Summary of the Parachute Drop at La Fière in 2004
60th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings
Date: 5 June 2004
Location: La Fière, near Sainte-Mère-Eglise
La Fière, 1:30 p.m.
A huge crowd is already gathering around the bridge at La Fière, three kilometers from Sainte-Mère-Eglise, as well as around the perimeter of the planned landing zone, which is being patrolled by about a hundred gendarmes. Many people are taking advantage of the opportunity to picnic, as the sun is shining. About ten parking lots have been set up around Sainte-Mère-Eglise and the parachute drop zone. By 2:00 p.m., there were already few spaces left.
A lone Douglas C-47 appears above the “drop zone” or “D-Z”, and about ten paratroopers, dressed as American soldiers from the June 1944 period, jump from the fuselage of the plane, which had already been flying over the center of Sainte-Mère-Eglise for several minutes.
Shortly after, a series of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters flew over the drop zone, dropping off officials near the bridge and the La Fière farm, primarily high-ranking U.S. Army officers. These officials then headed to a platform set up for the mass parachute drop that would take place in the early afternoon.
La Fière, 2:00 p.m.
To keep the already large crowd from all over the world entertained, the Patrouille de France made several round trips over the drop zone. Loops, close formation flights, and mid-air accelerations are witnessed, impressing all those eagerly awaiting the 650 American and French soldiers who, from modern American aircraft (C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globmaster), will drop onto the fields of La Fière.
La Fière, 2:30 p.m.
As the Alpha Jets of the Patrouille de France disappear into the somewhat cloudy sky, the formation of U.S. Air Force transport aircraft can be seen in the distance, to the north. The wind is not strong (it’s coming from the northeast), and the ceiling is high enough: the military meteorologists on the ground, who are calculating whether the parachute drop can take place, have estimated that it can indeed take place.
The aircraft (about ten, including four C-17 Globmasters, the others being C-130 Hercules) approached at reduced speed to carry out the parachute drop and directly dropped the first of four waves of airborne troops, without even dropping a few units to test the wind strength. Fortunately, the parachute drop went off without a hitch. All the paratroopers were very proud to have had the chance to fly over Normandy for a few seconds, a ceremony that takes place every year in Normandy and is very famous, particularly among American paratroopers.
The American military subsequently unveiled a new commemorative plaque of the American parachute drop on the night of June 5-6, 1944, placed in front of the beautiful statue of Iron Mike, before returning to the town of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, where they will continue to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the parachute drops and D-Day.
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