Four Hours of Fury
Page 54
drop zones. See also specific zones
troops’ need to know flight paths in, 111
Drop Zone W (DZ W), 198–212, 204, 260–74
aircraft crash in, 265–66
anti-aircraft fire in, 261–62, 263–64
Blanchard’s platoon’s position in, 272–73
Branigan’s Bastards’ defense of, 211–12, 272, 274
civilian collection point in, 275
crash during second pass in, 263–64
Diersfordt Castle seizure in, 212–13, 214–17, 215
507th Parachute Infantry jumps in, 198–203, 207–10
German anti-aircraft gunner on flights over, 264–66
Miley’s command post in, 269, 271–272, 274
Raff’s Ruffians in, 199–200, 203–05, 204, 270, 271, 272, 274–76
Raff’s Ruffians’ marking of, 261
Shafer’s formation’s drops at, 260–62
skirmishes with Germans in, 198, 202, 203, 205, 207–08, 209, 210, 211–12
Drop Zone X (DZ X), Germany, 218–37
civilians caught in crossfire in, 224–25
513th Parachute Infantry (Thirteeners) in, 219–20, 222
German ground fire in, 228–29
German tank fire in, 233–34
location of, 114
skirmishes with Germans in, 225–28, 231, 232–37
Dudenhoeffer, Bud, 248
Dunhoft, Harry, 245
Duree, Captain Charles, 49, 227
Edwards, Major Irwin, 230–31
XVIII Airborne Corps (United States), 334
Operation VARSITY in Rhine crossing and, 31, 33, 75
OSS missions and, 127
Ridgway’s command of, 23, 31, 33
Ruhr Pocket and, 335
shortage of qualified airborne troops for, 39
82nd Airborne Division (United States), 5, 22–23, 43, 69, 271
Dillon’s transfer to, 337
Miley as Ridgway’s assistant division commander of, 43
Operation MARKET GARDEN in Holland and, 25–26
pilot shortage and, 134, 135
Ridgway’s command of, 22–23, 76
Eisenhower, General Dwight
disagreements about Dempsey’s Operation VARSITY plan and, 52
Operation PLUNDER planning and, 29, 76
opinion on Antwerp for supplies and, 25
proclamation to German armed forces from, 172
Rhine crossing and, 23, 29, 55, 101, 198
security breaches with Operation VARSITY plan and, 80
on success of Operation VARSITY, 339
Ellington, Smokey, 182–83, 246, 310
Ellis, Harry, 247
Elzey, Richard, 337
Emmerich, Kanonier Peter, 152, 153, 154, 243–44, 264–65
Erle, Germany, drop planning for, 129, 130
Eyers, Ken, 232
Fiebig, Generalmajor Heinz, 81, 146–47, 151, 152–53, 154–55
15th Scottish Division (United Kingdom), 75, 270
Finney, Sergeant Herbert, 266, 267, 285
I Airborne Corps (United Kingdom), 31, 32, 33
1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom), 25–26
First Allied Airborne Army, 13, 29–31, 53, 131, 330, 335
501st Parachute Infantry Battalion (United States), 40–43
new equipment designed for, 40
new traditions invented for, 42–43
training of, 41
uniform of, 41–42
507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Raff’s Ruffians; United States)
B-24 drop and, 270–71
Diersfordt Castle seizure by, 212–13, 214–17, 215, 268–69, 270, 274
Diersfordt Forest encounters with Germans and, 213–14
Drop Zone W defense by, 270, 271, 272, 274–76
Drop Zone W jumps by, 198–207, 204
Drop Zone W marking by, 261
flight to the Rhine by, 196
ground tactics after landing by, 205–07
jump preparations before departing for Operation VARSITY by, 167–68
jumps by, 199–200, 203–05, 204
marshaling camp drop zone briefings by, 109–12
Luxembourg assault and, 68, 70
Miley’s reorganization of 17th Airborne Division and, 44, 69
Operation VARSITY briefings for, 73
Operation VARSITY planning and, 84–85
513th Parachute Infantry Regiment (Thirteeners; United States), 82
activities the night before jump departure of, 170
cost of jump by, 223
Drop Zone X landing by, 218–20, 222
German tank fire and, 233–34
head-shaving ritual of, 169
jump preparations by, 169–70
marshaling camp preparations by, 112–19
Miley’s formation of, 44
number thirteen superstition of, 112–13
Operation VARSITY planning and, 83, 85
parachutes used by, 139
photographer’s account of jumps of, 118–19
refusals to jump in, 221–23, 231
skirmishes with Germans, 225–28, 231, 232–37
takeoff for jump by, 189–90
wrong landing location for 2nd Battalion in, 229–31
Flakvierling anti-aircraft guns, 243–44, 264–65
Foulk, Sergeant Ralph, 49, 227
464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (Branigan’s Bastards; United States), 111–12
boarding and takeoff for jump by, 188
Drop Zone W and, 272, 274, 318–19
jumps by, 211–12
466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (United States)
Châlons-sur-Marne, France, arrival of, 9
Chester’s flight and drop in, xv–xix
Chester’s standards for, 48–49
drop planning by, 117–18
howitzer training in, 16–17
mail restrictions and, 12–13, 103
Quartermaster Corps’ delousing and clothing of, 10–11
reorganization of 17th Airborne Division and, 48
takeoff for jumps by, 190–91
tent camp life of, 9–13
Fowler, Major Gordon, 276
Fowlkes, Captain Paschal, 208
France
Allied strategy affected by destroyed airfields in, 37, 74
collaborators in, 95
German espionage network in, 80
German reconnaissance of airfields in, 95–96
Funk, Private Tom, 14, 15, 218–19, 313–14
Gadd, Private (private first class, sergeant) Curtis, 113–15, 232
Gaither, Ridgely, 278
Gale, Major General Richard
military background of, 32–33
Montgomery’s Rhine crossing and, 32
Montgomery’s staff’s preference for replacing, 33, 34, 37
Operation VARSITY planning and, 36–37
Galicki, Lieutenant Stanley, 190
Gavin, General Jim, 135
Geist, Private Robert, 256–57
German Army
Allied skirmishes with Germans, in Drop Zone X, 225–28, 231, 232–37
anti-aircraft battery with, 152, 154
battle reputation of, 108–09
cemetery near Diersfordt Castle for, 336
civilians caught in crossfire with, 224–25
Diersfordt Castle seizure and, 212–13, 214–17
espionage network, German use of, 79, 80, 95
gas mask use by, against Allied smoke screens, 146
looting by, 94
paratroopers’ skirmishes with, Drop Zone W, 198, 202, 203, 205, 207–08, 209, 210, 211–12
reasons for fighting and, 155
reconnaissance for target identification by, 147
sense of urgency among, 154–55
smoke screens used by, 146
Volkssturm militia’s relations with, 150–51
Germany
Allied advance (Fall 1944) a
gainst, map, 24
Allied airfield bombings by, 144–45
Allied air raid against, 154–55
Allied intelligence on plans of, 99
Axis Sally propaganda broadcasts by, 21, 156–57
continuing manufacturing output in, 88
defenses against Allied Rhine crossing campaign and, 55–67, 89–91, 90
espionage network of, 79, 80, 95
guerilla army of Goebbels in, 173–75
Hitler’s Nero Decree on necessity of German victory through infrastructure destruction, 148–49
Operation MARKET GARDEN in Holland and, 25–26
possible poison gas use by, 116–17
recoil-reducing technology developed in, 72
reconnaissance and intelligence used by, 94–96, 142–43
total war stratagem of Goebbels and, 147, 149, 173
vengeance weapons used by, 142
Geyer, Oberst Rolf, 96, 153
Giebelstadt, Germany, airfield, bombing of, 260
Gill, Robert, 285
“Gliderman’s Lament, The” (song), 45–46
glider pilots, 134–37, 159–65
accidents in flight and, 239
air turbulence and, 194, 238
anti-aircraft gun threats and, 163–64, 240–41, 244–45, 246
boarding and takeoffs for jump by, 183–85
briefings before Operation VARSITY for, 160–65
communication between tugs and, 193–94
final glider inspections by, 159, 181–82
flight route assignments for, 160–61
German offensive aircraft threats and, 163
lack of equipment for, 135–36
landing location decisions and, 162–63
last-minute briefing and final adjustments before departure for, 181
military’s treatment of, 135
morale of, 45–46
morning activities before jump departure and, 181–83
navigational checkpoints for, 162
Operation CHOKER II and, 164–65
personal survival equipment for, 138–39
as provisional battalion, 164
release decisions in landing zones by, 241–43
shortage of, 134–35
takeoff problems and, 184
towrope management by, 238–39, 243
training of, 49, 136–37
visual checkpoints for, 200
Wavre, Belgium, Command Assembly Point for, 161, 192–93
weapons carried by, 182–83
glider regiments. See 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment; 194th Glider Infantry Regiment
Glider Riders. See 194th Glider Infantry Regiment
gliders. See CG-4A Waco gliders
Goebbels, Joseph
Allied crossing of the Rhine announced by, 329–30
propaganda used by, 147–48, 156, 173–74
total war stratagem of, 147, 149, 173
Volkssturm proposal of, 149–51
Golub, Eugene, 262
Graves Registration Collecting Point, 166
Graves Registration teams, 310, 334
Green, Private Harold, 112–13
Greene, Private Donald, 70
Grinker, Roy R., 169
Guards Armoured Division (United Kingdom), 25, 26
Guy, Sergeant James, 229
Hand, Lieutenant Floyd, 295, 298
Haney, Private Joseph Clyde
activities the night before jump departure and, 165
camp mail restrictions and, 12, 13, 103
Combat Infantryman Badge awarded to, 81
drop planning and, 122
family background of, 12–13
rumors about battles and, 81
wounding during landing and death of, 249–50, 338
Hare, Flight Officer Wes, 252, 312
Harvey, First Lieutenant Murray, 206
Harvey, Sergeant Tom, 219
Hawley, Lieutenant George, 211
Hedrick, Sergeant Clinton, 332–34
Helms, Thomas, 254
Herrmann, Private Gene, 46–47, 104, 258–59, 307
Hitler, Adolf
Allies’ advance in Rhine campaign and, 55, 56–57, 59, 63
assault to recapture Antwerp and, 3–5
German determination to continue fighting and, 23, 92, 98
Kesselring’s appointment by, 86, 87, 88
military service age increase by, 91
on necessity of German victory through infrastructure destruction (Nero Decree), 148–49
order on execution of Allied saboteurs and agents from, 125
possible poison gas use by, 116–17
Rundstedt as scapegoat for Allies’ Rhine crossing and, 86
Soviet Army threat and, 87, 88
Hohn, Sergeant Cleo, 209
Holdren, Private George, 325, 326
dental care for, 12
landing by, 252–53
Paris pass of, 20–21
tent camp life of, 10
Hope, Bob, 131
Horsa gliders, 45, 79, 229, 291, 292
Howell, Dick, 262
Hummel, Second Lieutenant Jack, 265–66, 267
Hunter, Captain John, 263
Hurley, Albert, 297, 298, 299
Hutchinson, Ivey, 216
Hutton, Bud, 170
Issel Canal, Germany, 178, 242, 299, 308
Allied positions along, 197, 240, 247, 256
Allied seizure of bridges over, 256–59
Issel River, Germany, 178, 308
Allied positions along, 107, 114, 121, 122, 218, 240
Coutts’ defensive barrier along, 280, 282–83
German defense of, 92, 97, 107, 108–09
German taking of bridges over, 292–93
landing zones near, 242
Miley’s Operation VARSITY planning for, 82, 107–09
Ivy, Captain Gates, 280, 283
Jella, Flight Officer Elbert, 297
Jones, Private Noah, 221–23, 322–23, 331–32
jumps, Operation VARSITY, 198–212 See also Drop Zone W, Germany; Drop Zone X, Germany
aircraft problems during, 208–09, 210, 211, 219, 221, 223, 231
Allied aircraft hit during, 198, 207, 210, 220, 221, 223–24, 241
Allied deaths during, 207, 208, 209, 210, 213, 219, 220, 221, 223
anti-aircraft fire during, xviii, 200, 202, 205, 207, 210, 211, 218, 219, 228, 251, 262
bad jumps into trees, 202–03, 208, 223, 227
Branigan’s Bastards and, 211–12
breakfast and morning activities before, 179–83
Drop Zone W in, 198–212, 204
evening preparations before, 166–68
finding paratroopers’ assigned place (“stick”) in gliders before, 166–67
formation walk to aircraft for boarding for, 180–81
German knowledge of landing targets in, 207–08
gliders’ boarding and takeoffs for, 183–85
ground tactics after landing in, 205–07, 210
head-shaving ritual before, 169
jumpmasters’ commands and oversight in, 197, 199–200, 211
Montgomery’s message to troops before departure for, 183
parachute jump training for, 70–71, 73, 78
parachute problems during, 211, 221, 224
paratroopers’ activities the night before, 165–66, 168, 169–70
paratroopers’ boarding and takeoffs for, 185–91
paratroopers’ fear and stress before, 101, 169, 175, 182, 189, 220
photographic record of, 169, 220, 223–24, 235–36
Raff’s Ruffians and, 199–200, 203–05, 204
refusal to jump during, 221–23, 231
roll call before boarding aircraft for, 181
steering of parachutes during, 202
takeoff problems before, 184, 189
uniforms and equipment worn before, 180
weapons carried during, 186, 203, 208, 210
Jungen, Leo, 125, 171,
245–46, 286
Keagle, Paul, 266
Keehan, Lieutenant Edward, 209
Keith, Second Lieutenant Arthur, 262
Keller, Private Bill, 80
Kent, Lieutenant Colonel Edward, 281
Kesselring, Generalfeldmarschall Albert von
Allied air attacks and, 92
Allied air raid against, 156
Germany’s western front strategy for Rhine defense and, 86–88, 97–98
headquarters relocation by, 87
Hitler’s appointment of, 86, 87
intelligence on Allied strategy and, 96
Ruhr defense strategy of, 87–89
Kies, Lieutenant Colonel Harry, 283
Killed in Action, American
Dutch cemetery for, 338
Graves Registration teams and, 310, 334
quartermasters’ duties with, 7–8, 166
King, Wallace, 202
Kissinger, First Sergeant Ed, 211
Kleinherber family, 93–94
Knickerbocker, Flight Officer Bill, 136, 162–63, 184–85, 193, 254–55, 312
Knight, Private Charles, 195
Kormylo, Lieutenant Joseph, 304–05
Kreuzer, Sergeant Mardell, 104
Krupp, 72
Landing Zone N (LZ N), Germany, 108, 178, 251–56
German anti-aircraft fire in, 251–52
glider crashes in, 253–54
medical teams and equipment landing in, 255
number of troops landing in, 251
passengers’ injuries during landing, 252, 253, 254
pilots’ escape into a farmhouse after landing in, 254–55
Landing Zone S (LZ S), Germany, 238–51, 242, 256
fourth serial landings in, 249–50
German anti-aircraft fire in, 240–41, 243–46
glider crashes in, 239, 243, 249, 251
landing patterns and sectors in, 240, 247
later serial landings in, 250–51
number of troops and amount of cargo delivered in, 251
194th Combat Team and, 238, 242
passengers’ injuries during landing, 245–46, 249–50
pilots’ release decisions in, 241–43
route from Rhine to, 239, 240
serials using, 240
small ground battles after landing in, 246–47, 247–48, 250–51
third serial landings in, 248–49
Langhaeuser, Generalmajor Rudolf, 95, 150
Lapsley, John, 143
Laufner, Sid, 220
Lauria, Private Jim, 238, 251
Lawson, Doug, 218–19
Lawson, Glenn, 186, 203
Leathers, Sergeant Harlan, 316, 324
Lefler, Private James, 277
Lemberger, Lieutenant Herman, 288
Leonardo, Medic Joe, 255
Lochard, Flight Officer Tom, 312
Love, Lieutenant John, 295
Luftwaffe
aerial photoreconnaissance by, 95–96, 142
Air Force strategy against, 163
Allied airfields attacked by, 142