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re: D Day Invasion: Would you rather be airborne or seaborne? (Edited)
Posted on 5/14/21 at 10:30 pm to Scruffy
Posted on 5/14/21 at 10:30 pm to Scruffy
Airborne. They landed at night and had the cover of darkness. Even though they were scattered and in the middle of a total clusterfrick, they rallied up and got the job done. Airborne was probably as close as you could get to SF at the time. They were damn good soldiers. I’d rather roll the dice with them.
The beach landing was a nightmare. You either was lucky enough to get the frick off the beach or you died practically immediately. Probably didn’t really matter what your skill level or training was in regards to surviving the landing. I mean, what tactical approach can you really take when as soon as the gate drops on the Higgins boats, you start taking direct fire from multiple fixed MGs?
The beach landing was a nightmare. You either was lucky enough to get the frick off the beach or you died practically immediately. Probably didn’t really matter what your skill level or training was in regards to surviving the landing. I mean, what tactical approach can you really take when as soon as the gate drops on the Higgins boats, you start taking direct fire from multiple fixed MGs?
0
Posted on 5/14/21 at 10:45 pm to Scruffy
If I had to be seaborne, give me any beach except Omaha
Posted on 5/14/21 at 10:51 pm to Scruffy
Airborne. Extra $50 a month jump pay was a lot of money in 1944.
Posted on 5/14/21 at 10:55 pm to Scruffy
Posted on 5/14/21 at 11:11 pm to Scruffy
My grandfather on my mom's side was a paratrooper for D Day and made it out.
Posted on 5/14/21 at 11:27 pm to toratiger
quote:I always heard "live a life of sex and danger".
I wanna be an airborne ranger.
Live on nuttin but guts and danger.
Posted on 5/14/21 at 11:38 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:I wonder how many ITT have ever seen the Sainte Mere-Eglise scene from this film.
The Longest Day
Might change their answer.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 5:23 am to Scruffy
Wasn’t trying to be a pedant, but you framed the question with those mortality stats.
Point is that beach landers came in waves. Airborne guys were all dropped relatively simultaneously behind enemy lines. Pretty much every airplane was prone to being hit by flack. Late waves of boats were probably left with less to worry about.
To answer the question- I’d say early boat waves had worst job, followed by airborne, followed by later boat waves. Without any guarantees I’d probably lock in with the medium risk of the airborne route. Although the risk of being totally alone behind enemy lines, however remote, may have me thinking of the beach route.
Point is that beach landers came in waves. Airborne guys were all dropped relatively simultaneously behind enemy lines. Pretty much every airplane was prone to being hit by flack. Late waves of boats were probably left with less to worry about.
To answer the question- I’d say early boat waves had worst job, followed by airborne, followed by later boat waves. Without any guarantees I’d probably lock in with the medium risk of the airborne route. Although the risk of being totally alone behind enemy lines, however remote, may have me thinking of the beach route.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 5:58 am to Scruffy
I talked with an old soldier at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, NC near Fort Bragg years ago when I was stationed there.
I noticed his jump wings had multiple gold stars so I asked which combat jump was the most memorable.
He replied,, “when we jumped into Corregidor, my buddy got separated from us and landed in the water.”
The Marines in a landing craft brought his friend into the amphibious assault boat and he went ashore with the Marines. It took him a week to get back to us. His friend said, “I don’t know what they are paying the Marines for hazard pay, but Airborne pay would not be enough for me to get in one of those boats again.”
I think I would rather jump into combat than assault from a landing craft.
I noticed his jump wings had multiple gold stars so I asked which combat jump was the most memorable.
He replied,, “when we jumped into Corregidor, my buddy got separated from us and landed in the water.”
The Marines in a landing craft brought his friend into the amphibious assault boat and he went ashore with the Marines. It took him a week to get back to us. His friend said, “I don’t know what they are paying the Marines for hazard pay, but Airborne pay would not be enough for me to get in one of those boats again.”
I think I would rather jump into combat than assault from a landing craft.
This post was edited on 5/15/21 at 6:00 am
Posted on 5/15/21 at 6:38 am to WestCoastAg
quote:
pretty sure the airborne had by far the highest casualty rate of the entire army during the european war
No. That distinction goes to the bomber crews of the 8th Air Force. It had the highest casualty rate in either Europe or the Pacific.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 6:53 am to Scruffy
Airborne.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 6:56 am to Scruffy
quote:
So, which invasion tactic would you rather be a part of?
Anything but the first wave
Posted on 5/15/21 at 7:13 am to Scruffy
I would rather be piloting one of the fighters or on the crew of one of the bombers or paratroop transports but, since that wasn’t a choice, I’d rather been part of the airborne assault.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 7:40 am to FearlessFreep
quote:
I wonder how many ITT have ever seen the Sainte Mere-Eglise scene from this film.
Might change their answer.
Why would a movie scene do that? You realize movies aren’t real, right?
Posted on 5/15/21 at 7:49 am to Scruffy
Depends which beach.
I'm pretty sure more People died during exercises for Utah Beach than during the actual landing. So just training for that invasion was worse than the invasion itself. (Look up operation Tiger)
Omaha or parachute I'll take parachute.
Not being from the commonwealth the other beaches aren't an option.
I'm pretty sure more People died during exercises for Utah Beach than during the actual landing. So just training for that invasion was worse than the invasion itself. (Look up operation Tiger)
Omaha or parachute I'll take parachute.
Not being from the commonwealth the other beaches aren't an option.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 9:14 am to FearlessFreep
quote:Seen it.
I wonder how many ITT have ever seen the Sainte Mere-Eglise scene from this film.
Does not change my answer.
Posted on 5/15/21 at 10:46 am to southdowns84
quote:Obviously you aren’t familiar with the film.
Why would a movie scene do that? You realize movies aren’t real, right?
The Soldier on the Bell Tower
Posted on 5/15/21 at 11:24 am to FearlessFreep
quote:
The film was based on Cornelius Ryan's 1959 nonfiction account
quote:
based on
Posted on 5/15/21 at 11:55 am to biohzrd
quote:
Still better odds then being in a B-17. Their life expectancy was not very good. Was about a 50/50% chance of living through it, or being KIA,MIA, or POW.
If one reads “Masters of the Air” : America’s Bomber Boys who fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany” by Daniel Miller (excellent book) there is a high probability you would choose either storming the beaches at Omaha or parachuting behind German lines in Normandy the night before D-Day, and if you survived the first day, fighting the next year into Germany until surrender, than being a member of a B-17 bomber crew flying missions into Germany, after which you got to go home after 25 missions. It will open eyes what B-17 crews endured - it did for me.
This post was edited on 5/15/21 at 11:57 am
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