In the second pic, bottom right, you can see the La Fiere bridge and Iron Mike statue.

Ironically, we jumped from a German C-160 with German Jumpmasters.  I got lucky and was the number one jumper.  Got to ride in standing in the door.  I was able to see the beaches from up there.  The third pic was taken at Point de hoc. 

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Had the Fallschrimjagers jumped in to act as a blocking force back in June of 44, the outcome may have ended differently.

LOAD CLEAR! LOAD CLEAR!

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The problem is that at that point in time Hitler had decided against large scale parachute jumps and the Fallschirmjager regiments were getting a lot of legs for replacements.  I am not sure that they had the capability to make the jump without pulling several regiments off the line to consolidate jumpers into one or two, thereby weakening their ground defenses.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI.  One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS

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The 6th Fsjgr Regiment was at Carentan.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI.  One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS

2nd Parachute Division based around Brest was fully jump qualified (as was the 1st, based in Italy at the time). It was from this division that 6th FJ Regt was detached from and assigned to the Carentan area. The rest of 2nd Para never made it into the fight in Normandy as it was garrisoning the port town of Brest and remained there until it was finally overrun in late Sept 44. At that point in the war, lack of transport aircraft, plus overwhelming allied air superiorty, was more of an issue in launching airborne ops than was lack of jump-qualified troops.

On the other hand, 3rd Parachute Division, also stationed in France, was not jump qualified. They were essentially a well-equipped motorized infantry division. They played a big part in the battles around St. Lo... What would of made things hairy for the Allies wasn't more German paratroopers but more German panzer units close to the beaches as had Rommel wanted

1/508th Abn Inf, 82nd Abn Div 81-83

1/4th Inf (Mech), 3rd Inf Div (USAEUR) 83-84

SGT\EIB\Recondo

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