Objectives and sectors of the 82nd Airborne Division
June 6, 1944 airborne operations
The 82nd American airborne division (divided into three forces: A, B and C) was commissioned from the Merderet region to seize Sainte-Mère-Eglise as well as bridges at La Fière and Chef-du-Pont. Paratroopers must secure possession of a beachhead west of the Merderet river while awaiting reinforcements from the 4th Infantry Division landing at Utah Beach. It must also destroy the Douve bridges at Etienville and Beuzeville-la-Bastille.
Distribution of the drop zones (D.Z.) and landing zones (L.Z.) for the 82nd Airborne Division:
- Force A
Drop Zone (D.Z.) “N”: Picauville
– Units: 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, company B of the 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion.
– Missions: destroy the bridges over La Douve, seize a bridgehead up to Hameau Renouf.
D.Z. “O”: Sainte-Mère-Eglise
– Units: 505th Infantry Regiment Parachute, HQ of the 82nd Airborne Division.
– Missions: seize the villages of Sainte-Mère-Eglise, La Fiere, Chef-du-Pont. Hold the defensive line from Neuville to Baudienville.
D.Z. “T”: Amfreville
– Unit: 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
– Missions: support the 505th PIR. Hold a defensive line Gourbesville – Le Hameau Renouf.
- Force B
Landing Zone (L.Z.) “O”: Sainte-Mère-Eglise
– Units: gliders.
– Mission: Detroit (arrival on LZ at 04:00).
L.Z. “W”: Les Forges
– Units: gliders.
– Missions: Elmira (arrival on LZ at 21:00), Galveston (arrival on LZ at 7:00 am on June 7th) and Hackensack (arrival on LZ at 9:00 am on June 7th).
- Force C
– Unit: Task Force Howell (troops landed at Utah Beach).
– Mission : reinforce friendly positions at Sainte-Mère-Eglise.
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