Manche

The airplane departed RAF Ramsbury to take part to the D-Day over Normandy. It was carrying five crew members and was towing a CG-4A glider registered 42-79391 and piloted by F/O Davis. Shortly after the glider was released, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed near Saint-Mère-Église, bursting into flames. All five crew members escaped with various injuries and were rescued.
Crew:
1st Lt Louis Richard Emerson Jr., pilot,
1st Lt William Richard Gilbo, copilot,
Sgt Leo J. Kreutter, navigator,
Sgt Paul Dennis Briski, radio operator,
Sgt Joseph C. Smith, observer.

Three French crew members took place on board this RAF Boston on behalf of the 342th Squadron of the Free French Forces of the Groupe Lorraine. With 11 other similar airplanes, the Boston was engaged in a flare smoke dispersion to hide the ships. While approaching the coast, the airplane was shot down by German antiaircraft fire and crashed into the sea off Utah Beach. The aircraft was lost and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Roger Boissieux, pilot,
1st Lt Bernard Canut, navigator,
Sgt Jean-François Henson.

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy when flying some 15 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot by the German Flak. All but one paratroopers were able to bail out. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. A paratrooper and a crew member were killed.
Crew (9th TCC):
1st Lt William R. Hitzaler, pilot,
2nd Lt Stanley E. Edwards Jr., copilot,
2nd Lt John Herbert Hendry, navigator,
S/Sgt Orlo A. Montgomery, radio operator, †
T/Sgt Alvin F. Vezin, flight engineer.
Paratroopers (507th Parachute Infantry Division):
1st Lt Walter C. Heisler,
Sgt Carl R. Letson,
Sgt Harry E. LaChance Jr.,
T/5 William P. Emmet,
Cpl Joseph E. Romas,
Pvt Ricardo R. Alvarez,
Pvt Donn W. Cummings,
Pvt Bernard D. Ely,
Pvt John L. Ponder,
Pvt Olivier Lindberg,
Pvt Weldon F. Truett,
Pvt Charles G. Stout, †
Pfc Glenn Ball,
Pfc George R. Hitchcock,
Pfc John E. Hollmann,
Pfc Robert T. Hurley,
Pfc Blair W. Terryberry,
Pfc John C. Wagner,
Pfc Robert R. Taylor.

The aircraft left Exeter Airport in the night and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy on a paratroopers mission. While cruising at an altitude of some 3,000 feet 10 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Magneville. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (440th TCG / 95th TCS):
1st Lt Ray B. Pullen, pilot,
2nd Lt John M. Greeley, copilot,
S/Sgt Finney W. Gordon,
S/Sgt Sidney H. Saltzman, radio navigator.
Passengers (paratroopers):
1st Lt Gerald V. Howard Jr.,
Sgt Robert L. Todd,
T/4 John T. Bray Jr.,
Cpl Donald E. Bignall,
Cpl Marvin M. Stallings,
T/5 Orville Vanderpool,
Pfc Gilbert Amabisco,
Pfc Richard L. Calhoon,
Pfc Warren K. Carney,
Pfc John J. Kittia,
Pfc William E. Olson,
Pvt James J. Farrel,
Pvt Frederick P. Smith,
Pvt Paul J. Weber,
Pvt Howard Phillips,
Pvt Glen L. Weirich,
Pvt Clarence M. Wright,
Pvt John A. Wright.

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy with several paratroopers on board. Just after the paratroopers bailed out, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field located near Carentan. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (441st TCG):
Cpt John Burke McCue,pilot
2nd Lt Ernest Eugene Wheeler, copilot,
S/Sgt Archer Bruce Hughes, flight engineer,
Sgt James Andrew Freda, radio operator.

The Dakota was involved in a paratroopers mission and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. While cruising by night some 35 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. All the paratroopers were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field located near Chef-le-Pont. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (93rd Transport Squadron):
1st Lt Marvin F. Muir,
2nd Lt Kenneth C. Bell,
2nd Lt John A. Martsay,
S/Sgt Clifford L. Burgess,
Sgt Philip Snyder.

The Dakota was involved in a paratroopers mission and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. While cruising by night some 35 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Picauville. All 20 occupants were killed.
Crew (91st Transport Squadron):
2nd Lt Marston F. Sargent,
F/O Steve C. Baran,
T/Sgt Walter F. Gendron,
S/Sgt Melvin B. Shullanberger.
Paratroopers (501st Parachute Infantry Division):
1st Lt Kenneth A. Beatty,
Sgt Colin Campbel,
Sgt Roy H. Speake,
T/5 John D. Hall,
T/5 John L. Davis,
Cpl Eugene E. Middleton,
Pvt Jay E. Cheel,
Pvt Augustine Gonzales,
Pvt James D. King,
Pvt Salvatore Laferrera,
Pvt Luther F. Morrison,
Pvt Benjamin Winn,
Pvt Hugh F. Williams,
Pfc Frederick J. Feneran,
Pfc Robert J. Hensel,
Pfc Robert M. Naimola.

The aircraft was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and was carrying paratroopers. While cruising some 30 km southeast of Cherbourg by night, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field in Beuzeville-au-Plain. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (91st Squadron):
1st Lt Harold Andrew Capelluto,
2nd Lt John Joseph Fanelli,
2nd Lt Bernard Friedman,
Sgt Albert R. Tillotson Jr.,
Sgt Norman E. Thompson.
Paratroopers (506th Parachute Infantry Division):
1st Lt Thomas Meehan,
1st Sgt William S. Evans,
S/Sgt Murray B. Roberts,
Sgt Elmer L. Murray Jr.,
Sgt Richard E. Owen,
Sgt Carl N. Riggs,
T/5 Herman F. Collins,
T/5 Jerry A. Wentzel,
T/5 Ralph H. Wimer,
William McConigal,
Pvt George L. Elliott,
Pfc John N. Miller,
Pfc Sergio G. Moya,
Pfc Gerald R. Snider,
Pfc Elmer L. Telstad,
Pfc Thomas W. Warren,
Pfc Earnest Oats.

The crew was taking part to the D-Day in Normandy and was flying back to his base in Exeter after dropping 17 paratroopers. While just flying over The Channel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 10 miles north of Cherbourg. All four crew members were killed.

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. After all paratroopers bailed out, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The pilot was able to make an emergency landing in a field near Cherbourg. While all four crew members were rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (99th TCS):
1st Lt Harvey W. Doering Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Thomas R. Westrope, copilot,
Sgt John A. Delistovic, radio operator,
T/Sgt James E. Smith, flight engineer.