Getting ready for D-Day

The Normandy Landings were the first operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, also known as Operation Neptune and Operation Overlord, during World War II. The assault was to be conducted in two phases: an air assault landing of American, British and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armoured divisions on the coast of France commencing at 6:30.

The US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, which had 13,000 paratroopers, were assigned to objectives west of Utah Beach. To slow or eliminate the enemy's ability to organize and launch counterattacks during this critical period, airborne operations were used to seize key objectives, such as bridges, road crossings, and terrain features, particularly on the eastern and western flanks of the landing areas. The airborne landings some distance behind the beaches were also intended to ease the egress of the amphibious forces off the beaches, and in some cases to neutralize German coastal defence batteries and more quickly expand the area of the beachhead. [source: wiki]

Here are some of my 1/6 scale 12-inch World War II American paratroopers getting ready for their airborne assault over Normandy, some already kitted out while some are just getting ready for the mission ahead.


Here's Dragon's WWII US 101st Airborne Paratrooper "Danny" (with Kirk Douglas likeness) all geared up for battle with the Germans! Here's the link for more pictures of Danny boy :)

Dragon US 82nd Airborne Pathfinder "Tom" (with Nicholas Cage likeness) - more pictures here

BBI also released some very nice WWII American paratroopers in its heyday! Alas those days have passed :(

BBI WWII US 101st Airborne paratrooper Corporal Bud Norris (link here for more pictures)

BBI Figuretoy.com exclusive in 2003 - WWII US Army 101st Airborne paratrooper with complete equipment, including a working parachute with rig lines plus the M9A1 rocket launcher with three 3.4lb rockets.

Figure shown is out of box but minus all his other accessories. Hope to do a full post one day.

Dragon US 17th Airborne Bar Gunner "Jeb" (also with Nicholas Cage likeness) - click here for more pictures. Dragon released this US Army 17th Airborne Division Bar Gunner from Operation Varsity Private "Jeb" as part of its "Road to Victory" series in 2003. Third time's the charm for Dragon as it tried to get Nicholas Cage's head sculpt done right. First with SGT Joe Enders, then US 82nd Airborne Pathfinder "Tom" and finally "Jeb".

Dragon WWII 101st Airborne Division Officer (1st Lieutenant) "Frank Laird" figure out of box. Apart from the historically accurate uniform, this authentic action figure comes with highly detailed equipment including an improved 3rd pattern Griswold bag, M1912 small arms ammunition pouch and T-5 parachute main pack. BONUS FEATURE: Each figure includes a true to 1/6 scale door frame of the C-47 transport aircraft! The figure comes in the box poised for his jump at the door frame - very NICE!

Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (more pictures here). On the left is Dragon's Private James "Jim" Gordon of the 101st Airborne Paratrooper, 2nd Battalion, 506 PIR from Dragon's outstanding SOLDAT series (link here for more pictures). On the right is DiD's WWII US 101st Airborne Division 506th PIR "Albert Ross" (not kitted out yet - will get to it one day :) Also came with home leave uniform (pictures here)

DiD's WWII US 82nd Airborne Division 1/6 scale collectible figure "Sergeant Corbin Black" and WWII 101st Airborne Division "Ricky Foster"

DiD's "Sergeant Corbin Black" comes with war paint on his face

And "Ricky Foster" comes with mohawk hairstyle (an alternate head sculpt was also provided). Many accounts of Native American cultures claim that 'In times of war, Mohawk men shaved their heads except for a scalplock or a crest down the center of their head - the hairstyle known as a roach or a "Mohawk." During World War II, members of the Allied Airborne soldiers (specifically the 101st Airborne Division - the "Screaming Eagles") shaved their hair into Mohawks.

My wish is to be able to display all of them one day. Right now, quite a lot of them are still residing in their boxes waiting to come out and there's no space already - SIGH :(

NEXT: June 6, 1944 - D-DAY!