Operation Detroit
Encyclopedia
Mission Detroit was a pre-dawn glider-borne combat assault in the American airborne landings in Normandy
, made by elements of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on the early morning of June 6, 1944. It was part of Operation Neptune
, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France
, Operation Overlord
. Originally slated to be the main assault for the 82nd Airborne, the glider operation instead became the first reinforcement mission after the main parachute combat assault, Mission Boston
. The landing zone for mission Detroit was near Sainte-Mère-Église
, to the west of Utah beach
.
The objective of the division was to secure the town of Sainte-Mère-Église
and to take the bridges along the Merderet River. By doing this, the 4th Infantry Division
coming in at Utah Beach
would have easy access to making their way northwards towards the ports at Cherbourg.
Casualties for the 82nd on D-Day
were about 1,260 of 6,600, or about 20%.
On 6 June 1944 the heavier elements of the division landed by glider
in mission Elmira
.
American airborne landings in Normandy
The American airborne landings in Normandy were the first United States combat operations during Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy by the Western Allies on June 6, 1944. Around 13,100 paratroopers of the U.S. 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions made night parachute drops early on...
, made by elements of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on the early morning of June 6, 1944. It was part of Operation Neptune
Operation Neptune
The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 , beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time...
, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. Originally slated to be the main assault for the 82nd Airborne, the glider operation instead became the first reinforcement mission after the main parachute combat assault, Mission Boston
Mission Boston
Mission Boston was a parachute combat assault at night by the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on June 6, 1944, part of the American airborne landings in Normandy. Boston was a component of Operation Neptune, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France, Operation Overlord...
. The landing zone for mission Detroit was near Sainte-Mère-Église
Sainte-Mère-Église
Sainte-Mère-Église is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Founded in the eleventh Century, the earliest records include the name Sancte Marie Ecclesia, Latin for "Church of St. Mary", while a later document written in Norman-French mentions Saincte...
, to the west of Utah beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
.
The objective of the division was to secure the town of Sainte-Mère-Église
Sainte-Mère-Église
Sainte-Mère-Église is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-History:Founded in the eleventh Century, the earliest records include the name Sancte Marie Ecclesia, Latin for "Church of St. Mary", while a later document written in Norman-French mentions Saincte...
and to take the bridges along the Merderet River. By doing this, the 4th Infantry Division
U.S. 4th Infantry Division
The 4th Infantry Division is a modular division of the United States Army based at Fort Carson, Colorado, with four brigade combat teams. It is a very technically advanced combat division in the U.S. Army....
coming in at Utah Beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
would have easy access to making their way northwards towards the ports at Cherbourg.
Casualties for the 82nd on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
were about 1,260 of 6,600, or about 20%.
On 6 June 1944 the heavier elements of the division landed by glider
Military glider
Military gliders have been used by the military of various countries for carrying troops and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were towed into the air and most of the way to their target by military transport planes, e.g...
in mission Elmira
Operation Elmira
During World War II, mission Elmira was the landing of a significant part of the 82nd Airborne Division’s glider train in Normandy on the evening before 6 June 1944 as part of Operation Neptune, the assault phase of Operation Overlord....
.
See also
- Mission Chicago
- Mission Elmira
- Mission Keokuck