Geronimo: The U.S. Airborne in the Normandy

The first major operation for the 101st US Airborne Division was the airborne landing in Normandy on June 5, 1944. The objective was to parachute 6,700 soldiers behind German lines to weaken the defenses for the planned sea landing as much as possible. Heavy anti-aircraft fire scattered the soldiers across Normandy, resulting in heavy losses – many were killed by German anti-aircraft fire during their parachute descent.