Under moonlit skies the morning of June 6th 1944, thousands of paratroopers were mis-dropped all throughout Normandy. If they survived the jump, many troopers found that they were alone and lost inside enemy occupied territory. Scattered everywhere, they had to find their way to their objectives without mistakenly killing each other in the process; but how?
Just a few days before C-47’s left their airfields in England towards towns like Sainte Marie du Mont, Carentan, and Sainte Mère Eglise, U.S. paratroopers were issued a 5 cent child’s toy called a “cricket”. The cricket enabled the troopers to stay out of sight but still communicate without the use of radios, flashlights or talking. Sounding so much like insect, the toy’s famous "click-clack" sound challenged those who were friend or foe. Those who heard the sound would respond by clicking their cricket twice giving much to the relief of the single cricketer. These simple instructions allowed these men a degree of safety while concealed from the ever present German patrols.
The Church at the Center of Town
Appears on Our 2010 Challenge Coin
During our simulation the main allied objective will be to overtake the road intersection from the Germans and hold it until relived. The “Road to Victory” battle will commemorate those men who dropped all over hell and gone short of supply but full of courage. The scenario begins with German Army activity near a check point at a road block situated in mid-park. A fresh squad of German soldiers will relieve the afternoons sentries in what will be in their mind another routine night of guard duty; or so it seems. The relative calm is shattered as French Resistance begin to take back their country.
Mis-dropped U.S. paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions start emerging from different directions of the area. The troopers use their crickets and call signs to prevent “Friendly Fire”. They converge at a collecting point south of the road block. An officer assembles these men and orders the troopers to assault and overtake the German check point. Once the position is secured more paratroopers begin to converge on the area and begin to set up a defensive position.
While fortifying the position, French civilians begin appearing from the direction in which the Germans retreated. They inform the American paratroopers that a number of Germans are massing in force to retake the intersection and that some of their countrymen are in peril. A scouting patrol is sent to investigate but return in one heck of a hurry with a German patrol hot on their heals.
Will the paratroopers be able to fend off the German counterattack? Will the landings succeed allowing the paratroopers to be resupplied, reequipped and relieved and who will that be? What of the French villagers? Will the live to see the light of freedom tomorrow? Find out on Friday afternoon, mid-park, on the outskirts of Occupied France.
