101st Airborne | D-Day | Pathfinders - Sons of Liberty Museum

HEADQUARTERS DIVISION PATHFINDER GRP

- U. S. Army

1 July 1944

Subject: Report of D-Day Pathfinder Activities.

To : Commanding General, 101st A/B Div.

1. Submitted herewith report of Pathfinder activities of Four (4) teams on D-Day.

Organization:

Four Pathfinder Teams of eight sticks as follows:

For DZ "A"-Team A consisting of Stick 1, 502nd Parachute Inf., [partially visible text about security personnel, officer assignments]

[Additional team organizations listed unreadable]

Orientation:

All teams took off from North Witham Airbase starting at 2350 June 5, 1944 at five (5) minute intervals.

Team "A" was scheduled to land at point on DZ "A" of 395-968 riding from N to SE at 0020, June 6, 1944. Actual landing was made in vicinity of St.German-de-Varreville (394-994) and 0025. All three sticks dropped together and could be seen together... [text continues but partially obscured]

At approximately 0025 seven lights and three Eurekas had been assembled with Lt. McCarter, Lt. Smith, and 14 enlisted men.

Lt. McCarter was put in charge of the Eurekas and established all three places in the hedgerow adjoining the church at 393-996. The "T" lights were installed approximately 200 yards east of this position. One Eureka was turned on at 0030. Reception was received at approximately 0045. Lights were turned on at 0057. Groups were scattered and flying east with the majority of ships dropping parachutists west and north of the position. Some parachutists were dropped east and some south of the T.

First person contacted from 502nd Parachute Infantry was Capt. Harshner of Co. I and then some enlisted men of Company I. Elements of the 1st Bn. 502nd were also contacted and several men of the 1st Battalion moved to the lights.

All lights and Eurekas remained on until approximately 0310 at which time the unit assembled at the church at St. Germain. Some MIA injured had been collected and these were hidden in the rear of a house at St. Germain and the balance of the unit moved with Capt. Flitt, Capt. Harshner, Lt. Adams (Co. I) and approximately 180 enlisted men towards St. Martin-de-Varreville. Upon approaching the position, Capt. Flitt was placed in charge of the main force and Capt. Lillyman and Private Wilhelm moved forward to the position to reconnoitre. Upon discovering the position was almost completely demolished and apparently no enemy on the position, the two returned to where Capt. Flitt was waiting and informed him of this fact.

The undersigned then collected the Pathfinder personnel and moved back to St. Germain to collect the Eurekas and injured men who had been hidden. On moving north down the road, contact was established with Lt. Col. Cassidy and a small force and it was agreed to establish the road block at 393-994 for the 1st Battalion until they returned. OP was established at St. Germain, road block of one mortar, returned. Three LMG's and one .03 rifle grenade established at the CP 50mm. OP was established in the church steeple at St. Germain facing north and NE.

At 0640 a squad of the 1st Battalion came down to this position and the weapons were turned over to this squad. The Pathfinders were then assembled and movement started toward the 502nd CP at Loutres. Eurekas were left at St. Germain where one officer and five enlisted men who had sustained jump injuries. These men were hidden in the church along with four Eurekas. Unit arrived at 502nd Regimental CP at approximately 0800 and remained there until approximately 1000 when movement was started for Division CP. Unit arrived at Division at approximately 1300.

This team assisted in the marking of the glider LZ at Hiesville on 7 June 6th.

TEAM C was scheduled to drop on DZ C at 0025 at Point 399-928. Actual drop was made at 394-929 for one stick (Lt. Kessler, Stick 1 506th) and at 400-916 with remaining Stick, Lt. Faith, Stick 3, 501st Parachute Infantry. Base Stick, Stick 4, 377th Pcht FA Bn Jumpmaster was forced down in the channel, time, place and cause unknown but reports have been received to the effect that entire plane load was safely returned to England after going down.

Lt. Kessler, reporting as Primary Stick states that he was dropped at 0027 and both he and the other stick immediately subjected to enemy fire. Within ten minutes (0037) 2 Eurekas, 2 lights and the Receiver-Transmitter of the Rupe Beacon had been assembled.

Both Eurekas were set up with one transmitting and one standing by and operators report reception.

An effort was made to locate the power unit and antennae of the Rupe Beacon without success. Being unable to form a T of lights, one light was set up in the middle of the field adjacent to the field in which Lt. Kessler's stick had dropped and was coded with assigned letter until 45 minutes after the Initial Serial was due in which time the aerials had arrived, the balance of the stick had assembled on the light. Of Lt. Kessler's stick, all personnel were moved to Division CP except Pvt. Berth who was assigned to General Taylor as bodyguard and two enlisted men who are MIA. Of Lt. Faith's stick, one enlisted man was killed before he could get out of his parachute harness and one enlisted man is MIA.

TEAM E was scheduled to drop on DZ C at 0027 at Point 393-947 and landed at approximately 0040 at point 399-895. Both sticks were together when dropped and Lt. Headley moved to various points before assembling the Eureka. Eureka was established at approximately 0330 by which time the two sticks had moved to the correct LZ's. Eurekas were turned on at 0350 and reception was obtained within 5 minutes after aircraft started to circle at 0400. Both teams established lights but those established by Lt. Driver were knocked out by a landing glider at approximately 0420. Lt. Headley kept his lights on until approximately 0445.

By this time all echelons of gliders that were in the air had landed and the pathfinder personnel worked from this time until approximately 0800 orienting personnel and removing injured personnel from crashed gliders.

TEAM D was scheduled to be dropped at 0030 at Point 392-885. Actual drop was made west of St. Come-du-Mont from points 372-992 south to 378-875 at approximately 0047. This jump was carried out under intense enemy MG and anti-aircraft fire. Assembly of the three sticks was impossible although Lt. Watson, 501st Parachute Infantry and Cpl Beaver did establish one Eureka on DZ which was in operation and being triggered by A/C on scheduled time. Twenty-three of this

Team of 54 officers and enlisted men are still carried as MIA and are believed to be prisoners of war. Stick leader of Stick 3, 506th Parachute Infantry, Dillburn, WOJG has been reported by Capt. Brown who likewise was captured but who later escaped.

All Pathfinder personnel at Division CP assisted in marking the Glider LZ near Hiesville on the night of June 6/7. Eureka was established at 2030 and in operation and transmitting at 2054. Florescent panels were laid at 2030 and Smoke blown at 2057. Eurekas were turned off at 2120.

2. A summary of the reports from the four Team Leaders shows the following:

On DZ A: Lights and Eureka established and in operation on scheduled time at a point approximately one mile north of intended DZ.

On DZ C: One coded light and Eureka established and in operation on scheduled time at a point approximately 1/4 mile southeast of DZ.

ON DZ D: No lights or Eureka established on DZ. Eureka established on line of flight and one and one quarter miles west of DZ.

On DZ E: Eureka established at designated point and lights set up at both designated points on scheduled time.

All Eureka Operators report Eurekas were being triggered (transmitter actuated) prior to scheduled time of arrival of aircraft.

All map references are to Sheet 6 E/5, La Haye du Puits, 1/50,000.

FRANK L. LILLYMAN

Capt., 502d Pcht Inf.

Division Pathfinder Officer.

Pathfinders on D-Day