Operation Overlord 2017

OPERATION ORDERS
OVERLORD 2017 :

Normandy, France. June 2nd 2017 – June 6th 2017

C47 Commemorative Jumps

General Information:

On the invite of the towns of Carentan, Sainte Mère Eglise, Azeville, Saint Germain de Varreville and Hiesville, Round Canopy Parachuting Team (RCTP) will perform five commemorative drops during the 73rd anniversary of the D-day landings.

It is RCPT’s intention to perform these jumps in WWII style within a strict respect of all current general safety lines and RCPT’s FAA approved Standard Operation Procedures. Our events are leaded in priority by the spirit of airborne brotherhood; we focus to offer to the public and participants a performance of historical accuracy on famous historical Drop Zones. Further it is the goal of the Team to honour the veterans and further the memory to the public through our airborne demonstrations and displays.

Requirements:

Qualified parachutist
Current RCPT Member or RCPT Guest
Current on jump status, at least one satisfactory round canopy jump in the preceding 6 months
Fit to jump medical declaration not older than 24 months

Equipment:
Own MC-1C/D, SF10 or set 10 main parachute with 5ft “C47” extension, all steerable, checked and approved by a certified Rigger in the previous 12months
Own T-10R reserve or Mirps, checked and approved in the previous 6 months by a certified Rigger.

Uniforms:
WWII U.S M42 jumpsuit
WWII style jumpboots or “Corcorans”, WWII steel helmets (no D bales).
Authorised equipment: M-36 Musette bags, M-36 style suspenders, first aid pouch, ammo pouch, Para rope, Mae-West life vest, M2 paratrooper switch knife.
Current uniforms to jump on separate lifts.
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Aircraft:
C47 Dakota, Drag ‘m Oot

Drop zones:

*Friday June 2nd Carentan, Operation Jack Womer:
The dropzone is located along the Purple Heart Lane, Purple Heart Lane is a nickname for Highway N13 near Carentan, France, used by American soldiers and historians to denote a battlefield on which Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole and his troops of the 101st Airborne Division fought during the Battle of Normandy in World War II. The name arose because Cole's troops sustained many casualties in the advance on June 10, 1944, along the causeway of N13 supporting four bridges that spanned the Douve River between Carentan and Saint Come-du-Mont, and in the battle on the morning of June 11 that resulted in a skirmish known popularly as "Cole's Charge". The Purple Heart is an American military decoration awarded for sustaining wounds in combat. This jump is dedicated to Jack Womer, a World War II veteran of high distinction, a “Screaming Eagle”, integral member of the “Filthy Thirteen” squad and close friend of RCPT. Jack Womer passed away the 28th of December 2013, his daughter Helen is still an active member of RCPT.
This jump is part of the official commemorative program and ceremonies of Carentan.

*Saturday June 3rd Azeville: Operation USS Nevada
DZ Azeville Batteries
The German Batterie at Azeville is part of the iron triangle and is situated to the north of Utah Beach.
Just after dawn on June 6th 1944, after an eventful night, shells started dropping in the area. Crisbecq had quickly sunk a destroyer. Azeville, whilst not sinking a ship, damaged several ships during the first few hours.
The Americans landing on Utah had the taking of this batterie as one of their D-day objectives. The American troops of the 4th Infantry Division who disembarked at Utah had the objective of controlling both Crisbecq and Azeville batteries by the afternoon of D-day. The German resistance was more intense than had been anticipated. By the evening of D-day, the Americans had not been able to move against either batterie, and despite the best efforts of the navy force at sea, the batteries and most of their defences were still in tact. The first American assault on Crisbecq was a disaster and the Americans withdrew. On the morning of June 7th the Americans launched their first attack on Azeville. Infantry, supported by Sherman 75 mm tanks approached casemates 3 & 4 from the south east. The first tanks got to within 80 metres of the casemates, and both the Americans and Germans opened fire at the same time.
The first assault amounted to nothing but there were many dead on both sides. This was the first of many assaults and between each assault the USS Nevada shelled both batteries together with Quineville a little further to the north. During the night of June 7th - 8th, the Americans tried to surround both batteries for another assault. The commander of Crisbecq "Commander Ohmsen" phoned Azeville to ask that them to shell his batterie to try and dislodge the Americans. During the night of June 8th - 9th the USS Nevada damaged casemate No 1 with two 356 mm shells (14 inch). The first caused the damage visible on the exterior wall and the second came in through the gun window. This shell did not explode, but killed the gun crew of five before entering the plotting room and also killed the crew in here. During the morning of June 9th, the Americans bombarded the area and encountered weak resistance. The Captain walked out of casemate No 4 with an American parachutist who had
been taken prisoner earlier, waving a white flag. For the troops at Azeville the war was over. Of the German force of around 250 at the start of the battles 169 were taken prisoner. The battery of Azeville was opened 20 years ago to the public by the Conseil Général de la Manche. This year, during our jump, the Conseil Général celebrates the anniversary of the reopening of the batteries to the public in collaboration with the RCPT.

*Sunday June 4th Sainte Mère Eglise – La Fière
DZ La Fière : Operation Iron Mike

One of the essential missions of the 82nd American Airborne Division was to take the bridges spanning the Fière river and the ones in Chef-du-Pont, all located west of Sainte-Mère-Église. Between 6 and 9 June 1944, fierce battles took place in the surrounding area of Merderet, in the midst of swamps purposely flooded by German forces.
On 6 June, at daybreak, a company belonging to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) as well as soldiers from the 507th and 508th regiments took the La Fière manor as well as the bridge over la Fière river by storm. At the end of the afternoon, German forces, though backed up by tanks, failed to recapture the bridge.
The following two days German forces counter-attacked repeatedly. Yet, in spite of a lack of ammunitions, the American soldiers stood their ground. On 9 June General John Gavin led a bloody assault through the flooded areas to take control of the road and make it safe. Backed up by tanks from Utah Beach, American paratroopers managed, once and for all, to take the village of Cauquigny. This victory put an end to the battle of La Fière river.
To pay tribute to the numerous American paratroopers and infantry men who lost their lives in this area, a statute baptized ‘Iron Mike’ was erected. This year again, the RCPT will perform commemorative airdrops along with the active military airborne forces on DZ “La Fière”.

*Monday June 5th Saint Germain de Varreville
DZ “A” Saint Germain de Varreville : Operation Reed Pelfrey

“On June 6, 1944 015 AM the 101st Airborne Pathfinders were the first paratroopers to jump here in the name of Liberty”

This is the engraving of the monument that will be unveiled after our jump by the initiative of RCPT and the town of Saint Germain de Varreville.

Saint Germain de Varreville is located on DZ “A” where pathfinders Capt Lillyman and his men (502nd & 377th) landed first before the main airborne landings.
Pathfinder Captain Frank Lillyman of the 502nd parachute infantry regiment took off from north whitham airbase Central England june 5th 1944. Lillyman in the lead plane flown by colonel Joel crouch was Heading for the northern most drop zone (A). This drop zone was assigned to the 502nd parachute infantry regiment and the 377th parachute field artillery battalion. Lillyman standing as jump master some how in the confusion on board the aircraft exited the lead plane 2nd or 3rd in the stick. 0015 hours june 6th frank Lillyman landed in a small field near st Germain de Varreville. The pathfinders quickly regrouped at the church from here they headed north west through fields and hedgerows and after a short skirmish with the enemy successfully set up the Eureka beacons, lights and markers for drop zone (A).
Late Reed Pelfrey was a member of Captain Lillyman’s stick, he was a good friend of RCPT and attended several of our jumps with his wife Peggy, Peggy continues to work at the Toccoa, GA Museum.

*Tuesday June 6th Hiesville
DZ “C” Hiesville: Operation Gal. Maxwell Taylor

The tiny little village of Hiesville is found right in the middle of the American 101st Airborne Division Drop Zone and was to become the main hub of operations for the 101st Airborne Division and serve as General Maxwell Taylors Divisional Head Quarters.

Brigadier General Pratt, Assistant Commanding Officer of the 101st Airborne Division died in Hiesville June 6th when his glider crashed through a hedgerow after touching down on Landing Zone E.
Hiesville lodged the first surgical Hospital behind enemy lines in the Chateau de Colombière. It was successfully used as field hospital for the first three days after the landings but the Chateau was bombed by the Luftwaffe on June 9th.
Our friends of HBT ’44 will set up a field hospital at the château de Colombière next to our Drop Zone.

Schedule:

*Thursday, June 1st
Who: ALL PARTICIPANTS
Place: RCPT HQ 3 Saussetour, 50310 Fresville
When: from 01.00PM to 06.00PM:
Purpose: Paper checks, signing of waivers, equipment checks

*Friday, June 2nd
Who: ALL JUMPERS CARENTAN & DZ Personnel
Place: RCPT HQ 3 Saussetour, 50310 Fresville

09.00 AM Mission briefing- Initial manifest call – uniforms and equipment check
DZSO Briefing.

10.30 AM Departure Bus from HQ Fresville to Cherbourg Maupertus Airfield

11.15 AM Arrival Bus Airfield - Sustained Airborne Training – JMPI

01.30 PM Loading Aircraft and takeoff

02.00 PM P-hour Carentan Chalk 1 – D-bags drop

03.00 PM (Optional 2nd Chalk)

Parachute Packing Demonstration on DZ Carentan

04.30 PM Ceremony Carentan

07.00 PM Dinner Carentan

10.00 PM Departure bus return to Fresville HQ

*Saturday, June 3rd
Who: ALL JUMPERS AZEVILLE & DZ Personnel
Place: RCPT HQ 3 Saussetour, 50310 Fresville

11.00 AM Mission briefing- Initial manifest call – uniforms and equipment check
DZSO Briefing.

12.00 AM Departure Bus from HQ Fresville to Cherbourg Maupertus Airfield

00.45 PM Arrival Bus Airfield - Sustained Airborne Training – JMPI

02.30 PM Loading Aircraft and takeoff

03.00 PM P-hour Azeville Chalk 1 – D-bags drop

04.00 PM (Optional 2nd Chalk)

Parachute Packing Demonstration on DZ Azeville
& Azeville festivities

H- TBD Return to Fresville HQ

*Sunday, June 4th
Who: ALL JUMPERS LA FIERE & DZ Personnel
Place: RCPT HQ 3 Saussetour, 50310 Fresville

06.00 AM Mission briefing- Initial manifest call – uniforms and equipment check
DZSO Briefing.

07.00 AM Departure Bus from HQ Fresville to Cherbourg Maupertus Airfield

07.45 AM Arrival Bus Airfield - Sustained Airborne Training – JMPI

10.00AM Loading Aircraft and takeoff

10.30 AM P-hour La Fière Chalk 1

01.00 PM Loading Aircraft and takeoff

01.30 PM P-hour La Fière Chalk 2

02.30 PM Ceremony Iron Mike, La Fière

05.00 PM Departure bus to Sainte Mère Eglise

No transportation scheduled (yet) from SME to HQ Fresville

*Monday, June 5th
Who: ALL JUMPERS SAINT GERMAIN DE VARREVILLE & DZ Personnel
Place: RCPT HQ 3 Saussetour, 50310 Fresville

12.00 AM Mission briefing- Initial manifest call – uniforms and equipment check
DZSO Briefing.

01.00 PM Departure Bus from HQ Fresville to Cherbourg Maupertus Airfield

01.45 PM Arrival Bus Airfield - Sustained Airborne Training – JMPI

03.30 PM Loading Aircraft and takeoff
04.00 PM P-hour SAINT GERMAIN DE VARREVILLE Chalk 1 – D-bags drop

05.00 PM (Optional 2nd Chalk)

06.00 PM Ceremony and unveiling Pathfinders monument

07.00 PM Cocktail and BBQ Saint Germain de Varreville

09.00 PM Return bus to HQ Fresville

*Tuesday, June 6th
Who: ALL JUMPERS HIESVILLE & DZ Personnel
Place: RCPT HQ 3 Saussetour, 50310 Fresville

11.15 AM Mission briefing- Initial manifest call – uniforms and equipment check
DZSO Briefing.

12.15 PM Departure Bus from HQ Fresville to Cherbourg Maupertus Airfield

01.00 PM Arrival Bus Airfield - Sustained Airborne Training – JMPI

02.45 PM Loading Aircraft and takeoff

03.15 PM P-hour Hiesville

04.45 PM Ceremony and wreath laying Hiesville

05.00 PM Visit & Drink 101st AB Hospital Colombière (Hiesville) with HBT ‘44(Optional 2nd Chalk)

07.00 PM Departure bus to HQ Fresville

Campsite Fresville HQ:

You’re welcome to camp in the field at our HQ Saussetour, Fresville from Monday 29 may till Wednesday June 7th, water, shower and electricity will be provided, a total participation fee of 40€/person is requested regardless the length of your stay. You must take your own camping material.

Parachute rental:
We would love to get out of the parachute renting business and insist on each participant to consider bringing his own gear, although we’ll have a very limited number of rigs available for which we have to charge a rental fee that will return to the owner of the material.
Renting fees are at 40€/rig/jump. A deposit of € 100.00 will be requested for each rental.
Rental rigs must be returned properly packed, in case you’re unable to pack, some riggers can arrange your repack at 20€, packing tickets will be available.