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It took roughly 85 plane-loads to carry our men in, and 250 passes over the field the field to drop them. Remember that all this was done under harassing fire from the enemy, and on a field of extraordinary proportions which our pilots and jumpmasters had never tested before. Worst of all, remember that the wind had risen to a velocity of 25 miles per hour, as registered on the Navy's gauges, whereas in practice all jumping is forbidden at a wind-velocity of over 15 miles per hour. Under these conditions, it seems remarkable, not that a few missed, but that such a large proportion of our jumpers hit the target.

� 2010 William T. Calhoun & 503d PRCT Heritage Bn