Mission details Mission Elmira

c-47s cut loose cg-4 gliders on landing zone.

the first 2 serials of 76 tug-glider combinations came under heavy ground fire before release point. 2 c-47s shot down after release , half survivors suffered battle damage. unknown troop carriers, troops of german 795th georgian battalion occupied part of landing zone, , eureka transponding radar beacon landing aids had been moved 2 miles (3 km) northwest on drop zone/landing zone o. c-47s released gliders original lz, unaware of aids on lz o. although 82nd airborne considered landings inaccurate because did not land on lz o, came down within 2 miles (3.2 km) of original lz. of 3 wacos , 21 horsa destroyed, result of german mortar , artillery fire after landing.

the second wave of mission elmira arrived @ 2255 terrain enveloped in shadow, , since no other pathfinder aids operating, headed eureka beacon on lz o. approximately halfway there, came under severe ground fire of day, since route lz o passed directly on , along german lines. despite this, damage similar of serials had come in 2 hours earlier, 3 c-47s ditching on way home. last 2 glider serials had mixed accuracy. first released , came down near or within german lines, second came down on landing zone o, except 5 followed briefing orders , landed on lz w. so, virtually of personnel of both battalions made way 82nd airborne positions morning, , had 15 of 24 guns in operation sundown of june 8.

casualties in mission elmira 15 killed, 17 wounded, , 4 missing among glider pilots; , 33 killed , 124 wounded among passengers. strom thurmond, lieutenant colonel in civil affairs unit @ age 41 credited being oldest person attached division go normandy invasion. later became longest-serving senator in united states history.