A Texian in Normandy

[Craig Tx]

Howdy Yall!

Beaverman asked that I share this here.  From 1 June through 10 June I was in Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.  I went as a member of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team.  The team made three jumps.  I only made one of the jumps.  We saw quite a bit there from Utah, and Omaha beaches, the American Cemetary at Omaha Beach, Pegasus Bridge, Breacort Manor, Sainte Marie du Mont, Sainte Mere Eglise, Mayville Battery, Merville Battery, Pont du Hoc, Purple Heart Highway, Deadman's Corner.  Quite a lot for sure!

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[RedOneFive]

That is incredible! Thank you for sharing.

[Bigsmoke]

A fantastic experience for sure.
Good on ya, Craig.

John (Bigsmoke)

[Craig Tx]

In the interior aircraft photo, I'm seated on the left, third helmet (The one with the diamond painted on it.).

[Bigsmoke]

AHA!  I thought that was you.

My step dad flew the planes that delivered the paratroopers.  He is mentioned in the book Red Light, Green Light.

He also towed gliders and delivered supplies and fuel.

After the war was over, he bought a surplus cargo plane and flew fish from Mexico to the US.  Later he bought a Cessna 310 and flew it well into his 70's.  Just couldn't get away from those airplanes.

John

[Craig Tx]

It's to honor the men like your step dad that we do this.

The photo that I'm holding is of a former Sunday School teacher that I had.  He was a P-47 pilot during the war and flew overwatch on D-Day.  His daughter, who is a friend of mine, sent me the photo and I jumped with it on me.  I'll be getting her the photo in the near future.

[BEAVERMAN]

 

[Two Steps]

Great effort…A A T W!

[BEAVERMAN]

Craig, how did your hip do with the jump? Man if I tried that my knees would be blown out for good!

[Craig Tx]

Craig, how did your hip do with the jump? Man if I tried that my knees would be blown out for good!

All my body parts did well.  The jumpboots take care of the ankles, and I have an elastic support on the left knee.  The field was soft, which helped.  Also, the parachute landing fall (PLF) helps the impact.

[No Powder]

Very interesting to say the least Craig. Could you tell us a little more about the building you are standing in front of. I see what appears to be a paratrooper who got hung up on one of those pinnacles. I've got this sneaking suspicion that everybody knows what this building is, but I don't so I'll ask.

[BEAVERMAN]

Very interesting to say the least Craig. Could you tell us a little more about the building you are standing in front of. I see what appears to be a paratrooper who got hung up on one of those pinnacles. I've got this sneaking suspicion that everybody knows what this building is, but I don't so I'll ask.

Tom, that's Red Buttons hanging there!

[No Powder]

Thanks Jim. I think I should have recognized him.

[BEAVERMAN]

Tom that church is in Sainte Mere Eglise Normandy, here is a link to his story
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steele_(paratrooper)

[No Powder]

I'm sure by now, you know how illiterate I am about these gadgets. But, I must have tapped on some of the right stuff, because I ended up with some real good reading material. Things that I never knew before. So thanks for providing me with that info, and hopefully maybe someone can learn too.