Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 007, folder 32: 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment after action reports

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regiment "Proud of you. Inform all ranks”, and Brig. Gen. Gavin sent to Major Norton "Remember as long as you may live that the 505 made it possible for the American Army to make this beachhead the success that it has been.”

The Lt. Col. commanding the [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out] 505 name is William E. Ekman.

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505th

Here are more extracts:

Here are a number of messages which were sent on 6th of June '44 about which we cannot decipher letters - the sender or receiver. The first one dated No. 2 is to Bing "Eagle flying on Brooklyn 0745" and it is signed W.S. (?)

Here is another also of 6th June No. 5 to Challenge "Scattered enemy fire on all sides of opposition. I have not made actual contact with enemy", and it is signed cammanding officer 2nd battalion and the time is 0555. The time of that last message was 0820, not as given.

Here's a message that was sent to the commanding officer of the 505, Lt. Col. Ekman: "Richard first not yet under control. Held up by pillbox and two machine guns. Ginger and Shady pushing ahead. The time was 0839

Here's another to the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division on the 6th of June: "Unable to ford Merederet head of the Kellam bridge, now sending two companies reinforced to Chef du Pont bridge. There are no Germans in Chef du Pont. Civilians report 3 Germans, Engineer companies, at Picauville. Civilians said that this morning many...82nd Division men were around there. Civilian also reports late this a.m. ten German tanks were employed near Picauville. They later left in the direction of Etienville. If I can't seize and hold Chef du Pont bridge I will destroy it. If we are unable to reach western bank of Merederet south of Kellam bridge I plan on fording the river north of the bridge under cover of darkness.

380AA em (?) report glider No. 3 and 4 landed mudhole in vicinity of 335949. Contents of Gilder No. 3 unserviceable. Capt. Russell seriously injured. Commanding general force A is the signer and the time was 1311. That would have been Gavin signing the message. That ends the extracts from the 505 Infantry Parachute Regiment of the 82nd Division.