In June 2019 we travelled to Normandy to join the D-Day 75th anniversary commemorations.
On the 5th June we spent the day in Sannerville at 'Drop Zone K', in the same fields where 8th Parachute battalion landed on D Day led by Lt Col Alastair Pearson.
Events began with an overhead display from BBMF Spitfire Vb AB910. Then the first jumpers came in with the BBMF Dakota, before the British and French army dropped nearly 300 paratroopers from Hercules, Transall and CASA CN235 aircraft.
Later came the D-Day veteran C-47A 'Drag-em-oot' followed by teams from the Parachute Regiment Red Devils and the US Army Golden Knights.
Finally, hours behind schedule, came the 'main event' we had all been waiting for as nine Dakotas from the Daks Over Normandy gathering dropped what seemed like hundreds of parachutists all over Normandy!
It was a long day, with a lot of sitting waiting in a field, but despite that it was a truly memorable and awe inspiring experience which surpassed all my expectations.
We spent the anniversary day, 6th June, on Omaha Beach, where we were camping on the cliff overlooking the western end of the beach.
It was an amazing and memorable day, with hundreds of vehicles of all types, thousands of people in military and period dress, flypasts overhead the American cemetery, parades, marching bands and everything happening with a sense of joy and celebration.
We shall return again!
On the 5th June we spent the day in Sannerville at 'Drop Zone K', in the same fields where 8th Parachute battalion landed on D Day led by Lt Col Alastair Pearson.
Events began with an overhead display from BBMF Spitfire Vb AB910. Then the first jumpers came in with the BBMF Dakota, before the British and French army dropped nearly 300 paratroopers from Hercules, Transall and CASA CN235 aircraft.
Later came the D-Day veteran C-47A 'Drag-em-oot' followed by teams from the Parachute Regiment Red Devils and the US Army Golden Knights.
Finally, hours behind schedule, came the 'main event' we had all been waiting for as nine Dakotas from the Daks Over Normandy gathering dropped what seemed like hundreds of parachutists all over Normandy!
It was a long day, with a lot of sitting waiting in a field, but despite that it was a truly memorable and awe inspiring experience which surpassed all my expectations.
We spent the anniversary day, 6th June, on Omaha Beach, where we were camping on the cliff overlooking the western end of the beach.
It was an amazing and memorable day, with hundreds of vehicles of all types, thousands of people in military and period dress, flypasts overhead the American cemetery, parades, marching bands and everything happening with a sense of joy and celebration.
We shall return again!
© Dave Brenchley Photography