Operation Dragoon - After Action Reports

Record of Events

Headquarters 2nd Battalion, 517 Parachute Infantry Regiment

             At 0200 hours, 15 Aug 44, the 2nd Battalion, 517th Parachute Inf., enplaned at Ombrone Airfield, Italy, located at eight miles S of Grossetto, Italy.  The Battalion mission was to spearhead the Airborne Invasion of Southern France.  To land on a pre-designated dropping zone, located 1-l/2 miles Southwest of LaMotte, France.  Then after Assembly to seize and hold high ground commanding the approach to the beaches where our amphibious forces were to effect a landing a short time later.  The Battalion loaded in 34 planes of the 440th TC Group commanded by Lt. Col. Krebs.  At 0235 hours the planes took off and after serial assembly proceeded NW to the designated objective.  The Battalion was preceeded by Pathfinders consisting of 10 men, 1 officer, Lt. Waddle who jumped at 0255 with the mission to precede the Battalion, and set up at the drop zone.  The order of drop was to be “D” Co., Hq. Co., “E” Co., and “F” Co.  The actions in the earlier phases of the campaign will be described by Company units because of the independent nature of the activity.

RICHARD J. SEITZ
Lt. Col. 517 Prcht. Inf.
Commanding