Ian Gardner - Sent by the Iron Sky: The Legacy of an American Parachute Battalion in World War II

Almighty God, we kneel to Thee and ask to be the instrument of Thy fury in smiting the evil forces that have visited death, misery and debasement on the people of earth. We humbly face thee with true penitence for all of our sins for which we do most earnestly seek Thy forgiveness. Help us to dedicate ourselves completely to Thee. Be with us, God, when we leap from our planes into the dread abyss and descend in parachutes into the midst of enemy fire. Give us iron will and stark courage as we spring from the harnesses of our parachutes and seize arms to meet and defeat them in Thy name and in the name of freedom and dignity of man. Keep us firm in our faith and resolution, and guide us that we may not dishonor our high mission or fail in our sacred duties. Let our enemies who have lived by the sword turn from their violence lest they perish by the sword. Help us to serve thee gallantly and to be humble in victory.

Amen.

The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment Prayer written by Captain James G. Morton

Dedication

For my dad and mum Dennis & Joan

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First published in Great Britain in 2019

Ian Gardner, 2019

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Maps by the author

FRONT COVER: On June 4, for the benefit of the camera Lt Col Robert Wolverton checks his adjutant Lt Alex Bobucks equipment. In the background stands the 440th Troop Carrier Group C-47 aircraft 315087 Lady Lillian, freshly painted in the black and white recognition stripes. (NARA colorised by Johnny Sirlande) TITLE PAGE: 1st Lt Alex Bobuck (captured) checks a manifest on the morning of Sunday June 4 for the benefit of Signal Corps cameramen. In the background stands C-47 Lady Lillian which carried Executive Officer Maj George Grants stick to Normandy. (Left to right): Pvt Anthony Wincensiak (KIA), Sgt Tom Newell (captured), Pvt Ray Calandrella (captured), Pvt Jesse Cross (captured), Pvt John Rinehart (KIA), Sgt Bill Pauli (captured), T/5 Jack Harrison (died of wounds), Pfc Harry Howard (captured), T/5 Charles Riley (captured), and S/Sgt John Taormina (captured). (NARA)

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EDITORS NOTE

This book contains some material previously published in Tonight We Die As Men, Deliver Us From Darkness and No Victory in Valhalla.

CONTENTS

by Ian Gardner

by Lee Wolverton

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As usual this section has been one of the hardest parts of the book to complete, as so many people have contributed to Tonight We Die as Men, Deliver Us From Darkness and No Victory in Valhalla. Without this long list of amazing individuals, many of whom have since passed away, Sent by the Iron Sky could never have been put together. If anyones name has been overlooked and it has been a long time I hope you will accept my sincere apologies. Individual thanks are extended by country to the following:

United Kingdom

Laura Callaghan, Rosemary Connor, Marcus Cowper, Roger Day, Elsie Douglas, Rodge Dowson, Emily Holmes, Monique Jones, Patricia Howard, Peter Mills, Kate Moore, John Mundy, Doreen Ramsden, Rosemary and Sarah Pinches, Monica Tovey and Graeme Trim, Francis Wyndham.

United States of America and Canada

Miles Allen, Jannie Anderson, Kathleen Tachie Anderson, Jacqueline Rickards Andrews Jim Bigley, Fred and Rick Bahlau, Mark Bando, Mike Baldinger, Doug Barber, Barbara Bartell, Manny Barrios, Ralph Bennett, Dave Berry, Lurie Berteau, Joe Beyrle, Joe Beyrle II, Denis van den Brink, Marcus Brotherton, Tom Bucher, Sharon Bunker, Roy Burger, Don Burgett, Ray Calandrella, Derwood Cann, Joan Chincarini, Merrick OConnell, Denis and Donna Cortese, Dan Cutting, Louis DeNegre, Mario Hank DiCarlo, Carole and Harley Dingman, Joe Doughty, Bob Dunning, Mark Durivage, George Dwyer, Teddy and Bette Dziepak, Bud Estes, Bill Galbraith, Judy Gamble, John Gibson, Len Goodgal, Brian Gottlieb, George Grant Jr, Clark Heggeness, Randy Hils, Ben Hiner, Bob Izumi, Ken Johnson, Tom Kennedy, Brenda Kightlinger, John Klein, Laurie Kotsch, George Koskimaki, John Kutz, Gerry and Bobbie Lord, Alfred Lowe, Walter Lukasavage, Piet Pete Luiten, Pete and Mary Madden, Clair Mathiason, James Pee Wee Martin, Sid McCallum, Jim and Pat McCann, Earl McClung, Karen McGee, George McMillan, Jim Melhus, John Merkt, Eugene and Vada Montgomery, Tim Moore, Byron and Robby Moore, Dave and Neil Morgan, Gil Morton, Ray Nagell, Mary Lou Neally, Don Orcutt, Carolyn Packert, Bonnie Pond, Jake Powers, John Reeder, Rich Riley, Doyle Rigden, Bobbie Rommel, George Rosie, Ken Ross, Philip Russo, Barney Ryan, Bob Saxvik, John Shank, Ray Skully, Ed Shames, Bob Smoldt, Elsie and Nathan Spurr, Harold Stedman, Tom Stedman, Jay Stone, Ann Tanzy, Kathy Tozzi, Lou Vecchi, John Vecchi, Geoff Walden, Aaron Walser, Bob Webb Jr, Bill Wedeking, Chad Weisensel, Harold Winer, Lee Wolverton, Don Zahn.

France and Switzerland

Msr and Mme Brohier, Charles Carel, Andr Descamps, Charles Destrs, Michel DeTrez, Thrse Dieudonn, Msr and Mme Droin, Msr Dumoncel, Eugne Enot, Thierry Ferey, Maurice de Folleville, Philippe Frigot, William Hbert, Nicole Laurence, Amand Laurent, Lon Lehay, Jean Pierre Lemesnil, Michel and Martine Lonard, Louis Letourneur, Paulette Menilgrente, Jean Mignon, Msr and Mme Poisson, Susan Rochat, Msr La Rue, Jean Savary and Henry Villand.

The Netherlands

Dick Bakker, Henk Beens, Frits Berens, Donald van den Bogert, Hans den Brok, Jo van Dongen, Bernard Florissen, Gerda den Hartog, Johannes van den Hatert, Peter Hendrikx, Piet van den Heuvel, Gido Hordijk, Jenny and Jan Van Hout, Erwin Janssen, Wim and Jos Klerkx, Steph Leenhouwers, Vic van Lijf, Peter van der Linden, Frans Mientjes, Ronald Ooms, Wan van Overweld, Johannes Peerbolte, Tom Peeters, Gert and Clazien van Rinsum, Albert Roxs, Frits van Schaik, Jaap van Schaik, Frank and Chantal Slegers, Ronald Stassen, Willemien van Steenbergen, Jurgen Swinkels, Noud Stultiens, Tom Timmermans, Dirk van Tintelen, Frenk Derks van de Ven, Peter van de Wal.