On their return to England after a Christmas break in Normandy, FAAA members Karen and Matt forwarded on to me a couple of pictures of the new information board recently erected near the Airborne memorial in Magneville.

On the western edge of the small village stands a memorial stone erected in memory of eighteen 506th PIR paratroopers and four 95th Troop Carrier Squadron flight crew. These 22 men lost their lives during the early hours of 6th June 1944 when the crippled aircraft (2100905) in which they were flying crashed. It is interesting to note that when this memorial was dedicated in 1947 it was thought that the Aircraft was carrying troops of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Shoulder Sleeve insignia was placed in sculptured form on the memorial.

When it was discovered many years later that the troops who perished were in fact from "Item" Company 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment it was decided that the 82nd insignia would remain in Honour of that Division. Later new memorial plaques were placed on the surrounding wall and it is these that today that carry the names of the dead and the insignia of the 101st and 506th PIR along with the Ninth USAAF and Troop Carrier Command.

The First Allied Airborne Association had the honour in providing the Guard of Honor for the June memorial day in both 2004 and again in 2009.

Since our deployment to Normandy in June of last year the information board has been erected near to the memorial. Both Karen and Matt and the rest of the group when told were very surprised and proud that amongst the pictures included to illustrate the history of the memorial a picture of our 2004 Honor Guard has been included.

It does go to show I hope that this noble hobby is sometimes appreciated by the people of France.