Photo from Fred Hill

Crockett Ravine

Patch courtesy of Dom Abbott

Jump field B [the golf course] is on the right where the wisp of a cloud obscures it.  The shot is obviously taken before the assault since there are no chutes in the ravine and many of the paratroopers going into B field were blown into the ravine. The first wave had more trouble than the second since we [I was in the 2nd wave] were briefed by the pilots before we took off and the count past the GO point was changed to seven seconds.  My entire platoon landed right on the money but one D Company planeload [mainly the 3rd] dropped into the ravine.  As we used to  say "There's always the ten percent who don't get the word." The buildings at the edge of the ravine [midground] are officers quarters, A field and the barracks are at the top of the photo.  Fred Hill was a member of the reconnaissance squadron that supported us and his team developed and printed the photos that were provided the troops and were most useful on the assault since the maps were terrible. I have ordered several prints from Hill and I highly recommend him, he does excellent work and gets it done in a reasonable time. 

John Lindgren
"D" Coy, 503rd RCT

Recollection

Patch courtesy of Dom Abbott

"I jumped in the first wave, and missed the topside by about 50 meters. While getting rid of my parachute I saw my company commander, Capt. James S. Beyer, struggling up the slope. Together we labored up to the topside. We had not gone too far on top when we saw a body partially covered with a parachute. The parachute had failed to open. Captain Beyer peeled the canopy from the fallen soldiers face to reveal the unfortunate death of my platoon sergeant Charles Lindsay. We covered his body with the chute, looked wonderingly at each other, murmured a silent prayer, and proceeded with the mission."

Bob Flynn
503rd Historian
(and 161st Parachute Engr Co.)

 

Catalog #13

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