82nd Airborne Division
Pathfinders
Objectives of the pathfinders
The first paratroopers to be dropped on Normandy are the pathfinders. These men are grouped into teams, each composed of a lieutenant (squad leader), four radio operators and four paratroopers in charge of the overall security during operations. They are dropped into enemy territory without initial marking, simply based on terrain observation and navigation calculations aboard the C-47 Dakota aircraft.
The Pathfinders are then tasked with marking-up drop zones (DZ) and landing zones (LZ) before the arrival of the airborne fighting companies while implementing the “Eureka” transceivers of which they are equipped. The latter send pulses picked up by the “Rebecca” transceivers installed under the fuselage of the C-47s, which allows the pilots to orient themselves. It is also possible to use these two means of transmission to send short Morse messages, both for pilots and for scouts.
The Pathfinders are equipped with day and night markings because the reinforcements airborne and air-transported are planned also on the day of June 6, 1944, at 21:00.
Daylighting consists of the use of yellow-colored panels to align to form the letter “T” as well as smoke. These smokes are green in color to indicate a “clear” DZ or LZ, ie without enemies, and red in color to account for the presence of adversaries on contact. At night, the Pathfinders are equipped with holophane lamps.
In all the jump zones dedicated to the 82nd Airborne Division, the DZ “O” markup is the only one to be carried out in its entirety: for the other Pathfinders, the lack of resources recovered after the launch or the presence of enemies on the DZ prevent the full realization of the mission.
Pathfinders teams
Click on the different teams to discover the names and photos of the Pathfinders of the 82nd Airborne Division.
– 505th PIR pathfinders
Stick 1 – 1st Battalion
Stick 2 – 2nd Battalion
Stick 3 – 3rd Battalion
– 507th PIR pathfinders
Stick 1 – 1st Battalion
Stick 2 – 2nd Battalion
Stick 3 – 3rd Battalion
– 508th PIR pathfinders
Stick 1 – 1st Battalion
Stick 2 – 2nd Battalion
Stick 3 – 3rd Battalion
