Division, 101st; World War, 1939-1945; History
Other titles: One Hundred and First Airborne in Normandy.
Work titles: Militaria Hors-Serie No 95
Description: 101st Airborne Division was activated in August 1942 in Louisiana, and its first combat mission was Operation Overlord. On D-Day-June 6, 1944-101st and 82nd Airborne dropped onto the Cotentin peninsula hours before the landings, tasked with capturing bridges and positions, taking out German strongpoints and batteries, and securing the exits from Utah and Omaha Beaches. Things did not initially go smoothly for 101st Airborne, with cloud and antiaircraft fire disrupting the drops, resulting in some units landing scattered over a large area outside their designated drop zones and having to waste time assembling-stymied by lost or damaged radio equipment-or trying to achieve their objectives with severely reduced numbers. Casualties were high in some areas due to heavy pre-registered German fire. Nevertheless, the paratroopers fought on and they did manage to secure the crucial beach exits, even if they only achieved a tenuous hold on some other positions. A few days later, 101st Airborne were tasked with attacking the German-held city of Carentan as part of the consolidation of the US beachheads and establishment of a defensive line against the anticipated German counteroffensive. The 101st forced their way into Carentan on 10 and 11 June. The Germans withdrew the following day, and a counteroffensive was put down by elements of the 2nd Armored Division. This fully illustrated book details the planning of the airborne element of D-Day, and the execution of the plans until the troops were withdrawn to prepare for the next big airborne operation, Market Garden.
Notes: "Men. Battles. Weapons"--Cover.

"Originally published in French as Militaria Hors-Serie No 95, © Histoire & Collections 2015"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Planning and preparation; title: Airborne invasion; title: "E" is for easy; title: The 101st in Carentan.