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FAAA take the
80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion into the field
In Normandy, the first
gliders carrying the 80th arrived at 4:03 a.m. Batteries A,
B and C flew into Normandy in 42 CG4A and 14 Horsa gliders
carrying 24 57mm guns, 28 jeeps, and nine 1/4-ton trailers.
Batteries D, E, and F came in by boat from Cardiff and on
landing deployed within the Division HQ position to give
anti-aircraft protection. The 80th were credited with
two enemy aircraft shot down. |
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E Battery and Battalion
support vehicles arrive from Utah into the Division
Headquarters area:
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The hedgerows of the Normandy
countryside hide vehicles well. Battalion Supply
vehicles and HQ elements park up in the Division Command
Post area:
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E Battery Commander reports
to Division |
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E Battery's 1st Platoon
Leader and Platoon Sgt report to Battalion for deployment
orders on arrival at 82nd Division HQ |
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Gun Section Leader, Sgt
Thomas J Smart, reports in to the Platoon Sgt for gun siting
orders.
Private Davies of the Battalions maintenance section
prepares to check over the vehicles after the sea crossing. |
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Recce party move out to map
selected gun deployment sites:
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Private Davies checks out a
Jeep from Battalion Headquarters Company |
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1st Platoon sight their Guns
at the limit of the Divisional command post area:
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Platoon Leader and Platoon
Sgt confer on the best locations for the Platoon's .50
Calibre Heavy Machine Guns:
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Sgt Thomas J Smart ,a Veteran
of North Africa, wonders what yet another Campaign brings
for his outfit |
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1st Platoon start to bring
forward the section kit. A detachment from the
Battalions Medics moves forward to set up a Aid Post:
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M63AA Mounts and weapons are
moved up to the Gun Positions:
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Anti-Aircraft Gunners of E
Battery set up their gun mounts in the Division area:
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First Squad's Gun nearly
ready for action:
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Ammunition resupply - .50 Cal
Ammo is brought up to the Guns:
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Gunners of Battery E,
80th Anti-Aircraft Battalion deployed:
- Within the first few days in action in Normandy,
the Battalion had shot down two German Aircraft.
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Within a few days Division HQ
moved and with it elements of the 80th.
E Battery continued to provide AA cover well into the
Campaign and later provided ground support to the Infantry
Regiments with the Browning used in the ground role.
The 80th prepare to move out:
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