South West Airfields Heritage Trust
“Preserving Aviation History for Future Generations”
440th Troop Carrier Group
C-47 Skytrains of the 440th Troop Carrier Group at Exeter, 5 June 1944. caption on image: "Exeter, England - Jun 5th, 1944, D-1." Printed caption on reverse: 'USAAF Station #463 Exeter, Devon, June 5, 1944, D-Day Minus One. Aircraft of the 95th & 98th Sqdns in foreground. Property of the 440th TCG Assoc. 551 So. Concord St., Seattle, Washington, 98108, U.S.A.' Part of IX Troop Carrier Command.
Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division march towards the C-47 Skytrains of the 440th Troop Carrier Group at Exeter, 5 June 1944. caption on image: "D-Day -1. Exeter, England." Printed caption on reverse: 'USAAF Station #463 Exeter, Devon, June 5, 1944, D-Day Minus One. 101st Airborne troopers marching on to field. Aircraft in foreground aircraft of the 95th & 98th Squadrons. The control twr[tower] is out of view to the right side of the photo. Photographer was Joseph Hudson, official Group Photographer. Direction in which photo was taken unknown. Property of the 440th TCGp Assoc. 551 So. Concord St., Seattle, Washington, 98108, U.S.A.' Part of IX Troop Carrier Comma
George W. Cooper, a glider pilot of the 440th Troop Carrier Group, outside a Nissen hut. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'F/O George W. Cooper - Glider pilot. Glider Pilot Barracks 95th-96th-97th-98th Sq. Bomb shelter - Latrine.' Location unknown thought to be Exeter
James P. Harper - Corona - California
1st Lieutenant - 440th Troop Carrier Group - 95th Troop Carrier Squadron
Pilot of C-47 #43-15073 "The SNAFU Special"
Neptune - Dragoon - Market - Repulse
Paratroopers get final instructions before leaving on aircraft 43-15087, ‘Lady Lillian’, chalk #2, piloted by Major Chester C Bridgman, JR (pilot) and F/O Richard E Heller of the 95th Troop Carrier Squadron, prior to departing for the D-Day drop on Normandy.
Lt. Col. Robert Lee Wolverton, CO 3rd Btn., 506 PIR, 101st Airborne (KIA 6/6/44 Normandy) and 1/Lt. Alex Bobuck jumpmaster of Stick#1 (POW June 6 until June 8, 1944). Col. Wolverton is checking the kit of 1/Lt. Bobuck as part of events staged on the afternoon of Sunday June 4, 1944 for filming by the Signal Corps at Exeter airfield. The aircraft is a Douglas C-47 #43-15087 "Lady Lillian", Stick#2, piloted by Capt. Matt J. Luoma of the 95th Troop Carrier Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier Group.
A cruel twist of fate meant Lt/ Col Wolverton's feet never touched French soil. The commanding officer of 3rd Bn 506th PIR, was killed suspended by his parachute from an apple tree in an orchard just north of the hamlet of St Côme du Mont. On D-Day 1/Lt Alex Bobuck was the first one to jump off Lt. Col. Wolverton's plane but was captured when he landed on a German Command Post roof, he was liberated on June 8 by the advancing forces on St.Come-du-Mont.
Troop Carrier command personnel of the 9th Air Force.
Airborne troopers of the 506th PIR prepare for their flight to Normandy. The C-47 to carry them was flown by the CO of the 440th Troop Carrier Group. C-47 42-92717 8Y-S.
C-47 Skytrains of the 440th Troop Carrier Group at Exeter, 5 June 1944. caption on image: "Exeter, England - Jun 5, 1944, D-1." Printed caption on reverse: 'USAAF Station #463 Exeter, Devon, June 5, 1944, D-Day Minus One. Aircraft of the 95th & 98th Sqdns in foreground. Property of the 440th TCGp Assoc. 551 So. Concord St., Seattle, Washington, 98108, U.S.A.' Part of IX Troop Carrier Command.
Barracks at Exeter, home of the 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Exeter: Barracks.'
C-47 Skytrains and gliders line up for take off before a practice mission at Bottesford. 436th Troop Carrier Group or 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bottesford glider mission practice.'
Crew barracks at Bottesford, home of the 436th Troop Carrier Group and 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'A-3. Bottesford, barracks.'
A formation of C-47 Skytrains of the 440th Troop Carrier Group fly over Exeter. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Exeter: troops on parade.'
T-4 Joseph F Corenc Hq Company 3rd Battalion 506 PIR, 101st Airborne boards C-47 42-92717 98th TCS, 440TCG, 9AF. 5-Jun-44.
C-47 Skytrains and gliders line up for take off before a practice mission at Bottesford. 436th Troop Carrier Group or 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bottesford glider mission practice.'
C-47 Skytrains line up for take off before a practice mission at Bottesford. 436th Troop Carrier Group or 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bottesford glider mission practice.'
Gliders lined up for take off before a practice mission at Bottesford. 436th Troop Carrier Group or 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bottesford glider mission practice.'
Crew quarters at Bottesford, home of the 436th Troop Carrier Group and 440th Troop Carrier Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'A-6. P-17. Bottesford, barracks.
Sweet Phyllis - C47A in 1944
This C47A Skytrain, affectionately named Sweet Phyllis was assigned to 440th Troop Carrier Group 98 Squadron based at Exeter Airport from the 18th April 1944 until September 1944. The aircraft appears to have some damage, indicating the photo was taken after 6th June.
Acknowledgement
Photographs taken from the the Roger Freeman collection belonging to the IWM
What is the Roger Freeman Collection?
The Roger Freeman Collection of photographs was acquired in 2012 and consists of approximately 15,000 prints and slides assembled by Roger Freeman (1928–2005), aviation historian and East Anglian native.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/what-is-the-roger-freeman-collection/
Southwest Airfields Heritage Trust © 2017