C47 (42-100733)

Douglas Skytrain C-47-A (Registration 42-100733)
The C-47 departed the airdrome at Exeter, Devon, England with four crew and nineteen members of the 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division on the opening day of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy to retake German-occupied France.

After an unsuccessful pass over the designated drop field, the aircraft began to head back out over the coast. Lt. Johnston of the 3rd Battalion told the pilot to turn back. He then made his jump. In doing so, he witnessed the transport come under intense, concentrated machine gun fire from the Germans. How many of the paratroopers jumped before the C-47 crashed is uncertain.

Also KIA Crew Members:
Bellinghausen, William F ~ Corp, Radio Operator, CA
Lumsden, Harry N, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Margotto, Albert T ~ S/Sgt, Crew Chief, WI
Zeuner, William H ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, PA

Surviving Paratroopers:
2nd Lt. Floyd R. Johnston
Pvt. Raymond L. Crouch
Pvt. Leonard S. Goodgal