The VII Corps, with Divs in column, landing at "U"
beach at H Hour with the 82d A/B Div and 101st A/B Div covering
the landing of the seaborne assault, captures CHERBOURG
with the least practicable delay. The 101st A/B Div landing
by parachute and glider between STE MERE EGLISE (349965)
and CARENTAN will assault the Western exits of the causeways
to assist the landing of the seaborne troops and will cover
the crossings of the DOUVE from the junction of the MERDERET
to the sea. The 4th Div leading the seaborne troops attacks
to the Northwest passing through the Airborne Divisions.
2.
This Div (less dets) lands by prcht and glider before
and after dawn of D-Day astride the MERDERET RIVER, seizes,
clears and secures the general area : CR (261938) - CR (265958)
- CR (269975) - RJ (274982) - RJ (283992) - Bridge (308987)
- NEUVILLE AU PLAIN (340985) - BAUDIENVILLE (360987) within
its zone.
Missions
(1)
Capture STE. MERE
EGLISE (349965)
(2)
Seize and secure
the crossings of the MERDERET RIVER at (315957) and
(321930), and a bridgehead covering them, with MLR
along the general line : CR 261938 - CR 265958 - CR
269975 - RJ 274982 - RJ 283992.
(3)
Seize and destroy
the crossings of the DOUVE RIVER at BEUZEVILLE LA
BASTILLE (309911) and ETIENVILLE (269927).
(4)
Protect the Northwest
flank of the VII Corps within the Div zone.
(5)
Be prepared to
advance West on Corps order to the line of the DOUVE
North of its junction with the PRAIRIES MARECAGEUSES.
TROOPS
FORCE "A" (Prcht)
Comdr : Brig Gen James Maurice Gavin
Det 82d A/B Div Hq & Hq Co
Det 82d A/B Div Sig Co
Det Hq 82d A/B Div Arty
Det 456th Prcht FA Bn
Air Support Party
505th Prcht Inf
507th Prcht Inf
508th Prcht Inf
Co "B" 307th A/B Engr Bn
Naval Gun Fire Party
FORCE "B" (Glider)
Comdr : Major Gen Matthew B. Ridgway
325th Glider Inf
319th Glider Inf FA Bn
320th Glider FA Bn
Btrys A, B & C 80th A/B AA Bn (AT)
Co "A" 307th A/B Engr Bn
307th A/B Med Co (-)
82d A/B Div Hq & Hq Co (-)
HQ & HQ Btry 82d A/B Div Arty (-)
82d A/B Div Sig Co (-)
82d A/B Div Rcn Plat (-)
Comd Vehicles Prcht Regts
FORCE "C" (Seaborne)
Comdr : Brig Gen George P. Howell
456th Prcht FA Bn (-)
80th A/B AA Bn (-Btrys A, B & C)
307th A/B Engr Bn (-Cos A, B & C)
782d A/B Ord Maint Co
407th A/B QM Co
82d A/B MP Plat
Seaborne elements of units in Forces A & B above
87th Armd FA Bn
899th TD Bn
Tr B, 4th Cav Sqdn
Co "C" 746th Tk Bn (M)
3809th QM Trk Co
3810th QM Trk Co
Plat QM GR Co
Corps Med Dets
3.
Force "A" will drop between 0100 and 0315 on
the night of D-1/D-Day in accordance with Annex N°2
(Revised) Air Movement Table, seize, clear, and secure the
Div area, establish a bridgehead west of the MERDERET, (Para
2. a. above) and protect the Northwest flank of VII Corps.
(See Overlay)
(1)
The 505th Prcht
Inf with Det 456th Prcht FA Bn, one Plat Co. "B"
307th A/B Engr Bn and Naval Gun Fire Party atchd, landing
in DZ O, will :
Capture and hold STE MERE EGLISE and secure the
general line : Bridge at (308987) - NEUVILLE AU
PLAIN-BAUDIENVILLE, Incl.
Seize and secure the crossings of the MERDERET
RIVER at (315957) and (321930).
Clear the Div area within its sector.
Establish and maintain contact with the 101st
A/B Div at (374980) and (330928).
Patrol aggressively to the line indicated.
Mark LZ "W" for glider landings.
(2)
The 507th Prcht
Inf, landing in DZ "T", will :
Seize, organize, and defend the area along the
general line CR 265958 - CR 269975 - RJ 283992.
Clear the Div area within its sector.
Assist The 505th Prcht Inf in securing the crossing
of the MERDERET at (315957).
Establish and maintain contact with the 508th
Prcht Inf at RENOUF (264950).
Patrol aggressively to the line indicated.
Be prepared on Div order to advance to the West
to the line of the DOUVE RIVER.
(3)
The
508th Prcht Inf, with Co "B" (-1 Plat) 307th
A/B Engr Bn atchd, landing in DZ "N", will
:
Seize and destroy the crossings of the DOUVE at
BEUZEVILLE LA BASTILLE and ETIENVILLE.
Seize, organize and defend the area along the
general line CR (261938) - RENOUF (incl.).
Clear and secure the Div area within its sector.
Assemble one Bn without delay in area indicated
as Force Res.
Patrol aggressively to the line indicated.
Be prepared on Div order to advance to the West
to the line of the DOUVE RIVER.
Force "B" will land
over a period of 36 hours, beginning on D-Day in LZ "W",
in accordance with Annex N°3, Air Movement Table, (Changed
only to indicate all LZ's as "W"), and reorganize
without delay, (See Overlay).
(1)
The 325th Glider
Inf will :
Land in LZ "W".
Assemble in Div Res in the area indicated.
Be prepared to assist in clearing the Div area
of hostile resistance, to counterattack within
the Div area and to advance West to the DOUVE
on Div order.
(2)
The 82d A/B Div
Arty (less 376th and 456th Prcht FA Bn & Dets),
will land in LZ and support the Div. It will be prepared
to mass its fires on bridge at ETIENVILLE, CR 267935,
CR 259952, RJ 259963, RJ 260981.
319th Glider FA Bn.
Direct support of 508th Prcht Inf.
Position area - See Overlay N°5.
320th Glider FA Bn.
Direct support of 507th Prcht Inf.
Position area - See Overlay N°5.
Alternate positions in assigned position area
will be selected by each Bn Comdr permitting support
of the 505th Prcht Inf.
See Arty Annex N°6 (Revised) and overlay
N°5 (Revised).
(3)
Btrys' A, B &
C 80th A/B AA Bn, See Annex N°4 (Revised).
(4)
Co "A"
307th A/B Engr Bn as indicated.
(5)
82d A/B Div Rcn
Plat, see plan RCN, Annex N°1 d.
Force "C", with atchmts, will assemble in the
area NW of (960938) (See Overlay) and from there, proceed
to join the Div as directed by CG Force "C".
(x)
All hostile communication lines will be cut,
except underground cables on which terminals will
be opened.
For AT plan see Annex N°4 (Revised) and
Annex N°5 (Revised).
Co "B" (less 1 Plat) 307th A/B Engr
Bn reverts to Force "A" control vic
Force "A" CP upon completion of demolition
missions.
Contact from Right to Left.
Units will submit G-3 Periodic Reports daily
as of 1800 hrs to reach this Hq at 2000 hrs.