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D-Day Minus One

U.S. Air Force. Public Domain Footage Film by the Air Force to encourage the sale of war bonds. Paratroopers and men and equipment brought in by gliders go behind the German Iron Line and drop into France the night before the invasion on June 6th. The men of the 82nd and 101 Airborne train in England and prepare for invasion.



In this movie you will see the men of Easy company 502 PIR, as their helmet markings that night and through out the rest of the European campaign, were denoted by their battalion WHITE HEARTS on the right side of every troopers helmet. Three battalion made up a regiment, while 3 companies comprised a battalion. Certain elements, such as Easy Company, were denoted and given the special additional responsibility as "PATHFINDERS". These were the first troops that took the air before any other air borne troops. Their mission? Mark the LZ's (landing zones) for their fellow paratroopers.


Historical note: Not to be confused with Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st AB Division, "Band of Brothers" as seen on HBO TV. This was the 506's sister regiment, and both outfits fought side by side in the same battles and air drops. The 502nd trained at Foprt Benning, Georgia in early 1942, while the 506th trained at Toccoa, Georgia..


D-Day Minus One
by FDR Presidential Library
Video 24
Publication date 1945
Usage CC0 1.0 Universal