I was interested in the 'Combat' section of the book, other sections detailing the training, etc. They dropped into Normandy to secure certain towns and villages in preparation for the arrival of the troops arriving via Omaha Beach. It was a snafu from the beginning with the drawbacks of employing airborne troops well demonstrated when they hit the ground scattered and quite a few miles from their objective. The narrator was dropped very low but his chute opened; unfortunately he saw others that hit the ground before their parachutes could open at all. The plane he was in came in so low that they were taking machine gun fire as they came. The ack-ack was of course heavy.
There lot had few officers present and no transport except shanks mare of course. The story of the taking and retaking of positions amid confusion is well told. This would work as supplementary reading in a school history class, everyone to read and discuss pp. 71-97 and those that were especially interested could read onward.
No index, bibliography--not that kind of book.
There lot had few officers present and no transport except shanks mare of course. The story of the taking and retaking of positions amid confusion is well told. This would work as supplementary reading in a school history class, everyone to read and discuss pp. 71-97 and those that were especially interested could read onward.
No index, bibliography--not that kind of book.
