Flight time to Normandy

[Larso]

Sorry if this has been asked before but how long did it take paratroopers destined for Normandy to fly there? I know it would depend on where their airfields were and probably some 'forming up' but an average would be usefull.

[Dessek Warrior]

Around 3 hours, according to Band of Brothers. The planes of the 506th PIR took off on 22.00hrs from England to drop its paratroopers around 01.00hrs in Normandy.

[Larso]

Thanks for that. In fact the question was put to me by a friend as we were watching Band of Brothers.

[Barrett]

The reason for the seemingly inordinate flight time across the 100 miles or so to Normandy was difficulty in organzing hundreds of C-47s and gliders at night, in occasionally spotty weather, on a scale that had never been attempted before. Because each airborne division had specific drop/landing zones, the respective troop carrier groups had to form up and take briefed routes to the DZs. Also remember that it was the first combat mission for the large majority of TC crews.

[red devil]

Around 3 hours, according to Band of Brothers. The planes of the 506th PIR took off on 22.00hrs from England to drop its paratroopers around 01.00hrs in Normandy.

Are you accounting for the hours time difference? I would have thought, given distances, 2 hours max for flight.

[Volklin]

wow... sitting there 2-3 hours, i can imagine the butterflies having a war of their own in your stomach.

[tonyh]

I've just been for a job interview and the butterflies were bad enough for that. But I have absolutely no concept of the feeling I would experience throwing myself out of an airplane at night into enemy territory.

It must have been bloody awful.

Tony

[red devil]

I cannot imagine anyone at all wanting to jump out of a serviceable aircraft!!

[Christian W.]

With all that Flak I seriusly wouldnt want to jump.....but I would anyway.

[Volklin]

because you'd die anyway... the losses on planes was a lot, flak could have got you inside

[Christian W.]

True. The plane was not safe place. It was more safer to jump than stay inside a plane that was a big target for AA-gunners.

[Dessek Warrior]

Around 3 hours, according to Band of Brothers. The planes of the 506th PIR took off on 22.00hrs from England to drop its paratroopers around 01.00hrs in Normandy.

Are you accounting for the hours time difference? I would have thought, given distances, 2 hours max for flight.

Good point. As far as I know the planners for D-Day used double daylight saving time; I don't know how large the time difference would be. On the other hand, most of the operational planning of the Invasion was done using Normandy local time.

[Andy H]

Volume 1 of the excellent D-Day Then & Now gives superb coverage of the airborne logistics and invasion drop.

Andy H

[CHRISCHA]

The reason for the seemingly inordinate flight time across the 100 miles or so to Normandy was difficulty in organzing hundreds of C-47s and gliders at night, in occasionally spotty weather, on a scale that had never been attempted before. Because each airborne division had specific drop/landing zones, the respective troop carrier groups had to form up and take briefed routes to the DZs. Also remember that it was the first combat mission for the large majority of TC crews.

This is an important point to the question. The planes would be circling and forming up during the three hours. As you point out in the question, it really does depend from where they flew from.

[red devil]

True. The plane was not safe place. It was more safer to jump than stay inside a plane that was a big target for AA-gunners.

My reference to jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft is an British Army joke when making fun of modern day paratroopers.