D-DAY - UNITS

Pathfinders - Plane #12 (Utah Beach)

| Plane #1 | Plane #2 | Plane #3 | Plane #4 | Plane #5 | Plane #6 | Plane #7 | Plane #8 | Plane #9 | Plane #10 |
| Plane #11 | Plane #12 | Plane #13 | Plane #14 | Plane #15 | Plane #16 | Plane #17 | Plane #18 | Plane #19 | Plane #20 |
 
 

The 505th pathfinder team, commanded by 1st Lt. James J. Smith, Air Corps Commanding Officer Captain Kirkpatrick, took off as per schedule. Encountering little flak on the run in from landfall to DZ, dropped within 400 yards of previously designated pinpoint. The drop was six minutes early. The DZ was set up as per SOP, with the exception of one battalion light tee. This tee was not put into action due to the faulty assembly. Eurekas were set up within ten minutes of drop time. Eurekas were first triggered fifteen minutes from the time of the first element drop. Three serials dropped on and near the 505th pinpoint. All serials were approximately ten minutes early. The first serial dropped southeast of lighted tee, approximately one-half mile. The second serial dropped directly over lighted tee. The third serial dropped north by approximately one-half mile. The third serial appeared to be travelling at a speed of at least 150 miles per hour, at time of drop. Several jumpers sustained ruptures, due to the excessive speed.

(Source: Report of D-Day Pathfinders activities - 11 June 1944)

Paratroopers
First Lieutenant Michael C. Chester  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, A Co
First Lieutenant Harold Gensemer  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 3rd Bn, Hq & HqCo
Staff Sergeant Simon H. Hanning  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, C Co
Technical 5th Maynard S. Meyers  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, C Co
Private First Class Lewis D. Allen  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, Hq & HqCo
Private First Class Jasper J. Bowman  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, C Co
Private First Class Leslie D. Fries  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, A Co
Private First Class Walter A. Heinemann  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 2nd Bn, D Co
Private First Class Philip F. Verduce  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, Hq & HqCo
Private First Class William W. Young  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, Hq & HqCo
Private Charles L. Burghduff  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, A Co
Private Charles G. Copping  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, C Co
Private James J. Currin  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, A Co
Private Edward Devonshuk  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, B Co
Private James E. Jones  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, B Co
Private Robert M. Murphy  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, A Co
Private George H. Purcell  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, A Co
Private Ralph Stout, Jr  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, B Co
Private Julius A. Wyngaert  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, 1st Bn, B Co
Private James E. Barnettet  [view folder] 82nd Airborne Div., 505th PIR, Medic
Aircrew
Captain Samuel W. Suttle  [view folder] Pilot
Flight Officer James W. Alwood  [view folder] Co-Pilot
First Lieutenant Frank E. Hayden  [view folder] Navigator
Technical Sergeant Morris Brown  [view folder] Crew Chief