European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse American paratroops bound for a drop zone near , France on june 6,1944, wait for the jump Light to Flash in their c-47 completed before first troops waded ashore army paratroops to France by Charlie Bowden am Timothy Cahil staff writers before a single Allied Soldier waded ashore on the Normandy beaches army air corps capt. Bernard Coggins was Back at his base in England his a Day Mission Complete. The 24-year-old navigator with the 315th troop Carrier group had begun operation overlord in the Midnight dark of june 5,1944. The units Job along with other elements of the troop Carrier wings was to drop paratroops behind the main invasion beaches. The paratroops were to Cut off German reinforcements and Crews of the 315th a scaled and under guard at their base a received their final briefing mid evening june 5. A we were told the target ate a Hearty meal and planned to embark a said Coggins. He headed to the flight line to see the troops assembling for the Mission. A each stick the paratroops assigned to Fly together had collected near the plane it was to Board a recalled Coggins. A some were playing poker some were shooting craps some were writing letters. Some were just alone with their thoughts and Many had the Little pocket testament and were Reading it. A the tension built up until it was unbelievable. Nobody knew what we were facing. Nobody knew what the germans the assignment called for 48 of the Workhorse c-47s a each carrying 19 to 20 paratroops of the 82nd airborne div and a half dozen equipment Par packs a to depart at 11 . For the Cote tin Peninsula. The total Mission Load was 844 men and just More than 41,000 pounds of before the order was Given to Board the Mission had its first casualties. A a paratrooper dropped a grenade that exploded and killed a couple of the troopers wounded others and damaged the plane a said Coggins. The uninjured paratroops quickly arranged to hitch rides with other units. T 10 50 ., 94 engines roared to life and the a gooney Birds slowly taxied into Takeoff position. At 11 06, according to . Brinsons history of the 315th, the first transport lifted off the Hardpan and was followed at five second intervals by the rest of the group. Coggins role in the greatest invasion in military history almost ended on that dark Airfield. A we were supposed to Fly Deputy Wing on the left Side of the Lead plane a Coggins explained a but the Pilot drifted off the taxi strip and the plane was stuck. We immediately called for equipment to get us out but by the time it arrived the rest of the group was airborne. I asked the Pilot what we were going to do and he said we were going even if we had to go alone. A that did no to sit too Well with me a misery loves company a and once we were airborne i was Able to take a few shortcuts and catch up with the rest of the group before we left the rest of the planes circled the Field at 1,200 feet and then headed for a Atlanta a code name for the Assembly Point for the 10 groups a a total Bernard Coggins in Wii uniform and today a stars and stripes commemorative edition june 6, 1994
