First, thanks to the admin for allowing me to join the group. This is my first post, and since I'm new to this forum and don't know my way around yet, my apologies if this has been previously addressed or answered elsewhere. I'm looking into the Pathfinders, those who dropped prior to the airborne paratroopers who dropped shortly after midnight. Since the Pathfinders' task was to accurately locate the planned DZs, it seems like they would have been inserted some hours ahead of the main body of the paratroopers, to allow them time to get their bearings and locate the DZs. I was also under the impression that they would have come in aircraft smaller than the C47s so as to not alert the Germans. The link below, shows them in C 47s and taking off just prior to the main forces. Does anyone have further information as to their aircraft and drop times? Also, were there any troops that came in before the Pathfinders themselves? Pathfinders | D-Day in Colour - YouTube - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=idNbxUBof_U
Hi Brian, Welcome to the Forum! You have an interesting quest indeed and hopefully we will be able to help with your questions. The first thing to do is to have a look at Patrick Elie's site where he has a very useful diagram of both the 82nd and 101st Pathfinder flight formations. Click the link here to go to his site. Aircraft lost are shown in red and as you can see, all 20 are C-47s. Regards, Pat
Hi All, I am going to move this thread in a day or two to: Research Currently Underway/Airborne Forces/American Regards, Pat