Angoville-au-Plain Commemorative Jump 5th June 2004

Commemorative Parachute Jump

Angoville-au-Plain, Normandy

5th June 2004

**Updates : 06/07/04 - report added; 05/07/04 - more photos; 19/06/04 - Jump Video**

The Jump Team celebrating after the jump at DZ-D, Angoville-au-Plain, Normandy, 2000 hrs, 5th June 2004

Under the banner of “Look Out Below!”, the jump team were one of three using the UK-based C-47 N47FK "Fifi Kate" for commemorative jumps in Normandy. Our DZ was part of DZ-D, one of the 101st Airborne drop zones, just north of Angoville-au-Plain, roughly halfway between Ste-Marie-du-Mont and St-Come-du-Mont.

The DZ itself was going to be a challenge, with trees bordering all four sides of the 250x350m sloping field, a church and house in one corner, a farm in another corner, two ditches running across the field, uneven ground, and roads, power lines and more houses on two sides! However, the challenge was worth taking in order to commemorate properly the 101st Airborne D-Day jumps, as the normal commemorations are always centred around the 82nd Airborne DZ at La Fiere.

We were honoured to have the jump watched by several WWII 101st Airborne Veterans, including Clancy Lyall (E/506), Gene Cook (A/506) and Kenneth Moore, who was one of the two 2/501 Medics at the first aid station set up at Angoville Church on 6th June 1944.

As for planning for the jump, it is suffice to say that, given all of the logistical problems associated with a team of jumpers arriving from 5 different counties (UK, USA, Germany, Belgium and Holland) and arranging sufficient parachutes for all of them, getting the jumpers organised was easy compared to the problems of getting official approval for parachuting into Normandy from the only civil-registered plane allowed to fly in the exclusion zone over the Normandy beaches! The official approval was only received by the pilot on June 4th, after much frantic phone calls and faxes from all involved parties to marry up the parachuting requests with the C-47 permissions.

At 1500 hrs on the 5th, the Team was driven in a WWII GMC to the Cherbourg Airfield through the hedgerow country, escorted by an 82nd Airborne MP on a Harley. We arrived at the old section of the field, unloaded gear and chutes and kitted up. Then our C-47 appeared, majestically beautiful, but running late from the Pathfinder drops at Ranville due to delays caused by departing VIPs. No team photo as we had to get on board fast and then up we went. Some 15 minutes to the DZ with the door open, all wonderful!

We circled Sainte Mere Eglise and got the “5 Minutes!” on the approach to Angoville DZ. The DZ Team from D/505 and 2/505 Pathfinders already had the field marked with panels and smoke, and were providing security and recovery details, eagerly awaiting their friends on the plane.

We went through the checks; next it was “GO!” At 2030 hrs, June 5th 2004, Lt. Karremans made a textbook exit at 800ft and once deployed made a half turn to check for the others. The 1st stick all made it safely to the DZ, except for the No. 2 jumper who hit the trees and ended up upside down but alright.

The 2nd and 3rd sticks fell short due to the crosswind increasing (the sloping DZ had barely any wind at ground level, but a good breeze was picking up at around 500ft, coming in from the coast), and most had to overshoot the DZ to aim for the parking lot and fields behind it. All landed safely with no injuries other than pride, given some of the choices of places to land.

All the jumpers gathered for pictures and cheers from the crowd, a bottle of Moet et Chandon was popped and we were invited to party at the Mayor’s house. We later returned to Sainte Mere Eglise to celebrate in the town centre with the US Army jumpers, rounding off a very successful operation.

The Team arrives at Cherbourg Airfield. [This is a combination of two photos!]

Chuting up - the grizzled old First Sergeant makes sure the new guys are rigged correctly.

The fields around DZ-D. This was not like the huge expanse of the La Fiere DZ!!

Stand in the door!!!............................................................................GO!!!!!!!!

All gone!!!........................................................"One thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand!"

A beautiful sight - the C-47 on a low-level flypast over the DZ after dropping all 3 sticks.

Daniel, the Mayor of Angoville, asked if he could have the damaged chute of the jumper who ended up in the trees bordering the DZ, so that the town could display it every year on the anniversary of D-Day. John was happy to oblige.

We wish to sincerely thank the Mayor and citizens of Angoville-Au-Plain for all of their assistance in helping us to be able to remember and honour the WWII US Airborne Veterans with this commemorative jump. Without their help and support it could not have been done.

Click below to run a Windows media file video (low bandwidth, 6.8 MB, lasts about 7 minutes) of the jump at Angoville, (kindly supplied by Hans Ettes, webmaster of the "Dutch Currahees" 101st Airborne Site http://www.101st-airborne.net/)

If you would like to be put on the Jump Manifest for further WWII US Airborne Commemorative Jumps in Europe (whether you are currently qualified, need refresher training, or wish to undertake training), then please contact :