Objectives and sectors of the 101st Airborne Division
June 6, 1944 airborne operations
The 101st American Airborne Division was commissioned from Utah Beach West to seize the four Causeways that connect the beach inland and the Barquette lock. Paratroopers must also destroy the coastal battery of Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, the different positions and artillery barracks in the area and the bridges over the river Douve. They must finally hold a line of defense facing south.
Distribution of the drop zones (D.Z.) and landing zones (L.Z.) for the 101st Airborne Division:
Drop Zone (D.Z.) “A”: Saint-Martin-de-Varreville
– Units: 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment and 377th Parachute Field Artillery.
– Missions: to seize exits 3 and 4 in Audouville and Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, destroy the coastal battery of Saint-Martin-de-Varreville and the WXYZ cantonments located in Mézières.
D.Z. “C”: Hiesville
– Units: 3/501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st and 2nd battalions of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and HQ of the 101st Airborne.
– Mission: to seize exits 1 and 2 in Pouppeville and Houdienville.
D.Z. “D”: Angoville-au-Plain
– Units: 1st and 2nd battalions of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3/506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Company C of the 326th Airborne Engineer Battalion.
– Missions: to seize the lock of the Barquette and wooden bridges to Le Port near Brévands, to destroy the bridges over La Douve.
Landing Zone (L.Z.) “E”: Hiesville
– Units: gliders.
– Missions: Chicago (arrival on LZ at 04:00) and Keokuk (arrival on LZ at 21:00).
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