hi - researching airborne operations Dday

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 from th Netherlands, I would start with the War Diaries

 

Welcome to the forum

Regards

Keith

 

thanks I've change the title to give a bit of an indication of what I'm after and interested in

Tom

 

Hi Tom and welcome to the forum. Get ya self down to the National Archives-Lots of files there on Overlord.

 

Hi Tom and welcome to the forum

Lesley

 

thanks for the welcomes and i will be going to the archives next month to do some research.

Tom

 

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?

 

yes id be very interested in that.

Tom

 

Will have a look at it tomorrow - will see how many pages it has.