Headquarters 82d Airborne Division
Advance Command Post
APO 469 – In the field
11 June 1944
SUBJECT: Report of Pathfinder Employment for Operation NEPTUNE
To: Commanding General, 82d Airborne Division
1. Pathfinder teams of the 505th, 507th and 508th Parachute Infantries were scheduled to be employed on their respective DZs at H-30, D-Day, in accordance with field orders of these organizations. The regimental Pathfinder teams consisted of three battalion teams composed of two officers, two Eureka operators, one wire man, seven light men, and from four to six security men. The 507th and 508th Pathfinder teams had four security men per battalion assigned from the 504th PIR, plus one officer for each regimental team. The 508th regimental team, in addition to the above equipment and personnel, dropped two BUPS beacons plus the commanding officer of the Provisional Pathfinder Company.
2. All regimental Pathfinder teams flew in 3-plane flights, in V-formation. Take off airdrome was North-Witham.
3. The 505th Pathfinder team was commanded by 1st Lt. James J. Smith. Air Corps commanding officer Captain Kirkpatrick took off on schedule. Encountering little flak on the run in from landfall to DZ, they dropped within 400 yards of the previously designated pinpoint. The drop was six minutes early. The DZ was set up as per SOP [standard operation procedure], with the exception of one battalion light tee. This tee was not put into action due to faulty assembly. Eurekas were set up within ten minutes of drop time. Eurekas were first triggered 15 minutes from the time of the first element drop. Three serials dropped on and near the 505th pinpoint. All serials were approximately ten minutes early. The first serial dropped southeast of lighted tee, approximately one-half mile [away]. The second serial dropped directly over lighted tee. The third serial dropped north by approximately one-half mile. The third serial appeared to be traveling at a speed of at least 150 miles per hour at time of drop. Several jumpers sustained ruptures due to the excessive speed.
4. LZs in the 505 area were set up as per schedule. Eurekas for glider night landing were set up thirty minutes prior to landing time. Eurekas for LZ were triggered twenty minutes prior to landing time. Gliders were generously scattered over LZ areas.
5. The 507th was commanded by 1st Lieutenant Joseph, 507 PIR; the flight was led by Captain Mimor, Air Corps. The flight took off on time at North Witham and dropped on the designated DZ accurately, on tee. At the time of drop, Pathfinder personnel and Pathfinder aircraft were subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire. The jumpers on reaching the ground found themselves in a German fire concentration. Due to aggressive action of enemy troops, the LZ vas not set up according to SOP. No lights were turned on. One Eureka was set up by this Pathfinder team 20 minutes prior to the scheduled drop of first serial. Eureka was triggered 15 minutes prior to the drop of the first scheduled serial. All elements appeared on time. These elements were widely scattered upon arrival, apparently due to action of enemy anti-aircraft fire. A maximum of 50 aircraft dropped their parachutists on the DZ. Eureka remained in action 20 minutes after the scheduled time of the last serial. A few strays dropped after the scheduled time.
6. The 508’s Pathfinder team, Air Corps Flight Leader Captain Miles, took off on time, from North Witham, and made landfall on time, encountering little flak until over St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte. Flak continued from St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte to the run-in for the drop. Anti-aircraft fire shifted from the planes to the jumpers at time of the drop. The drop was on time, approximately one and one-half miles south and slightly east from the previously selected DZ. Due to aggressive enemy action on the ground, lights were not able to be turned on with the exception of two, one of which was coded in the pre-designated code. The BUPS beacon was set up and operating 20 minutes prior to the arrival of the first scheduled serial. One Eureka was set up and operating 20 minutes before the scheduled drop time. The BUPS beacon was receiving definite tuning of homing planes. To ground observers it appeared that incoming formations were scattered due to intense anti-aircraft fire. One large formation was observed dropping approximately one mile directly north. Twenty planes dropped on the DZ with pathfinders. Twenty planes that dropped were approximately ten minutes late, of the first scheduled serial. No subsequent serials arrived over the DZ. Eureka remained on 30 minutes after the time of the last scheduled serial. No strays dropped during that time.
7. The 505th Parachute Infantry sustained no casualties due to enemy action. The 508th Pathfinders lost approximately two-thirds of their enlisted and officer personnel. The 507th Parachute Infantry is missing approximately 20 men. All navigational aids used by pathfinders were recovered and consolidated in the Division CP with the exception of those that were destroyed to avoid their falling into enemy hands.
8. For future Pathfinder operations, it is recommended:
a. That lights either be entirely eliminated or of such construction that they are not visible from the ground.
b. That Pathfinder teams stress in their training assembly under difficult terrain conditions at night.
c. That the size of Pathfinder teams be considerably lessened.
d. That security personnel be dispensed with.
e. That Air Corps pilots and crews be trained to such a degree that formations will be maintained in spite of intensive or anti-aircraft fire.
f. That the BUPS beacon, both antenna and receiver-transmitter set, be modified into a more compact unit for jumping.
N. L. McRoberts
Captain, lnfantry,
82d A/B Div Pathfinders