Get knee deep into history by studying the 1944 airborne operations of the Allied Armies. This six-day tour will focus on the use of Allied airborne troops in three separate offensives: the Normandy landings, Operation Market-Garden and the Ardennes Offensive. (In the latter offensive, they were trucked quickly to the region because they were the closest available reserves.)
We believe that one of the reasons that the use of airborne troops is such a fascinating topic is because they are dropped spread-out into a combat zone, lightly-armed, and needing to assemble into a functional fighting unit. However, there is no certainty as to when infantry and armor units will meet up to reinforce and/or relieve them. This takes an amazing amount of determination and fortitude.
This tour will focus on the details regarding the use of airborne troops in each of the three offensives as well as the human stories of the men and their leaders under trying circumstances. As part of our philosophy of telling both sides of the story, it will focus on the American as well as on the British airborne troops.
Price is per person based on double occupancy.
Pick-up at CDG at 12:00 noon and drive to Normandy. Visit 82nd and 101st Airborne Division sites, including Sainte-Mère-Église, Carentan, La Fière Bridge. Hotel TBD in Bayeux, Normandy.
Note: Pick-up and return point for this tour will be CDG Airport. A specific meeting point will be provided later. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the meeting point. Participants with their own vehicles can arrange to meet us at an alternate location.
We caution that the distances between battlefields on this tour are great and, therefore, require considerable travel time.