Manley, Melvin (ed.). “A Short History of Battery B of the 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 17th Airborne Division.” Courtesy of John D. Kaminski, 17ADA.
Miley, William M. Unpublished manuscript, no date. 17ADA.
Mitchell, William C. “17th Airborne Casualties. Some Figures and Comments.” No date. 17ADA.
“Morgenthau Plan.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgenthau_Plan, accessed on October 12, 2017.
My Heroes. Documentary on Shafer’s B-24 Crew. Directed and edited by Dave Shafer, 2005. Courtesy of Dave Shafer.
“Oregon Airborne Infantryman Awarded Medal of Honor Posthumously.” War Department, Bureau of Public Relations, Press Branch, December 19, 1945.
“Parachutist.” War Department training film, Misc. 924. Produced by the Signal Corps.
“Paris, Guide for Leave Troops.” United States Army, WWII era, no date. Author’s collection.
Raff, Edson. Unpublished Manuscript. CMH, CJB.
Roberson, Ben. WWII Veteran Biographical Sketch. CMH.
Shafer, Dave. “Combat Log. B-24 Liberator Crew.” Self-published compilation of crew interviews, diaries, and documentation of Tom Shafer’s B-24 crew. Courtesy of Dave Shafer.
Talon, 17th Airborne Division newsmagazine, June 15, 1945. CMH.
The Talon Crosses the Rhine: A Pictorial History of the 17th Airborne Division’s Airborne Mission Across the Rhine. Paris: 17th Airborne Division, 1945.
The Talon, with the 17th in Ardennes. Paris: 17th Airborne Division, 1945.
“Target: DZ-Wesel, 392nd Bomb Group, Mission #268, 24 March 1945.” http://www.b24.net/missions/MM032445.htm, accessed on March 15, 2009.
Taylor, James E. Manuscript from presentation at Kate Duncan Smith Dar School in Grant, Alabama, November 10, 2004. Courtesy of James Taylor.
Thirteenth Airborne Division. Atlanta, GA: Albert Love Enterprises, 1944.
War Department press release, October 26, 1945. NARA, Records of the Army Staff, Public Information Division, News Branch, Medal of Honor, US Army 1946–48. Press release containing eyewitness accounts of Clinton M. Hedrick’s actions.
Wiegand, Brandon T. (ed.). Index to the General Orders: 17th Airborne Division. Creighton, PA: D-Day Militaria, 2004.
———. Index to the General Orders: 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Creighton, PA: D-Day Militaria, 2004.
Yanok, John (ed.). History 155th Airborne Anti-Tank, Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 17th Airborne Division, 1995. Courtesy of John Yanok.
INDEX
A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
Numbers in bold font refer to pages with images.
Aachen, Germany, Battle of, 148, 150
Aas, Lynn, 3, 337
Achiet, France, 105, 161
airfield B-54 at, 169, 189
marshaling camp B-54 at, 112–19, 139
Ackerman, Gene, 235
Adlerhorst complex, Germany, 87, 156
aerial reconnaissance
German use of, 95, 99, 142, 147
landing zone routes and, 162
Operation VARSITY planning using daily updates of, 116, 122
OSS briefings with, 128
Phase Line PARIS on, 331
Airborne Army. See First Allied Airborne Army
aircraft. See also gliders and specific aircraft
air and ground crew preparations of, 137–39, 158
anti-aircraft gun threats and, 163–64
chalk marking of, to indicate individual machine (“chalk”), 158
double towing technique using, 78–79, 183–84
flight routes for, 160–61, 161
German offensive aircraft threats and, 163
mortar rounds loading and lashing into place in, 158–59, 167
vulnerability of, on airfields, 142
weapon preparation before jumping, 167, 168–69
aircraft pilots
problems from lack of experience of, 219
reduced visibility and problems spotting targets by, 109–99
takeoff problems and, 189
Wavre, Belgium, Command Assembly Point for, 161, 192–93
airfields
flight routes and, 160–61, 161
German awareness of activity on, 142, 144–45
marshaling camps at, 104–07, 105
vulnerability of aircraft on, 142
Air Force (Army Air Corps; United States), 106
aerial interdiction campaign of, 191–92
air route finalization by, 130
casualties during Operation VARSITY, 339–40
C-46 and C-47 aircraft usage and, 78, 137–38
flight plans for drops and, 130
glider copilot requirements and, 134–35
glider recovery efforts and, 132
landing zone glider losses of, 252
Operation VARSITY contingency planning and, 129
Operation VARSITY support from, 77, 78, 163–64, 191, 339
parachute jump training with, 50
pilots’ responsibilities for parachutes in, 282
smoke generator screens and, 145
transport aircraft planning for Rhine crossing and, 77–78
weather considerations in drop planning and, 129
Anderson, Lieutenant John, 300, 301–02
anti-aircraft units
Allied air action against, 74, 75
Allied airfields protected by, 143–44
Allied flights attacked by, xviii, 200, 202, 205, 207, 210, 211, 218, 219, 228, 251, 262
Allied ground action against, 63, 247–48, 278, 327, 336
Allied reconnaissance flights on, 116
Allied weapons to neutralize, 164
B-24 supply runs attacked by, 237
darkness affecting use of, 74
Drop Zone W and, 261–62, 263–65
Flakvierling anti-aircraft guns in, 243–44, 264–65
German use of, 52, 87, 92, 151, 152, 154–55, 165, 240–41, 243–44, 264–65, 297
glider pilots’ concerns about, 163–64, 165, 244–45, 246
landed gliders as easy targets for, 247
pilots’ evasive action to avoid, 240, 246
pilots’ wounding and death from, 244, 245, 248
towed gliders as easy targets for, 240–41
visibility issues and, 244–45
Axis Sally propaganda broadcasts, 21, 156–57
Baines, John, 21–22
Bakarich, Nick, 248
Baker Company, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment (United States)
Battle of the Bulge and, 45
Dillon’s command of 1st Platoon in, 47, 48
Issel River bridge defense and, 303
preparations for a combat drop by, 103–04
training program for, 47–48
Baldwin, Lieutenant Colonel Benton, 223–24
Baldwin, Private Bob, 208
Balish, Lieutenant Colonel Harry, 287, 288, 289, 300–01, 302, 306, 307
Ballon, Private Albert, 213
Barkley, Sergeant Harold, 187, 201
Barrett, Captain Bill, 159
Barthelemy, Flight Officer Richard, 295
Bass, Rexford, 186, 201–02, 203, 213
Battle of the Bulge
17th Airborne Division in, 1–8, 4, 45
OSS operatives in, 123
self-inflicted wound and removal from, 188
Beckett, Lieutenant, 317
Belchem, Brigadier General David
Operation VARSITY planning and, 34–35, 36
Ridgway’s objections to Operation VARSITY assignment and, 37
Belgians, as OSS agents, 125, 127
Belgium, 5
Allied airborne armada over, 161, 192–93
British troops
in, for attack on Germany, 23
German espionage network in, 80
Hitler’s assault on, 3
Bennett, Pilot Charles, 198
Blanchard, Sergeant Thad, 70–72
boarding and takeoff for jump by, 185, 186, 187
Diersfordt Castle seizure and, 212–13, 214
fighting positions established by, 272–73
German propaganda broadcasts and, 156
jump by, 201–02
jump preparations before departing for Operation VARSITY and, 166–67, 175
marshaling camp drop zone preparations by, 109, 110–11
M18 recoilless rifle introduction and, 71, 72
military background of, 68
parachute jump training and, 70–71
Raff’s leadership style and, 70
redeployment of, 337
regimental exercises and dress rehearsal of upcoming operation in, 73
troop replacements and, 68
Blaskowitz, Generaloberst Johannes
Allied air raid against, 155
Allied Rhine crossing defense of, 96–97, 98–99
anti-aircraft batteries used by, 152
defense strategies of, 154, 156, 293
intelligence on Allied strategy and, 96, 154
Schlemm’s approach in Rhine defense supported by, 62, 88–89
Boatner, Melvin, xviii, 351n
Boe, Private Richard, 207, 305
Boettiger, Lieutenant Colonel John, 148
Bols, General Eric, 83
Issel River bridge defenses and, 292–93
lift capacity issues and, 79
Operation PLUNDER and, 76–77
Phase Line PARIS and, 331
Booth, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth, 191, 227, 277–78
Bosse, Unterfeldwebel, 244, 264–65
Bradley, General Omar, 34, 81, 128
Brereton’s Normandy performance and, 31
press briefing before Operation VARSITY by, 171–72
Branigan, Lieutenant Colonel Edward, 111–12, 211
Branigan’s Bastards. See 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion
Bray, Valton, 297
Brereton, General Lewis H., 37
Airborne Army command of, 31–32
airdrop planning by, 32, 79
Dempsey’s Operation VARSITY plan and, 52, 53
Eisenhower’s support for Montgomery in Rhine crossing planning and, 33–34
espionage and security concerns of, 79–80
German propaganda broadcasts and, 156
gliders and, 132, 133, 134
logistical support for gliders and, 131
M18 recoilless rifle introduction and, 72
military background of, 31
Operation CHOKER II planning and, 76
Operation VARSITY approval by, 174
Operation VARSITY contingency planning and, 129–30
Operation VARSITY launch date decision and, 101
preparations before departing for Operation VARSITY by, 171
press coverage complaints of, 119, 330
reporters on jumps arranged by, 223
on Wesel bombing, 330
Bressler, Lieutenant Dean, 190, 231–32, 283
Brooker, Wing Commanders Peter, 143
Bruner, Flight Officer William, 299
B-24 Liberator bombers
Allied aerial interdiction campaign using, 191–92
German capture of crash survivors, 266–67
low approach used in, 262, 264
supply drops by, 195–96, 217, 237, 260–62, 264
Buckley, Flight Officer George, 182, 239, 244–45, 250
Burton, Frank, 313–14
Buswell, Private Gene, 227–28
Cake, Captain James, 225–26
Campbell, Flight Officer Robert, 295
Capa, Robert, 118–19, 169, 220, 223, 235–36
Carpenter, Captain Ernest, 328
Carter, First Sergeant Dick, 220
Casey, Bob, 160, 161, 164
Cassinari, Staff Sergeant Edward, 263
C-46 Commando transport aircraft
air and ground crew preparations of, 112, 137–38
drop planning using, 77–78
flight routes and individual airspeeds of, 160
jump issues with double doors in, 190
lift capacity of, 77–78
problems from pilot’s lack of experience with, 219
takeoffs for jumps by, 189
C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft
air and ground crew preparations of, 137
double towing technique using, 78–79, 183–84
drop planning using, 77–78
flight routes and individual airspeeds of, 160
ground crew preparations of, 158
lift capacity of, 77–78
loading, 158–59, 167
RAF request for, 79
CG-4A Waco gliders
air and ground crew preparations of, 138–39, 158
air turbulence and, 194, 238
benefits of using, 131
cabin conditions during flight and, 193–95
chalk marking of, to indicate individual machine (“chalk”), 158
description of, 131–32
double towing technique using, 78–79, 183–84, 241
jump preparations before departing for Operation VARSITY of, 167–68
lift capacity of, 77–78
logistical support for, 131
loss of, on way over the Rhine, 239
medical units’ use of, 166
Miley’s drop planning and, 77–79
morning of jump preparations and takeoff of, 179–83
mortar rounds loading and lashing into place in, 158–59, 167
Operation VARSITY’s use of, 131
pilots’ final inspections of, 159, 181–82
replacement troops and, 158
retrieval efforts for, 132–33
supply issues with, 133–34
takeoff problems and, 184
towropes used with, 78, 184–85, 238–39, 243
troopers’ assigned place (“stick”) in, 166–67
troopers’ discomfort in, 238
“chalk,” use of term, 158
Châlons-sur-Marne, France, 9–17, 24, 105, 161
17th Airborne’s arrival in, 9
soldiers’ activities and restrictions during passes in, 17–19
soldiers’ laundry arrangements with families in, 102–03
tent camps around, 9–12
Chartres, France, 105, 161
airfield A-40 near, 166–67, 170, 175, 185–87
marshaling camp A-40 at, 109–12
Chester, Sergeant John
family background of, 9–10
howitzer training by, 16–17
jump preparations before departing for Operation VARSITY of, 168–69
landing crashes witnessed by, 253–54
landing of, and skirmishes with German soldiers, 226–28, 229, 237
laundry arrangements in local town by, 102–03
marshaling camp drop planning by, 117–18
Operation VARSITY jump of, xv–xvii, xviii–xix, 226
pass into town and, 21
pay of, 18
reaction to badly wounded paratroopers by, 253–54
rumors about battles and, 81, 102
standards in 466th Parachute Field Artillery and, 48–49
stepping down from command by, 49
takeoff for jumps and, 190
tent camp life of, 9, 11
Thirteeners’ support from, 218
Childers, Lieutenant Colonel Jack, 321
CHOKER II. See Operation CHOKER II
Churchill, Winston, 147, 171, 198, 199
Clausen, Private Carol, 324
Clausen, Lieutenant Herman, 182
Clostermann, Flight Lieutenant Pierre, 143, 144
Cobb, Private John, 117
Cochrane, Lieutenant Vince, 322, 323
Con
boy, Private Jim, 236
Coningham, Air Marshal Arthur, 163
Consolvo, Staff Sergeant Bill, 168, 187, 274
Couch, Colonel Joel, 187, 200–01, 205
Coutts, Colonel James, 281–82
command post set up by, 280
Issel River defensive barrier of, 280, 282–83
jump by, 220
marshaling camp briefing of, 114
personality of, 113
wrong landing location and, 232–33
Cowan, Howard, 194, 241–43
Crookenden, Lieutenant Colonel Napier, 83–84, 85
Crow, Charles, 237
Crowley, Lieutenant Eugene, 280
Cull, Sergeant Bob, 314–15
Deaton, Private Harry, 220
Deaton, Corporal James, 265
de Guingand, Brigadier General Sir Francis, 52, 53
Dempsey, General Miles
divisions assigned to Operation PLUNDER and, 75–76
on German loss, 331
Operation PLUNDER command of, 29
Operation VARSITY launch date decision and, 102
Operation VARSITY plan of, 36, 50–53, 73–75, 76
reputation of, 50–51
Dentz, Franklin, 184
DeShurley, Chester, 297, 298
Deutsch, Generalmajor Friedrich-Wilhelm, 304
Diersfordt Castle, Germany
Allied attack planning for, 111
Allied seizure of, 212–13, 214–17, 215, 268–69, 270
cemetery for German soldiers near, 336
description of, 214
German barricaded in, 269, 274
jump preparations and, 168
Diersfordt Forest, Germany
attack planning for, 114, 121
Raff’s Ruffians’ passage through, 213–14, 215, 218
Thirteeners’ passage through, 222, 283, 286, 312
Dillon, Lieutenant Frank, vii
Baker Company command of, 47, 48
boarding and takeoff for jump by, 183, 184
briefing before Operation VARSITY for, 165
checking soldiers the night before Operation VARSITY departure by, 165
combat drop preparations by, 103–04, 141
glider loading and, 158–59
Issel River bridge defense and, 259, 303, 320
landing by, 248–49
marshaling camp briefings by, 120–22
military background of, 44–45
morning preparations before jump departure and, 180–81, 182
Operation VARSITY departure planning and, 54
reassignment of, 337
Wesel bridge campaigns and, 259
dog tags, 180
Donovan, First Sergeant Royal, 219
Dorff, Sergeant Henry, 249–50
double envelopment (pincer movement), 29, 55, 57–58
double towing technique, 78–79, 183–84, 241
Doyle, Private First Class David, 125
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