Operation Overlord, launched on June 6, 1944, was the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France and the largest amphibious assault in history. Yet before a single landing craft reached the beaches of Normandy, the success of the entire operation depended on thousands of Allied paratroopers who descended into the darkness of occupied territory. The airborne component—known collectively as Operation Neptune—was designed to seize key terrain inland, disrupt German communications, and block enemy reinforcements from reaching the beaches. This daring series of parachute and glider landings marked one of the most complex and hazardous undertakings of World War II.
In the early hours of June 6, over 13,000 American paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and more than 8,000 British and Canadian paratroopers from the 6th Airborne Division jumped into Normandy as part of sub-operations Boston, Albany, Chicago, Detroit, Elmira, Keokuk, and Hackensack. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division, assigned to Operation Albany, dropped near the western flank of the invasion area behind Utah Beach. Their objectives included securing causeways through the flooded lowlands, capturing the town of Carentan, and linking up with the amphibious landings. The 82nd Airborne Division, under Operation Boston, jumped slightly east near Sainte-Mère-Église with orders to seize bridges over the Merderet and Douve Rivers and to block the routes German reinforcements would use to reach the beaches.
The airborne assault faced immediate challenges. Heavy cloud cover, anti-aircraft fire, and navigation errors scattered many units across miles of countryside. Some paratroopers landed in swamps or hedgerows, while others dropped directly into enemy-held villages. Despite this chaos, small groups of paratroopers rapidly organized into ad hoc units, attacking German positions, cutting telephone lines, and securing crossroads. The 101st Airborne captured two of the four causeways off Utah Beach by dawn, allowing seaborne forces to move inland. The 82nd Airborne fought tenaciously around Sainte-Mère-Église—making it the first town in France liberated by American forces—and defended the vital La Fière Bridge against repeated counterattacks.
Meanwhile, on the eastern flank of the invasion area, the British 6th Airborne Division launched Operation Tonga. In a feat of precision, glider troops seized the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges across the Caen Canal and River Orne within minutes of landing—preventing German armor from counterattacking the beaches from the east. Other British and Canadian airborne units destroyed bridges over the Dives River to isolate the battlefield and engaged German paratroopers and armor in fierce fighting throughout the first days of the invasion.
In the days following D-Day, airborne forces continued their mission of holding key ground and expanding the Allied foothold in Normandy. The 101st Airborne repelled German attacks near Carentan, linking the American beachheads at Utah and Omaha. The 82nd Airborne endured heavy fighting along the Merderet River, where they held the critical La Fière causeway for days despite repeated assaults by German infantry and tanks. The British 6th Airborne fought bitter engagements to expand their perimeter east of the Orne, including the defense of Breville. Supply drops and reinforcements arrived via additional glider operations—Elmira, Keokuk, and Galveston—bringing in artillery, vehicles, and medical teams to sustain the isolated paratroopers.
By June 13, the airborne divisions had achieved their objectives and solidified the Allied position inland. Though scattered and often outnumbered, their courage and improvisation had paralyzed German command and control during the crucial opening days of Operation Overlord. The success of the airborne missions—costly though they were—ensured that the beachheads could expand and the campaign for France could proceed. Operation Neptune demonstrated the full power and precision of Allied airborne warfare, transforming the lessons learned in North Africa and Sicily into one of the most decisive combat achievements of the war.