Russel Blair DILLARD

 

ii

Source : Don J
NUMBER OF SERVICE13036507
AGE24 yo
DATE OF BIRTH7 November 1919 Rockbridge County, VIRGINIA
ETATVIRGINIA
FAMILYSingle
RANKCorporal
FONCTIONPathfinders
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENTSemiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehiclesNE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT11 February 1942 Richmond VIRGINIA
COMPANYHeadQuarter Company
BATTALION2nd Battalion
REGIMENT 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment
DIVISION 82nd Airborne Division
DATE OF DEATH23 June 1944

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Source : F Lavernhe

STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATH 
DATA PLANEngaged during D-Day with pathfinders stick n ° 2 of 507 PIR
CEMETERY TEMPORARY

 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Blosville N°3508

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

PlotRowGrave
C8150

 

CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
E96
DECORATION

Bronze Star

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

Brevet Parachutiste


bsm

Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

combat infantryman badge

us army 507pir 507pir patch
STORY

The division was reactivated on March 25, 1942 and became Airborne Division on August 15.

She first trained Camp Claiborne in Louisiana under the command of Major General Omar Bradley then at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Patch Fort Bragg

Paratrooper training at FORT BRAGG CAROLINE DU NORD

Camp Fort Bragg

After he follows part of their basic training at Camp Blanding FLORIDE

Transfer to Great Britain in April 1943.

The 82nd Airborne Division will pass through Casablanca (training), Sicily (engagement-combat), Gela TUNISIA (Re-equipment), Comiso Licata Castelvetrano Trapani Airport SICILY (engagement-combat). Salerno Naples Anzio ITALY (combat engagement) Belfast (training).


May 26, 1944 The 82nd mission is set: Take control of the surroundings of St Sauveur le Vicomte, in order to prevent German forces from blocking the units landed at Utah Beach.

Carte Drop Zone

The first drops take place on June 6 between 1h51 and 2h08.

Dropping losses 272 men.

Hired during D DAY with pathfinders stick n ° 2 of 507 PIR

The 3 groups of pathfinders of the 507 PIR include 51 paratroopers.

Arriving on the ground, the pathfinders found themselves surrounded by numerous enemy units which prevented them from setting up the balissage.

pathfinders du 507

 

Takeoff from North Witham in a C47 Series 6, direction the drop zone T

The DZ was not set up at the scheduled time.

Only one Eureka machine was put into operation, but no markings on the ground.

The Eureka was only put into operation 15 minutes before the arrival of the assault waves.

The dispersion of the C 47s is due to the German flak because the pilots had to gain altitude and speed


The EUREKA machine operated for 20 minutes afterwards.

The 3 stick area of the 507 PIR was Amfreville Gourbesville

At the end of hostilities 35 pathfinders died wounded or captured.

On the night of June 16, 1944 the 507 PIR established a line of defense from Franquetot Coigny Baupte.

German artillery will shell its positions day and night


On June 20, 1944 the 2 and 3 battalions held Vindefontaine or they remained there waiting to be relieved by the 90th Infantry Division.

During this period the very active German artillery caused numerous losses.


 

div 82

82nd AIRBORNE DIVISION - ALL AMERICAN

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie

25 Mar 1942  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  422
   Casualties/Victimes  9 073

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

 
9 Jul 1943 at Sicily  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. Omar Bradley (Mar 42 - Jun 42)
Maj. Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway (Jun 42 - Aug 44)
Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin (Aug 44 - Mar 48)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Sicily (9 Jul - 17 Aug 43)
Naples-Foggia (9 Sep 43 - 21 Jan 44)
Rome-Arno (22 Jan 44 - 9 Sep 44)

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44)

Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)

   

CARTE DE CAMPAGNE DU THÉÂTRE MÉDITERRANÉEN

CAMPAIGN MAP OF THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER

mediterranean theater campaigns

PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP

carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


The 82d Airborne Division landed at Casablanca, 10 May 1943, and trained. Elements first saw combat in Sicily, when the 505th RCT and part of the 504th dropped behind enemy lines, 9-10 July 1943, at Gela. The remainder of the 504th RCT dropped, 11-12 July 1943, also near Gela, after running friendly naval and ground force fire. Scattered elements formed and fought as ground troops. The elements were flown back to Tunisia for reequipment and returned to Sicily to take off for drop landings on the Salerno beachhead. The 504th Parachute Infantry dropped, 13 September 1943, and the 505th the following night; the 325th landed by boat. These elements bolstered Salerno defenses and fought their way into Naples, 1 October 1943. After a period of occupation duty (and combat for some elements in the Volturno Valley and Anzio beachhead), the Division moved to Ireland, November 1943, and later to England, February 1944, for additional training. Moving in by glider and parachute, troops of the 82d dropped behind enemy lines in Normandy on D-day, 6 June 1944, before ground troops hit the beaches. Cutting off enemy reinforcements, the Division fought its way from Carentan to St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, fighting 33 days without relief. Relieved on 8 July, it returned to England for refitting. On 17 September, it was dropped at Nijmegen, 50 miles behind enemy lines, and captured the Nijmegen bridge, 20 September, permitting relief of British paratroops by the British 2d Army. After heavy fighting in Holland, the Division was relieved 11 November and rested in France. It was returned to combat, 18 December 1944, to stem the von Rundstedt offensive, blunting the northern salient of the Bulge. It punched through the Siegfried Line in early February 1945, and crossed the Roer, 17 February. Training with new equipment in March, the Division returned to combat, 4 April, patrolling along the Rhine, securing the Koln area, later moving across the Elbe, 30 April, into the Mecklenburg Plain, where, 2 May 1945, the German 21st Army surrendered.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


La 82ème division aéroportée a atterri à Casablanca le 10 mai 1943 et s'est entraînée. Les éléments ont d'abord été combattus en Sicile, lorsque le 505ème RCT et une partie du 504ème ont été largués derrière les lignes ennemies, du 9 au 10 juillet 1943, à Gela. Le reste de la 504ème RCT est tombé, du 11 au 12 juillet 1943, également près de Gela, après des tirs amicaux contre des forces navales et terrestres. Des éléments épars se sont formés et se sont battus en tant que troupes au sol. Les éléments ont été rapatriés en Tunisie pour le rééquipement et sont retournés en Sicile pour décoller pour atterrir sur la tête de pont de Salerne. Le 504th Infantry Parachute Infantry est tombé le 13 septembre 1943 et le 505ème le lendemain soir; la 325ème atterrit en bateau. Ces éléments ont renforcé les défenses de Salerno et se sont introduits à Naples, le 1er octobre 1943. Après une période d'occupation (et de combat pour certains éléments dans la vallée de Volturno et la tête de pont d'Anzio), la division s'est installée en Irlande en novembre 1943 , Février 1944, pour une formation supplémentaire. Se déplaçant en planeur et en parachute, les troupes du 82d tombèrent derrière les lignes ennemies en Normandie le 6 juin 1944, avant que les troupes terrestres ne frappent les plages. En coupant les renforts ennemis, la Division se fraya un chemin de Carentan à Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, combattant 33 jours sans soulagement. Soulagé le 8 juillet, il est retourné en Angleterre pour y être réaménagé. Le 17 septembre, il a été largué à Nimègue, à 50 milles derrière les lignes ennemies, et a capturé le pont de Nimègue, le 20 septembre, permettant ainsi à la 2 e armée britannique de soulager les parachutistes britanniques. Après de violents combats en Hollande, la division est soulagée le 11 novembre et se repose en France. Il fut remis au combat le 18 décembre 1944 pour endiguer l’offensive de von Rundstedt, assourdissant le saillant septentrional des Ardennes. Il a percuté la ligne Siegfried au début de février 1945 et a traversé la Roer le 17 février. S'entraînant avec de nouveaux équipements en mars, la Division est revenue au combat le 4 avril, patrouillant le long du Rhin, sécurisant la région de Koln, traversant ensuite l'Elbe le 30 avril dans la plaine de Mecklenburg où, le 2 mai 1945 s'est rendu.

 

SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com

Crew of  Dakota C-47 - Shalk 14


pathfinder serie6 507
Pilot : First Lieutenant David HAMILTON troopcarriercommand badge
Co-pilot : Second Lieutenant Stanton F. BIERWITH
Navigator : Second Lieutenant Carl R. JONES
  Technical Sergeant Melvin DOHERTY
Opérator radio : Staff Sergeant Samuel CARLLEY

 

Pathfinders of stick 2 -

507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion

 

First Lieutenant Ralph S. McGILL 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, F Co
Second Lieutenant Charles R. AMES 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E Co
Sergeant Jerome SHAPIRO 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq
Sergeant John A. TURNER 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, F Co
Technical 4th Rolland J. DUFF 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq
Corporal Russell B. DILLARD 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq
Corporal Eddie A. TAMPLEN 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, F Co
Corporal Peter J. WEATHERS 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, F Co
Private First Class Robert J. BEAUDINE 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, F Co
Private First Class Otto EICHELBERG 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E Co
Private First Class Ronald B. Nicholson 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq
Private First Class Louis C. WALDORF 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E Co
Private Curry M. ADDERTON 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, G Co
Private Ray A. EMBREE 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E Co
Private Edward W. ENDSLEY 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq
Private Michael EVANICK 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, G Co
Private Roy E. NORRIS 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Hq
Private William L. ROBBINS 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E Co
Private Bernard C. SHIPTON 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, C Co
Private James O. WALLIS 82nd Airborne Division 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E Co

SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTOClive TIRLEMONT - Frédéric LAVERNHE - Dday-overlord.com
PROGRAMMEURSHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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