Airborne operations on d-day

170 color photographs

2 maps

Sainte-Mère-Église, Pegasus Bridge, the Merville Battery... these names are part and

parcel of the historic Normandy Landings and the events of June 6 1944. Already

well known, these events receive a fresh perspective from the pen of Benoît Rondeau.

While these battles are usually studied in separate books, the author covers all the

Allied airborne opérations on June 5 and 6,1944. The author has been careful to present

a lively account of the facts, with many eye-witness accounts and anecdotes. Equipment

and uniforms are also introduced. Distinguishing itself from many previous works,

he concentrates particularly on the D-Day préparations and the development of the

Opération Overlord airborne missions. How were the men prepared? How were the

objectives chosen? What are the imperatives of any airborne opération? Benoît Rondeau

answers all these questions, so often ignored. The author completes his study by counting

the cost of these actions for the 6^th, 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions. A welcome

overview, which throws light on a major episode in 'The Longest Day'.