European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Everything that could Fly was in the air by Nancy l. Torner . Bureau Allied airborne troops were already hours into a Day operations before ground troops hit the beaches. The first aircraft began boarding at about 9 . On june 5, and takeoffs continued v a throughout the night. A total of about 6,500 aircraft flew that Day. A cd Day was one of those Days where everything that could Fly was in the air a said Harry Paynter 70 of Arlington a. Paynter was a first lieutenant and Lead Crew Pilot with the  air corps 834th bomb so 486th bomb group based near Sudbury England. The Squadron flew b-24s on a Day. Getting thousands of aircraft into formation required tight and Long flying Maneu vers using a extremely dim lights Paynter said. He could Sec the exhaust of other planes and often Felt prop Wash from other aircraft indicating other formations had just left the same airspace he said. Paynter screw took off at 2 30 . But did no to hit Normandy until about 5 30 . A by then it was Daylight a Paynter said. A i could look Down and see smaller aircraft. On the water it was almost the same As in the air. There were boats  some Allied aircraft carried out various diversionary missions to conceal the invasion location while Pathfinder Parachute troops. Jumped behind enemy lines and paratroops sailed Down in gliders behind the target beaches. Other aircraft bombed key targets on the beaches and Inland. The Royal air Force alone dropped 5,000 tons of explosives on Germany a coastal defences. However . Bombers that followed up the Raf barrage were hindered by fog and thick Clouds and Many sorties were a aborted. Allied forces flew a total of 14,600 sorties on a Day. A we did no to want to hit the French people or Allied troops a said Charlie Macgill 73, of Denver. Macgill was a first lieutenant and Pilot with the 834th bomb so. Psychologically a Day was probably the least traumatic sortie during the War Macgill said. A my immediate reaction was that it was an extremely easy Mission because we had practically no opposition a he said and although there were fewer enemies in the air As the War dragged on a was you got closer to the end you  More afraid of getting shot  air Winfred Howell 76, of Pensacola fla., Vasa id that when the 834th bomb so was a told during a preflight briefing june 5 that a Day had come a we were totally wonderfully pleased. Wed been waiting for it. I thought a boy am i going to see a show  Quot Howell then a major was a Pilot with the 834th. Howell said he Wasny to disappointed. When Cloud Breaks permitted he could see an endless sea of ships below him and countless Waves of aircraft formations around him. A we had one near miss with another aircraft a he said. One thing Howell does no to remember is being scared. A each of us goes into Battle with trepidation a Howell said. A you worry a will i stand up will i be a Coward a but the training was such that when you went into Battle your subconscious took Over. It was a game that you played and you played it with precision.�?�. In. Of 368 aircraft from the 52nd troop Carrier Wing a that would transport the 82nd to the drop site. The group later linked up with planes carrying the 101st airborne div. Once past the English coastline the planes dropped to below 500 feet to avoid German radar. On Board the pressure built. It Over the English Channel there was absolute silence aboard the plane a Coggins recounted. A each individual was sort of wrapped up in his own  Coggins a mississippian who would later be shot Down in a Supply Mission near Remagen Germany remembers the suspense. A fall anybody wanted to know was How much longer it was going to be. They did no to know it but i Felt the same  somewhere Over the Channel the Crew sighted a transport heading the opposite direction then another and another. A we All asked the same question do you reckon that is All that is coming Back a Relief came seconds later when someone remembered they were the planes that had ferried the pathfinders troops who dropped Early to Point the Way for the rest. Jump masters were alerted 20 minutes before 7 the drop and the planes began a gradual climb to their jump Altitude of about 1,500 feet. Four minutes before the drop a red Light blinked on. Aboard Coggins c-47, the jump master barked orders and 20 men of the 505th Parachute inf regt hooked up. As the formation approached drop zone 0, slightly Northwest of ste.m6re-�glise, the plane slowed to about 105 knots. At 2 03 ., june 6, the Light blinked Green. A your troopers hit the silk Quot said Coggins. A they were As ready As any group of men i have Ever known. Flying in a cooped up Cabin being a shot at and not Able to shoot Back Wasny to their idea of combat. They wanted  when the last Man was out the Pilot a pushed the throttle to the firewall and got out of there a said Coggins. They a hit the deck flew Low a for Speed and to stymie the germans big anti aircraft guns. The a German 88�?� fired an airburst Shell that was fused according to the Altitude of the target. A when we were Low like that they had to fuse them so Short they sometimes blew up in the barrel a Coggins said. As dramatic As the Mission had been until then nothing prepared Coggins and the others for what they were about to see off the French coast. Here was history steaming toward them. Army in photo at left co Pilot Joe Campbell left navigator Bernard Coggins Center and Pilot Steve. Bolling were aircrew members on c-47s. The c-47 above transported Many of the 15,000 . Paratroops on a Day. A was we crossed the coastline and turned toward England the invasion Fleet was approaching. To this Day i have Nevier seen a sight that made such an impression on me a Coggins said. Did no to know at there were that Many i ships in the entire world. They were Al everywhere going in every direction and the air above was filled with fighters of All descriptions and they were All ours. A a in be told Many people a said Coggins a retired teacher and longtime mayor of Baldwyn miss., a i done to believe i could have fallen from the plane and hit the water there were just that Many  All of the planes in Coggins unit returned safely to England. Only two had been severely damaged and 12 others had taken some enemy fire. A we did find one Bullet Hole in our plane a Coggins recalled. The airmen spent the rest of the longest Day listening for news. A of course there were rumours a said Coggins. A Guys would come Back everybody was hearing everything. Mostly it was a matter of sitting waiting seeing if wed have to go Back  Charlo Bowdon is a former stars and Sumpos reporter. June 6, 1994 a stars and stripes commemorative edition 13