hi I've just joined the forum. i'm currently researching the operations and contributions the British and American airborne forces gave towards the Dday invasion for my dissertation. i am currently looking for first hand sources, maps and photographs any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks, Tom
Welcome to the forum. I'd also suggest a thread title giving a hint to what you're after rather than just 'Hi'.
Hi Tom and welcome to the forum. Get ya self down to the National Archives-Lots of files there on Overlord.
Welcome to the forum Tom - enjoy! Lots of Airbourne types on the forum, so I'm sure you'll get a lot of information coming your way soonish... Best, Steve.
Re the U.S. Airborne operations in Normandy - I would recommend S.L.A.Marshall's book 'Night Drop' and also Gordon A. Harrison's 'Cross Channel Attack', one of the volumes in the Official History on the US Army in WWII. Here is a link to the latter: HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Cross-Channel Attack It has a few good maps of the Airborne Assault: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-XChannel/maps/USA-E-XChannel-VIII.jpg (general overview drop and landing zones) http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-XChannel/maps/USA-E-XChannel-IX.jpg (drop pattern 101st AB Div) http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-XChannel/maps/USA-E-XChannel-X.jpg (drop pattern 82nd AB Div)
i'm currently reading S.L.A Marshalls book after a lot of searching for it but i will be sure to have a look at the other book that you have recommended thank you very much. Also this maps will be of great use thanks. Tom.
There are also a couple of special studies filed on the web-site of CMH (Chief of Military History): Fight at the Lock - The Fight at the Lock 506 Para Infantry Regt in Normandy - [8-3 Forcing the Merderet Causeway - REGT1\/~NTh T UNIT S 1 ui'Y Cassidy's battalion - Cassidy's Battalion
There are also a couple of special studies filed on the web-site of CMH (Chief of Military History): Fight at the Lock - The Fight at the Lock 506 Para Infantry Regt in Normandy - [8-3 Forcing the Merderet Causeway - REGT1\/~NTh T UNIT S 1 ui'Y Cassidy's battalion - Cassidy's Battalion thanks for these they will also be a lot of help. I just replied to your post looking for an english version of 'Nightdrop' if you are still looking for an English copy. Tom
My (Swiss) copy is a paperback of reasonably quality. It does not have pictures, but many black&white maps. Is it the same as your's.
yeah mines paperback and all black and white maps. Only cost me 64p though on abebooks.co.uk, which i have found to be a brilliant website for cheap books which is especially good on my student income. Tom
Though I met many veterans of the British 6th AB Division- even once guided a coach full with veterans (40+) around in Arnhem (yes - Arnhem! visiting their colleagues battlefield), I do not have much knowledge of this Division's operations in Normandy - but there surely are other members who can assist you with that.
am finding it quite hard to find sources for the pegasus bridge operations only really small sections in books not really books dedicated to it apart from Stephen Ambrose obviously. Tom
There is a divisional history written by the then GOC N.R. Gale: "With the 6th AB Division in Normandy". The Arnhem Library holds a copy of it. Interested?