00240163 UNCLASSIFIED 2431247 06-05-1944 2431248 06-06-1944

0009 TROOP CARRIER COMMAND

546.310A 8151 C5020 1361 1379 24 2447210 02-18-1988 IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL, IX TROOP CARRIER COMMAND, TO DROP AT LEAST ONE OF THREE AIRBORNE PATHFINDER TEAMS ON EACH OF SIX DESIGNATED DROPPING ZONES IN THE CHERBOURG PENINSULA, FRANCE AT DEFINITE TIMES, IN ORDER THAT THESE ZONES MIGHT BE MARKED PROPERLY, BY LIGHTED TEE AND BY RADAR BEACON, AT THE TIME OF ARRIVAL OF THE MAIN BODY OF AIRBORNE TROOPS. THE FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY OF DROPPING AT LEAST ONE OF TWO PATHFINDER TEAMS ON ONE OF THE ABOVE DROPPING ZONES, IN ORDER TO MARK A GLIDER LANDING ZONE AT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE DROPPING ZONES, WAS ADDED SHORTLY BEFORE THE OPERATION WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE. THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO CARRY OUT THIS MISSION, THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT WAS NECESSARY TO OPERATE, THE PLAN OF OPERATION, AND THE DEGREE OF SUCCESS ACHIEVED, ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS REPORT. NONE REPORT ON THE MISSION OF THE PATHFINDER AIRCRAFT OF THE PATHFINDER SCHOOL, IX TROOP CARRIER COMMAND, DURING OPERATION NEPTUNE