“He had never been more nervous in his life. Three men had died on their last training mission before shipping off, and now it was time for the first major paratrooper combat drop. Ever. Air roared past the plane and filled his ears with an unbearable sound, rising with the pain in his chest. The door was flung open and air rushed in to the cabin. The commander of the entire regiment stood first, Colonel James Gavin, gave a reassuring smile and said, ‘Here’s one for the history books boys!’ With that he flung himself from the C-47 and plummeted in to Axis-controlled Italy. He was ready.”
H-Minus follows the men of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment during the Second World War, starting with the first ever US paratrooper combat drop during the invasion of Sicily in the summer of 1943. They gained their eventual motto H-Minus, after jumping before their designated time (or H-hour) during the invasion of Normandy.
Hosted and narrated by:
MichaelJ
Started 04/17/14.
Scenes played: 1
License: Community License