(PatriotPostNews.com) – On June 3rd, 2024, 70 parachutists, dressed in WWII uniforms, jumped from WWII-era C-47 transport aircraft over Normandy, France.
The 70-man jump was to commemorate the anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles in modern history. Roughly 10,000 US and allied troops were killed, severely wounded, or went missing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6th, 1944. Two of the aircraft present at the event were also present at the massacre 80 years ago. The surviving veterans, one aged 107, met in Dallas before flying to France. The veterans reflected on the French countryside, saying that it looked the same as they remembered.
They became emotional seeing the same aircraft that they jumped from 80 years earlier now present on the same countryside where they witnessed the slaughter. One veteran, Dawna Bennet, the sole female jumper, reflected on the fear that she felt and explained how the original jumps occurred at midnight. Another veteran recalled the gunfire they faced while parachuting down, and said that he was glad to see parachutists descending safely.
The commemorative airborne reenactment serves as a reminder to the horrors of modern warfare, but also serves as a solemn tribute to the men and women who died that day. Large crowds attended the event and more than 60 veterans were present. One veteran was part of the force that bombed strategic locations. The youngest veteran at the event was 96 years old.
D-day was the allied invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944. The operation is known for its massive airborne and amphibious forces. One veteran at the event described it as a “slaughter.” Most known are the scenes at Omaha Beach where US and allied forces charged the heavily armored. Roughly 4,500 allied troops lost their lives, including American, Canadian, British and others. As a result of the chaos, German casualty counts vary from as low as 4,000 to as high as 9,000.
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