Airborne operations for the Normandy landings

Airborne operations on d-day

170 color photographs

2 maps

Sainte-Mère-Église, Pegasus Bridge, the Merville Battery... these names are part and parcel of the historic Normandy Landings and the events of June 6 1944. Already well known, these events receive a fresh perspective from the pen of Benoît Rondeau. While these battles are usually studied in separate books, the author covers all the Allied airborne opérations on June 5 and 6,1944. The author has been careful to present a lively account of the facts, with many eye-witness accounts and anecdotes. Equipment and uniforms are also introduced. Distinguishing itself from many previous works, he concentrates particularly on the D-Day préparations and the development of the Opération Overlord airborne missions. How were the men prepared? How were the objectives chosen? What are the imperatives of any airborne opération? Benoît Rondeau answers all these questions, so often ignored. The author completes his study by counting the cost of these actions for the 6^th, 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions. A welcome overview, which throws light on a major episode in 'The Longest Day'.