GLIDERS BEING TOWED BY C-47 TRANSPORTS over the English Channel carrying reinforcements for the airborne divisions, 7 June (top). A British Horsa glider wrecked while landing (bottom). Six thousand six hundred men of one of the two U. S. airborne divisions were scattered over an area 25 miles by 15 miles in extent, and 60 percent of their equipment was lost. In general, however, these men accomplished their mission successfully. Other gliders were flown in on 6 June but suffered considerable casualties. (CG4A WACO.)
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GLIDERS AND TOW PLANES CIRCLING before the gliders are cut loose for a landing, 7 June. On the ground are gliders which landed the previous day, many which were wrecked in landing. While one airborne division of the U. S. forces held the exits to Utah Beach and stuck southward toward Carentan, the other airborne division, despite heavy shelling in the Sainte-Mére-Eglise area, also established contact with the infantry troops pushing inland from Utah Beach early on 7 June.
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AN LCT(5) LOADED WITH REINFORCEMENTS moving toward the beach on 7 June. In left center is an LCT(R); at right center is an LBV. In the background supply ships wait to discharge their cargoes (top). U. S. Air Force glider pilots in an LCVP on their way to a larger ship which will take them back to England (bottom). After landing their gliders the pilots made their way to the beach to await shipping to return them to their bases.
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