DDay - 439th troop carrier group 2nd 506th battalion 101st airborne

439th carrier group serial “12” 2nd 506th

Chalk #19 in serial #6a. Under the belly is, like all patfinder aircraft and serial leaders, a radar SCR-717C. Pathfinders were from the 502nd PIR and their duty was to mark the LZ "E”

Serial 12 – 101st Airborne Division – 506th Battalion

Airfield: Upottery
Air transport unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group
Drop zone: C
Drop hour: 01:20
Transported unit: 2nd Battalion, 506th P.I.R.

Legend:

Douglas C-47 Dakota

Destroyed Douglas C-47 Dakota

This table illustrates the flight formation adopted by the air unit in charge of transporting paratroopers on June 6, 1944 during Operation Neptune, as part of the No. 12 serial. The position and the corresponding number (written in chalk on aircraft) are listed as well as the aircraft serial number and the pilot name when known.

 

				#46 42-100851 Tower
			#48 43-15046 Reid		#47 43-15211 Petty
	#52 42-100824 Hogan						#49 42-100825 Imschweiler
#54 42-100641 McCain		#53 42-100828 Smith				#51 42-100826 McBride		#50 42-100830 Blanton
				#55 42-100649 Morris
			#57 42-100837 Beebe (Winters)		#56 43-15087 Pedersen
	#61 42-100844 Ladd						#58 42-100876 Muir 3B
#63 42-100846 Brauer		#62 42-100843 Pender				#60 42-100874 Schultze		#59 42-100838 Beauregard 2nd batn
				#64 43-15213 Morton
			#66 42-93095 Capelluto L4 A		#65 42-100660 Schuman
	#70 42-100847 LePard L4 B						#67 42-100646 Sammons L4 E
#72 42-100885 Padon		#71 42-100818 Harris L4				#69 43-15319 Savercool		#68 43-15049 Francis
				#73 42-100855 Lorimor
			#75 42-100626 Patterson		#74 42-100862 Turner
	#79 43-100853 Berner						#76 42-100849 King
#81 42-100775 Hennicke		#80 091 Dobson				#78 42-93004 Neill		#77

Composition C-47 42-100876 

Piloted by 1st Lieutenant Marvin F. Muir and belonging to the 93rd Transport Squadron (3B), 439th Troop Carrier Group, shot down by the German anti-aircraft defense on June 6, 1944 over Picauville in Normandy while carrying paratroopers belonging to D Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.

It crashes near Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

The crew members died in the crash. The paratroopers had time to jump.

Crew

1 Lt  Marvin F. Muir – O – 541641 – Indiana
2 Lt Kenneth C. Bell – O – 705291
2 Lt John A. Marisay/Martsay – O – 697894
S/Sgt Clifford L. Burgess – 14140642 – Georgia
Sgt Philip Snyder/Synder – 13081009 – Pennsylvania

Paratroopers (D Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division)

Composition of C-47 42-93095 

Piloted by 1st Lieutenant Harold Andrew Capelluto belonging to the 91st Squadron (L4), 439th Troop Carrier Group, shot down by the German anti-aircraft defense on June 6, 1944 over Beuzeville-au-Plain in Normandy while carrying paratroopers belonging to Easy company, 506th Parachute Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division.

It crashed at Beuzeville-au-Plain.

All crew members and paratroopers on board died in the crash.

Crew
1 Lt Harold Andrew Capelluto
2 Lt John Joseph Fanelli
2nd/Lt Bernard Friedman
Sgt Albert R. Tillotson Jr
Sgt Norman E.  Thompson

Paratroopers (Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division)
1 Lt Thomas Meehan
1st/Sgt William S. Evans
S/Sgt Murray B. Roberts
Sgt Elmer L. Murray Jr.
Sgt Richard E. Owen
Sgt Carl N. Riggs
T/5 Herman F. Collins
T/5 Jerry A. Wentzel
T/5 Ralph H. Wimer
William McConigal
Pvt George L.  Elliott
Pfc John N. Miller
Pfc Sergio G. Moya
Pfc Gerald R. Snider
Pfc Elmer L. Telstad
Pfc Thomas W. Warren
Pfc Earnest Oats

2nd Lieutenant Henry L. Harris, 91st Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group, sitting in the cockpit of his plane 'Sultry Sally'

WIP Wednesday - Dday anniversary C-47 Skytrains

 

 D-Day Anniversary C47 Skytrains

Decided to get my finger out and do a build of two C-47 Skytrains for DDay anniversary build. 

I have quite a few in the stash to build so I pulled out these two Italeri 1/72 kits and build them this week. Both will be numbered for the 101st drop around Saint Mere Eglise based on real aircraft. 

Cheers

Matt

Royal Engineers Caterpillar D7 Dozer

 Caterpillar D7 Armoured Dozer

Also this week I completed a simple model from Raventhorpe, a Caterpillar D7 dozer, I copied images from a build on the British Modeler Forum. I need to make the corresponding LCT number now! 

Quite happy, acrylic with enemal streaking and grime, and powders. Crewman is Plastic Soldier company. 

Cheers

Matt

Operation Deadstick (Coup de main) - Pegasus Bridge part 1

 Operation Tonga - Pegasus Bridge part 1

One of my primary projects for 2024 is to build an accurate Pegasus bridge table on a permanent setting, with that in mind I have started to collect a number of period photos together, plus intelligence photos, postcards of the village. I will also identify the gliders and build them as per the description of the destruction upon landing. I will be using three or four books on the subject plus a few local photos from my visits and actual measurements for scratch building or 3d printing. I will also build specific tiles for the table to cover both the Bénouville bridge (pegasus), and the Orne river bridge (Horsa), plus the village of Bénouville up to the cross roads and perhaps the chateau Bénouville and the edge of the village of Ranville.

I plan to build all the buildings at 1/76th scale approximately so the templates are not to large. For he bridge over the canal I have purchased the 20mm resin bridge from ravensthorpe for Pegasus bridge but have already started to add a few modifications to the resin piece including new hand railings and more accurate supports and the boom gates. The bridge over the river Orne will be a 3d printed piece. The narrow gauge rail line will be likely N scale track to reduce the footprint of the line. I have purchased the Bénouville chateau also as a 3d file, not sure if i will add it to the table though as it is huge. 

The Bridges and environs

Aerial view of Pegasus bridge, the train station, water tower,  german trenches are clearly visible, along with railway line, towpath the layout of the Gardens behind. If you visit today the ground has changed a lot, the canal was widened in the 60s, the AT gun was moved and the bank on the village side considerably reduced.

The 

The Bénouville Gare (railway station) and water tower was still in its position on DDay along with the rails. I have only ever seen it on a pegasus bridge table once. The station and tower were removed in 1960, a similar station remains today which I have taken photos and measurements from.

A photo of the construction of the second bridge (replacing the swing bridge) in the mid 30s, note how the bridge if off set to the road alignment to the village of Bénouville, this was changed when the new bridge was installed in the 60s. A much better view of the light railway line, the station and water tower, directly behind it was a deep drain which runs through a culvert under the road behind the cafe Gorondee also. 

British soldiers crossing the bridge heading to Ranville. note the boom gates, metal pedestrian fencing the bank revetments, the edge of the gunpit, and the British load sign

A postcard from 1960, note the bridge footings and shorter span bridge, with the proud jetty. The old 1960s bridge in the museum grounds is one panel longer than the ww2 bridge, this is a photo of that bridge before it was moved.

A photo of the bridge after the war as the sandbags are missing on the control shack, the Pegasus sign is up on cafe Gondrée, note the large trees on the right where the train station is.

A photo of the bridge with major howard, note the footings of the building in the foreground, the germans had a MG nest in this area, note the old mill building is attached to cafe Gondree still.

Cafe Gondrée, note the brick front and shutters as it was directly after the war.

Cafe Gondrée 2017, there was no hedge during the action.

Myths about Pegasus bridge

1. First building liberated was not in fact cafe Gondree, but the building opposite . 
2. Commandos of lord Lovatt ; Bagpipes not played at Pegasus bridge as per the "longest day" but as the commandos crossed Horsa bridge. 
3. Resistance told allies germans had explosives on the bridge, however they were not wired up
4. Scars counterbalance are from the combat with the patrol boat
5. In 1944 the bridge was shorter (photo extension) and the road was made of wooden planks either side of the rail line

Bibliography

cheers

Matt