Composition of the D-Day serials
Aerial operations of the Normandy landing
Each of the parachute infantry regiments is embarked on board three to four aircraft formations (called “serials”). These formations or serials are composed according to the cases of 36, 45 or 54 Dakota C-47 aircraft and are spaced apart by six minutes over the drop zone. On board the Dakota, the paratroopers form a “stick” of 15 to 18 men according to the equipment transported.
This page allows you to discover the composition of the squadrons carrying the paratroopers and glidermen on 6 and 7 June 1944. The diagrams show the formations used by the pilots whose names are inscribed when they are known, as well as the planes shot down over Normandy or damaged at sea.
D-Day – June 6, 1944
Mission Albany (101st Airborne Division)
|
SERIAL
|
AIRBORNE UNITS
|
|---|---|
| Pathfinders of the 101st Airborne Division | |
| 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| Eléments du 1st & 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 377th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Field Artillery Battalion, det. 326th Airborne Medical Company | |
| 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, Division HQ, Artillery, Signal | |
| 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, elem. C Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, det. 326th Airborne Medical Company | |
| 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, elem. C Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, supply |
Mission Boston (82nd Airborne Division)
|
SERIALS
|
AIRBORNE UNITS
|
|---|---|
| Pathfinders of the 82nd Airborne Division | |
| 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 3rd Bataillon, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2 platoons of the 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion | |
| 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, HQ 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1 platoon of the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, det. Division HQ. | |
| 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| HQ 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, B Company 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion | |
| 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 3rd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 2nd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 3rd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment | |
| 1st Battalion and HQ, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment |
Mission Chicago (101st Airborne Division)
|
SERIAL
|
AIR TRANSPORTED UNIT
|
|---|---|
|
101st Airborne Division
|
Mission Detroit (82nd Airborne Division)
|
SERIAL
|
AIR TRANSPORTED UNIT
|
|---|---|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
Mission Keokuk (101st Airborne Division)
|
SERIAL
|
AIR TRANSPORTED UNIT
|
|---|---|
|
101st Airborne Division
|
Mission Elmira (82nd Airborne Division)
|
SERIALS
|
AIR TRANSPORTED UNIT
|
|---|---|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
D-Day + 1
Mission Galveston (82nd Airborne Division) – June 7, 1944
|
SERIALS
|
AIR TRANSPORTED UNIT
|
|---|---|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
Mission Hackensack (82nd Airborne Division) – June 7, 1944
|
SERIALS
|
AIR TRANSPORTED UNIT
|
|---|---|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
|
|
82nd Airborne Division
|
Mission Freeport – June 7, 1944
|
SERIALS
|
AIR TRANSPORTED MATERIAL
|
|---|---|
|
Air supply
|
|
|
Air supply
|
