Narrative of the Operation - Pathfinder Activity

Both airborne and air commanders felt that pathfinders should be used in the operation, but because the landings were to be made by daylight it was determined that a minimum number of personnel would be committed, with only enough time to set the equipment into operation prior to the arrival of the main serials. Final decision  was that two teams, each consisting of one officer and nine enlisted men, would be committed to each DZ, 20 minutes before the arrival of the main serials. Except for one enlisted man all these officers and men had participated in a combat pathfinder operation in Normandy and had volunteered for a second mission.

Past experience made preparations and briefing very smooth. Predrawn rations, ammunition, smoke, panels, and other essentials had been stored in the group's area for several weeks. Pilot-jumpmaster conferences were held as soon as DZ's were assigned; pinpoints were selected by jumpmasters and pilot-navigator teams; in conjunction with maps, jumpmasters studied divisional and regimental field orders. Enlisted men were briefed 24 hours before take-off time, and all personnel were restricted to the base from the time first orders were received until the return of the aircraft from the mission. Each officer and noncommissioned officer was issued a 1/25,000 map of the operational zone. No maps were marked. After 6 months of air-airborne teams working together, the utmost confidence and coordination had been achieved. The final pathfinder briefing for air crews and paratroops was held at 0830, 17 September 1944, following which all personnel proceeded to their assigned aircraft.

Mission of teams 1 and 2.--The assignment of these two teams was to drop upon and mark DZ "A" for the main effort, preceding the first group by 20 minutes. At 1040 they took off and followed a course generally east to the coast. Over the Channel a P-47 picked up the flight and escorted it to the coast of France. No other escort was seen. At a point where the British spearhead went deepest into enemy territory our aircraft bore north and continued at 1,500 feet. Orange smoke was observed marking the front line, and the two ships speeded to 180 m.p.h Very heavy antiaircraft fire was received and at 1232, in the vicinity of Patie, Belgium, the plane carrying team 2 hit badly in the left engine and wing tank, fell flaming into a steep dive. Four 'chutes were seen to leave the door before the plane crashed, exploding in a sheet of flame.

The other aircraft continued through very heavy flak belts, taking no evasive action, until the railroad running generally east-west into Veghel was seen; at this point the pilot followed a course parallel to the tracks, slowed the plane over the DZ, and jumped the pathfinder team on the exact spot desired. The time was 1244 plus 50 seconds.

No immediate enemy resistance was encountered at the DZ, allowing the team time to put all navigational aids into operation in a very short time. Because of excellent drop speed, dispersion was slight, rendering assembly unnecessary. The Eureka was set up and in operation in 1 minute, while the panel "T" and the panel letter "A" took no more than 2 1/2 minutes.  While some difficulty was experienced with the CRN-4 antenna, this set was functioning within 5 minutes.

The first serial, due at 1304, arrived 3 minutes late and dropped at Veghel. The second and third serials, also 3 minutes late, dropped on the western half of the DZ. The Eureka and the CRN-4 were left in operation 12 minutes after the last serial arrived. No stray aircraft were seen.

Its mission completed--no glider landings or resupply drops having been scheduled for DZ "A"--the pathfinder team made its way to Veghel, where it established a road block in the main square with two men, cleaned out a street of buildings with three more, and sent the remaining four to take a bridge. Friendly troops were met within 30 minutes. After the initial drive, team 1 was used at various times as local security group, prison guards, and combat patrol.

Mission of teams 3 and 4.--These two teams were to drop and mark DZ's "B" and "C" for the main effort and for subsequent glider landing and resupply drops. The teams took off from Chalgrove airfield at 1040. Upon reaching the coast the aircraft circled twice to kill time, then flew the same course taken by teams 1 and 2. They also encountered heavy flak as soon as they reached the enemy lines, and the fire continued all the way to the drop. Although no evasive action was taken, the planes speeded to 180 m.p.h. Since dropped side by side at 1255, pinpointed exactly on the prescribed locations. Here again, assembly was unnecessary since the pilots had slowed their aircraft almost to a stall to assure a good jump.

The slight enemy resistance was overcome and did not slow the teams. The Eureka was in operation inside 1 minute, and the panels and CRN-4 within 4 minutes. The main serial all arrived 3 minutes late, at 1319, 1322, and 1325. Since the DZ's were adjacent and three serials were due to arrive at each, it was difficult to distinguish among them; however, the drop was exceptionally good, all troops hitting the DZ's and assembling without loss of time. Pathfinder personnel remained on the DZ's to guide glider landing and resupply aircraft for 6 days, when they were relieved.

Resupply for pathfinders.--The weight and bulk of navigational aids needed by the pathfinders made it impossible for them to carry in enough smoke and batteries to provide continuous operation of all aids for subsequent landing of gliders. Accordingly a resupply mission was flown on D plus 1 with the necessary additional equipment. This resupply, consisting of a complete CRN-4, extra batteries for both Eureka and CRN-4, and a supply of smoke, landed approximately 20 yards from the Eureka on which the pilot was homing.