Published: 8 July 2019
Smeatharpe’s moment in history – when American warplanes crammed with paratroopers roared down the runway to fight in Normandy – was remembered in a moving ceremony on June 5t.
At ten past ten, 75 years to the minute after the first aircraft took off, around 60 people gathered in the darkness and stood in silent remembrance.
Among them were the son and grandson of Colonel Charles H. Young, commanding officer of the 439th Troop Carrier Group.
Smeatharpe – known as RAF Upottery – was made famous as the airfield where Easy Company set out for D-Day in the epic American TV series Band of Brothers. The story of the airfield and those who flew from there is brilliantly told by the organises of this annual vigil, the South West Airfields Heritage Trust, both on their website and at their heritage centre museum in a Smeatharpe Nissen hut.