D-DAY

     SOUTH WEST AIRFIELDS HERITAGE TRUST

Briefing

D-DAY JUNE 1944 : WORLD WAR II 60th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION 2004

Upottery (Smeatharpe) Airfield, Devon, England

Saturday 5th to Saturday 12th June 2004

On 5th June 1944, just before midnight, 81 aircraft of the United States 439th Troop Carrier Group took off from Upottery (Smeatharpe) Airfield for an advance mission behind enemy lines in France. Their task was to prepare a secure route from the beaches of Normandy, before the landing of a million British, American and Canadian troops stationed in Britain.

Among the advance party was E ­Company, 101st Airborne Division 506 Parachute Infantry. Stephen Spielberg movingly dramatised their heroic actions in the BBC TV co-production "BAND OF BROTHERS".

The first of the 439th Aircraft with their paratroops arrived over the drop zones just after 0100hrs on June 6th 1944, D-DAY.

All through the Spring of 1944, British and American heavy bombers had mounted a steady crescendo of air-attacks, disabling Nazi factories and transport, cutting the bridges across the Seine, and delivering a huge weight of high explosives on military installations along the French coast -the so-called "Atlantic Wall", which Hitler boasted would provide impregnable resistance to any attempted invasion from Britain.

Many of the bombers and their brave crews were stationed at airfields in the South West of England. Primary amongst these was Upottery (Smeatharpe) and Dunkeswell in the Blackdown Hills of Devon. They played a vital role in operations on enemy installations in France and in defeating the U-boat menace, which threatened to put a stranglehold on England.

On the nights of 5th and 6th June 1944 - dark, wet and stormy - a vast flotilla stole across the Channel, to swoop in on the Normandy shores where the bombs were still crashing down on German defences. Paratroopers and glider-borne troops showered down on the countryside beyond the points where the troops were landing. By morning, the beaches were held and the Allied armies were on the move into France along routes opened up by the Parachute Infantry from Upottery (Smeatharpe) in Devon.

On the 7th June, the 439 Transport Carrier Group from Upottery took off again, towing 50 gliders with men and equipment of the 2nd Battalion 325th Glider Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 401st Glider Infantry 82 Airborne Division. Their mission was 'Operation Hackensack'.

Project Objectives

To commemorate the valor and sacrifice made by the American soldiers and airmen stationed at the World War II airfields in the Blackdown Hills of Devon, who took part in a massive lift of airborne troops from Upottery on the night of 5th June 1944 to parachute behind enemy lines for advance operations to pave the way for the D-Day landings on June 6th 1944 to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe.

To commission a permanent public memorial to the bravery of the American soldiers and airmen, to be erected on Upottery Airfield as a tribute to and reminder for all time of the extraordinary sacrifice made by so many in the cause of freedom.

To provide educational facilities, with particular reference to the historic WWIl airfields of the Blackdowns and the American soldiers and airmen who played a vital role in defense of the heritage and culture of Britain, America and Europe.

Project Highlights

Exhibition of wartime photographs and film taken in action on D-DAY by soldiers and airmen from Smeatharpe; local WWII photographs, including construction of Musgrove Park Hospital by US troops for war casualties; reminiscences of veterans and local people; WWII artifacts from the airfields; aerial display and landing by troop-carrying C47 Dakota; display on runway of Spotter Plane and wartime vehicles, commemorative ceremony and dedication in the Chapel, visits by school parties to enhance their curriculum, special attendance of Damien Lewis (the lead in Stephen Spielberg's BAND OF BROTHERS, which launched from Upottery).

5000+ people are expected to attend from Britain, America and Europe during the week 5th June to 12th June 2004.

US Veterans and Relatives

For those wishing to attend this special commemorative occasion, accommodation and hospitality facilities can be arranged in the villages of the Blackdown Hills of Devon, England, close to the WWII airfields of Upottery and Dunkeswell

Further information:

South West-Airfields Trust B24 (WWII Flight Office)

Time table of events

Sat 5th June

1000

1700

Smeatharpe Hall

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Event Closes

1000

1200

1500

1700

Smeatharpe Airfield

Stallholders open

Beech Flypast

Model Aircraft Display

Event Closes

Sun 6th June

1000

1700

Smeatharpe Hall

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Event Closes

1000

1200

1215

1230

1500

1700

2100

Smeatharpe Airfield

Stallholders open

Mustang Flypast

C47 Flypast

Poppy & Para Drop

Model Aircraft Display

Event Closes /  Dismantle

Hall Cleared

1100

Smeatharpe Chapel

Commemoration Service

Mon 7th June

1000

Culmhead

Re build exhibition

Tues 8th June

1000

1600

Culmhead

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Schools visits

Event Closes

Wed 9th June

1000

1600

Culmhead

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Schools visits

Event Closes

Thur 10th June

1000

1600

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Schools visits

Event Closes

Fri 11th June

1000

1600

Culmhead

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Schools visits

Event Closes

Sat 12th June

1000

1500

1800

Culmhead

Exhibition opens

Refreshments all day

Event Closes /  Dismantle

Hall Cleared

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