Prepare to absorb, Grasshopperette!
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Originally Posted by Miss Saigon
Did any of the aircraft carrying paratroopers for the D-Day invasion have angine or other troubles causing them to turn back without their troops getting to jump?
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I seem to recall a few, but I couldn't tell you for certain how many. Try visiting Mark Bando's Trigger Time. Between his 101st history, and the section on the Troop Carrier units, there ought to be something in there.
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Why Paratroopers and Glider troops? What is the purpose of both?
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They had slightly different missions. Gliders could put the troops more closely on their target, in a group. On the other hand, if a glider crashed, it took out all the guys.
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Did the landing craft make multiple trips to the Normandy beaches? Delivering their troops, returning to the ships for more, and then going back for another wave?
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Yup!
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Were the casualties high among the Navy, Royal Navy, and Coast Guard landing craft drivers?
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Define 'high?' There were quite a few killed or wounded, but I have no idea of the total numbers. You'd have to dig around some naval sites for those numbers.