Who were the first to land in Normandy on D Day?

Further to the claim at Deadman's Corner Museum near St Mere Eglise the following responses have been received from members.

Pete Hawtin

The DMC sign is probably correct. Team A of 502nd Pathfinders jumped at 0015hrs commanded by Captain Frank Lillyman and landed on DZ A near St Mere Eglise. they landed intact and set up their beacons for the main force. To be switched on at 0040hrs. In the US Official History no mention is made of times but Devlin in his book 'Paratrooper' states that 'the first man to land was Captain Frank L Lillyman a 101st Pathfinders who set down at 0015hrs'

The first intact fighting troops to land were John Howard's glider-borne company of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry at the Benouville Bridge (Pegasus) at 0016hrs with the caveat that the US Pathfinders were ordered to avoid contact and to take evasive action if discovered.

Valmai Holt

Gallic enthusiasm is a wonderful thing! The memorial plaque on the Marie at Benouville claims to be the first Marie liberated at 2345hrs on the 5th June! Trying to decide upon the 'first' anything in France and you will have trouble!

John Howard said that his watch stopped at 0016hrs.

Tonie Holt

Gordon Brown in his book 'Wartime Courage' says the first allied soldier to arrive in Normandy on D Day was SAS Lieutenant Noel Poole who landed at 0011hrs whilst taking part in Operation 'Titanic' the distribution of the Rupert 'dummies' around Carentan. This information came to Brown via Professor M R D Foot the historian for SOE who was also a Captain in, and IO for the SAS


I think it is probable that the US Pathfinders as a formed body were first to land, but the first to 'close with the enemy' was John Howard's action at Benouville Bridge