CHEF-DU-PONT Manche - 12 km north of Carentan General Gavin led his paratroops in the assault General Bradley had obtained the commitment of airborne troops on D-Day in Normandy, according to him, the drop of parachutists in the Cotentin is a condition of the landing success on Utah Beach. Indeed, behind the beaches, rare roads crossed marshy zones and they were easy to block. In the night of 6 June 1944, a group of around 150 parachutists of the 507th and the 508th Regiments, under Lieutenant-colonel Ostberg, progressed toward Chef-du-Pont. General Gavin, who commanded in second the 82nd American Airborne Division, had assigned the division to seize the town, and to control a bridge over the river Merderet. The Americans pushed back German troops from Chef-du-Pont, but the bridge at the western exit of the town was under enemy fire. The German artillery caused heavy losses in Americans ranks; moreover two third of the group were sent as reinforcement in La Fière. The situation turned critical. New droppings of heavy equipment and troops reinforcement enabled the Americans to secure the position around the bridge.
508th PIR stele Stele offered by the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment veterans in remembering June 1944 fighting. Situation : at the exit of the town, left at the edge of the D70 road, toward Pont-L’Abbé (in a little garden)
Captain Roy Creek board Borad commemorating the fighting of Captain Roy Creek and men of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd American Airborne Division to capture this bridge on the river Merderet. Situation : at the exit of the town, left at the edge of the D70 road, toward Pont-L’Abbé, near the bridge
Rex Combs plaque Plaque in memory of captain Rex Combs who commanded the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion 508th Parachutist Infantry Regiment (82nd Airborne Division). Situation : on the War Memorial, in the cemetery near the church						508th PIR stele Stele dedicated to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd American Airborne Division. Situation : at the exit of the town, right at the edge of the D70 road, toward Pont-L’Abbé
	ROAD MAP			INTERESTING WEB SITES Web page about Chef-du-Pont fightings by captain Roy Creek http://www.thedropzone.org Personal web site about D-day http://www.6juin1944.com/ Personal web site about D-day and the Normandy battle http://www.dday-overlord.com/index.htm Page of US Army official web site about assault units of D-day http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm Personal web site about the 82nd Airborne Division http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/5340/viewframe.htm   All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved