Multiple Allied transport planes and bombers take off from an airfield in England after the start of Normandy landings on D-Day in World War II. The planes take off one at a time. Allied aircraft flying in formation crossing the English Channel.
Free French 2nd Armored Division troops sitting in front of a building in Southampton during World War 2. Soldiers read a magazine together. A Free French M3 half-track is hoisted onto a Landing Ship, Tank (LST). The M3 half-track is lowered to the LST.
View from port side of a U.S. landing ship tank (LST) underway in the English Channel during World War 2. Ahead is another ship and three landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVPs) on the horizon. Scene shifts to stern of a boat in which two U.S. Coast Guard officers are seen, with Slapton Sands in the background. One smokes a cigar. Next, another view from the port side of the LST shows two officers standing on the deck. The ship approaches the shore and beaches at Slapton Sands. Targets and guide flags are seen on the sand along with a large sign designating Beach "B." A huge hill dominates the background. Closeup of the Coast Guard officer smoking his cigar. Next, a landing craft tank (LCT) number 140 and a Higgins Boat from Troop Transport PA-25 are seen hitting the beach. Closeup of U.S. Coast Guard officer observing through binoculars. A truck driving out of a landing craft utility.
Landing craft ferry Allied troops from pier in English port as they prepare for invasion of France during World War II. Two United States Coastguardsmen pose with members of British Women's Royal Navy Services (WRENS). Some British soldiers seated in a park with civilians on benches in the background. LCVPs ( Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) tied up at the pier in Weymouth, Dorset. American soldiers are assisted by U.S. Coastguardsmen as they board LCVPs, which pull away from the pier as they are filled (ferrying troops out to transport ships). Several Landing Craft Infantry (Large) are seen in the port, including LCI(L)s 494, 92, and 490. View of Weymouth from a boat flying a green flag, in the bay.
Group of U.S. World War 2 paratroopers being briefed by one of their officers (US Army Captain) who points, on a large scale relief map, to landing zones for practice maneuvers. The troopers wear early version of the Parachute Infantry patch on their overseas caps. Troopers wearing their parachutes are briefed by another officer. Groups of paratroopers file out to U.S. Army Air Forces C-47 transport airplanes and board them. Officer inspects individual troopers and their chutes, as they prepare to climb aboard an airplane. the C-47s taxi out and take off. The C-47s join up in a large formation and fly low over the field. View from copilot's window of the formation flying over English farmland and a village. Aerial view of C-47s in formation with their fuselage doors open. Several aerial views of the formations. Paratroopers seated inside a C-47. Several smoke cigarettes. The name: "Rouby" stenciled on paratrooper's helmet. One trooper smokes a cigar. A trooper walks along passing out cigarettes to others, and lighting them. The troopers all stand up and hook their rip cords to a static line. Aerial view of troopers parachuting from their airplanes, near smoke-marked fields.
American paratroopers depart England for the invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day), during World War 2. U.S. paratroopers of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, help each other with their gear, as they stand beside a C-47 aircraft, on RAF Greenham airfield, England. A crew chief cleans the window of the C-47. Two paratroopers, with camouflage painted faces, converse. Three air crewmen, two in leather jackets, pose by the airplane. One, a Lieutenant,holds an oxygen mask and carries a 45 automatic in a shoulder holster. View from inside the cabin, as paratroopers climb aboard the C-47. Lieutenant General Louis H. Brereton, Commander, 9th Air Force, smiles as he offers something to a paratrooper who reaches out from the airplane for it. Brereton laughs and reaches out to shake the paratrooper's hand. The General salutes as the aircraft taxis away and joins a long line of C-47s preparing to take off. Ground crewmen wave to the departing aircraft. The aircraft begin taking off at dusk with their wingtip lights illuminated, bound for the coast of Normandy, France.