pappy2 Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 (edited) The mission of the IXth Troop Carrier Command (TCC) was to bring the paratroopers of the two American airborne divisions, the 82nd and the 101st Airborne, to Normandy in the heart of Cotentin, as well as in the hours and days following D-DAY, to transport reinforcements in men as close as possible to the combat zones as well as supplies of ammunition and various materials. The transports used were C-47 Skytrains as well as Waco CG-4A and Horsa gliders. Few people at that time (and even today) are aware of the crucial role that troop carrier forces played during World War II. Troop carrier crews and glider pilots often flew sorties in their unarmed and unarmored planes and gliders deep into enemy territory, less than 500 feet, to deliver men and materiel to targets usually defended by enemy troops. This was accomplished under intense flak and small arms fire, with standing orders for crews not to take evasive action. Glider pilots, after landing, fought with airborne troops to clear the enemy from the landing and drop zones. They had a dual job as pilots in the air and infantry on the ground. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The end of the first phase of the invasion of Normandy on June 6 and 7, 1944 did not mark the end of glider landings in Normandy. The need for lesser-known missions arose. These missions were planned at the request of the command of the 82nd and the 101st Airborne from the theater of operations in France, they began on June 10, 1944, three days after the last glider operations "GALVESTON" and "HACKENSACK". Since June 6, 1944, American and English engineer units have been building airfields in Normandy to evacuate seriously wounded people as quickly as possible, transport vital supplies and launch deep raids over France. Allied airfields built on land taken from the adversary are divided into several categories: Emergency Landing Strips (ELS), Supply & Evacuation (S&E), Refueling & Rearming (R&R) and finally Advanced Landing Grouds (ALG) . From June 7, 1944 after having completed the Pouppeville ELS on the night of D-DAY, the first reconnaissance of the engineers of the 819th Engineer Aviation Battalion of the 926th Engineer Aviation Regiment who landed with their machines at Utha beach sought to select the location of the future ALG A-6, they chose the site of the La Londe farm, a flat place located along the road linking Beuzeville au Plain to Ste Mère Eglise. They took their measures while this area was still under fire from snipers and anti-tank weapons and the patrol was forced to withdraw towards the Pouppeville ELS. Around 10:00 a.m. on June 8, 1944, an advanced element of around fifty sappers was at work. After a day of hard work almost in the heart of the fighting during which the battalion lost 7 men, the track is practically ready. First of all, the land is brought to R&R standard then S&E, in this configuration, it is completed on June 14. On June 17, 1944 the field was at ALG standard and received the first P-47s of the 371st Fighter Squadron. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The missions that I created are the operations which followed "Galveston" and "Hackensack" they took place from June 10 to 13, 1944 around and on the first Advanced Landing Grouds built by the American Engineers. They are in memory of the C-47 crews and WAco glider pilots of the IXth Troop Carrier Command who assumed the heavy responsibility of troop transport operations for the tactical missions of D-DAY as well as for the crucial days which followed the landing. Thanks to the creators of IL2 Great Battles and the developer teams who allow us to project ourselves into this era, 80 years after this “Longest Day”. Thank you to the IL2 community for helping me resolve several sticking points with the mission creator, which allows me today to present to you my humble contribution to the "Battle of Normandy". For the sake of slowing down the FPS, I chose not to add the many escort fighters. Pp2 Sources:https://www.ww2gp.org/normandy/lalonde/ https://www.ww2gp.org/ National WWII Glider Pilots Associationhttps://www.ww2gp.org/normandy/ Legacy Organization of veterans National WWII Glider Pilots Association.http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/aeropus/9tcc.php http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/aeropus/page.php?page=glide http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/aeropus/page.php?page=docu https://amcmuseum.org/history/ix-troop-carrier-command/ http://normandy.whitebeamimages.ie/forum/threads/la-londe-glider.74/ FORGOTTEN AND UNKNOWN ABANDONED AIRPORTS IN EUROPEhttps://forgottenairfields.com/airfield-beuzeville-a-6-1075.html Former airfields LA LONDE, BEUZEVILLE-AU-PLAIN, SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISEhttps://www.anciens-aerodromes.com/?p=130137 Several films on D-DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ Once again called to operations, the 436th Troop Carrier Group based at Ramsbury Field in England, is responsible for preparing resupply missions in Normandy in the Sainte Mére Eglise area with parachute drops. Transportation by CG-4A Waco gliders is also planned, they must land on the new landing strip under construction, the Advanced Landing Ground A-6. ALG A-6 is located between Sainte Mère Eglise and Beuzeville au Plain with the La Londe farm in its center. It was built and completed in seven days by the 819th Engineer Aviation Battalion of IX Engineering Command. Among the glider crews who will carry out these resupply missions are pilots who have already landed in Normandy for D-DAY a few days earlier and according to known archives, sixteen of them will carry out a total of two glider missions. in Normandy and five other pilots made a total of three combat landings in the Sainte Mère Eglise region. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11th Airlift Mission carried out by the 9th Troop Carrier Command from D-DAY. On the afternoon of June 10, 1944, six gliders had to be towed to Normandy. The task was assigned to the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron, one of four squadrons of the 436th Troop Carrier Group based at Membury Field, England. The glider pilots of the Squadron, who had just returned the day before on June 9, only three days after their first landings in Normandy, volunteered to leave... Some of them take off again around 4 p.m. Two of the gliders are each loaded with a jeep, the others carry ammunition. The six glider pilots who flew the Wacos on the June 10, 1944 mission returned by ship to England early on the morning of June 12. They expressed their desire to start again. Some will have another chance.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 - On the afternoon of June 10 1944.zip Edited March 29, 2024 by pappy2 1 1
pappy2 Posted March 28, 2024 Author Posted March 28, 2024 (edited) 12th Airlift Mission carried out by the 9th Troop Carrier Command from D-DAY. On the morning of June 12, 1944, more supplies were needed on the Normandy beachhead. Once again, the 436th Troop Carrier Group is there to answer the call. The crews of nine C-47s from the 80th Troop Carrier Squadron have the mission of supplying the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne with ammunition. The 54 parapacks transported by the planes contain 2 tonnes of 60 mm and 81 mm mortar shells and 5 tonnes of cartridges of all kinds. The drop must be carried out at 8:00 a.m. from 300 feet (92 m) above the Beuzeville / La Londe field under construction. Despite the constant flow of gliders bringing men and equipment from England, the work of the engineers of the 819th Engineer Aviation Battalion on the A-6 airfield continues without interruption. June 12, 1944 At 8:02 a.m. 9 C-47 of the 80th TCS of the 436th TCG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13th Airlift Mission carried out by the 9th Troop Carrier Command from D-DAY. On the evening of June 12, 1944, a new resupply mission for the crews of the 436th Troop Carrier Group. Ammunition, equipment and medicines must be taken by four Waco gliders to the A-6 runway, which is still under construction. Landing scheduled for 8:30 p.m. The four C-47 crew and eight glider pilots belong to the 79th Troop Carrier Squadron. This mission will be a test mission to confirm the possibility of landing gliders on the runway still under construction and especially before it is covered with the Square-Mesh Track (SMT) mesh which will allow the planes to land and take off in completely safe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12 - On the morning of June 12 1944.zip 13 - On the evening of June 12 1944.zip Edited March 28, 2024 by pappy2 1 1
pappy2 Posted March 28, 2024 Author Posted March 28, 2024 (edited) 14th Airlift Mission carried out by the 9th Troop Carrier Command from D-DAY. On June 13, 1944 evening, for this mission of paratrooper reinforcement and resupply by gliders of the troops fighting in the Sainte Mère Eglise region, the commander of the 436th Troop Carrier Group will lead a formation of eleven C-47s from the 82nd Troop Carrier Squadron with ten CG-4A Waco gliders in tow. The last C-47 without a glider must drop paratroopers from the 101st Airborne. At 7:15 p.m. the ten Wacos piloted by crews from the 80th and 81st Troop Carrier Squadron were to be dropped around 7:15 p.m. from a height of 600 feet (182 m) and were to land on the ALG A-6 runway under construction just to the northeast. from Sainte-Mère-Église to Beuzeville / La Londe on the A-6 track under construction. The gliders contain 600 kilos of ammunition and 13 tonnes of equipment, including two jeeps. The gliders must be cleared from the runway by the engineers of the 819th Engineer Aviation Battalion so that the last C-47 can drop the paratrooper reinforcements of the 101st Airborne without problems on the dirt runway. Film of Glider Landing Normandy June 13th 1944 - La Londe Sainte-Mère-Eglisehttps://www.facebook.com/Gliderborne/videos/glider-landing-normandy-june-13th-1944-la-londe-sainte-mère-eglise/364462650873495/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14th Airlift Mission carried out by the 9th Troop Carrier Command from D-DAY. Around 7:30 p.m., dropped from the last C-47 the paratroopers landed safely, although the Germans responded by sending mortar shells into the area, the mission was a complete success. All C-47 crews and glider pilots returned to England safely. Despite the constant flow of gliders bringing men and equipment from England, the engineering work of the 819th Engineer Aviation Battalion on the airfield continues without interruption. First of all the land will be brought to the Refueling & Rearming standard then Supply & Evacuation, in this configuration it was completed on June 14, 1944. On June 17, 1944, the field was at Advanced Landing Grouds standard and received the first P-47s of the 371st Fighter Squadron which would begin their missions to support ground troops.... But this is another story. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The men involved in these supply missions did something that should not be forgotten. It is notable that five glider pilots from the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron made three combat flights to Normandy. It's great to be able to reveal these names which have remained in the shadows of History for too long. Second Lieutenant Samuel H. Green (June 6 – June 10 – June 13) Second Lieutenant Thomas J. McCann (June 6 – June 10 – June 13) F/O Adelore J. Chevalier (June 6 - June 10 - June 13) F/O Earl Goodwin (June 6 - June 10 - June 13) F/O Ben O. Ward (June 6 - June 10 - June 13) Now that the names of these glider pilots have surfaced, the C-47 tow pilots of these missions still remain buried in memories or war history but should not be forgotten. Among them are surely one or more crew members who also carried out their third mission over Normandy on June 13, 1944. https://www.ww2gp.org/normandy/lalonde/ National WWII Glider Pilots Association Legacy Organization of veterans National WWII Glider Pilots Association. 14 - On June 13 1944 evening.zip 14 - On June 13 1944 Dropped last C-47.zip Edited March 28, 2024 by pappy2 1 4
Billsponge1972 Posted March 28, 2024 Posted March 28, 2024 Holy s***! This sounds historically epic! Thank you!! 2
taffy2jeffmorgan Posted March 29, 2024 Posted March 29, 2024 When you think of the amount of time and effort that's gone into this presentation alone and then compiling all the missions, this truly is a work of art I am sure that the whole BoS community will thank you for this. Well done.? 1
Ulricus Posted March 29, 2024 Posted March 29, 2024 (edited) After I've reading the historical background and started flying some missions, IMO you have set a milestone in terms of D-Day airborne ops! Very informativ and highly immersive! A big thank you for that! Edited April 10, 2024 by Ulricus 1
pappy2 Posted March 30, 2024 Author Posted March 30, 2024 (edited) Many thanks for all your comments. Edited April 16, 2024 by pappy2 1
Enceladus828 Posted July 28 Posted July 28 Thank you pappy, do you have any plans to do missions depicting the CG-4As' use during Operation Market Garden?
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