FRIDAY FOTO (May 24, 2019)

Monuments Men.

(U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Alexis Washburn-Jasinski)

 

Paratroopers from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) land within sight of the world famous Mont Saint-Michel abbey in Normandy, France, during a May 18, 2019 airborne operation to commemorate the Allied liberation of France during World War II.

The abbey, one of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites, started as a small church in 709 C.E., dedicated to the Archangel Michael — who just happens to be the patron saint of paratroopers.

Three U.S. Air Force aircraft from 352nd Special Operations Wing and the 86th Airlift Wing, delivered more than 130 Green Berets to the drop zone, a little over a mile from Mont Saint-Michel, near Avranches, which was liberated by U.S. forces in 1944. A large crowd of residents from the commune of Avranches — which sponsored the event — attended the airdrop. The demonstration included both military free-fall and static-line parachute drops.

The jump celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the drop of “Jedburgh” teams into France ahead of the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Just a year earlier, the Allies created 100 three-man special operations teams with personnel from the British Special Operations Executive, American Office of Strategic Services (the precursor of the CIA) and General Charles de Gaulle’s Free French organization. Known as Jedburghs, the teams also included individuals from Belgium, Canada, South Africa and the Netherlands. Instrumental to the allied liberation of France and occupied Europe, the Jedburgh teams trained, armed, and directed local resistance fighters from behind enemy lines.

Today’s Green Berets trace their history directly to the Jedburgh teams as well as the First Special Service Force, a combined Canadian-American unit, known as the “Devil’s Brigade.” The 10th Special Forces Group, the first such unit, was established in 1952 and immediately deployed to Europe during the Cold War. It’s worth noting the Army Special Forces motto “DE OPPRESSO LIBER” is Latin for “To Free the Oppressed.”

For more details of the air drop event and photos, click here.