2. Air borne landings.

   a. At about 0030 hours air borne landings began east of the Orne in the area Benouville – Blainville – Herouvilette – Breville. At the same time severe bombing of the strong points of Franceville and the positions of the 1./A.R.1716 south of Merville. Parachutists who had jumped in the vicinity of the position of 1./1716 suffered losses from their own bombardment. The landing of parachutists took place mainly around the edges of the area as a covering screen; most of the troop-carrying gliders landed in the area Ranville-Amfreville, to the right and the left of the roads. The anti landing stakes did not prove to be important obstacles.

   The mission of the enemy air borne division according to prisoners' statement was about as follows: securing the east flank of the invasion area, establishing bridgeheads across the Orne, attack on Caen from the east and the breaking up of artillery positions and strong points to the east of the Orne.

   Enemy strength according to captured documents and prisoner's statements: the bulk of the British 6th Airborne Division.

   b. By 2 o'clock the enemy had succeeded in securing the bridge of Benouville.

   c. By 6 o'clock enemy airborne troops had occupied the gun position of the 1./1716. The craters which dotted the field around the position as a result of previous bombardment enabled the enemy to approach.