Carentan Airborne Festival – Normandy, 2nd – 6th June 2007
Several activities are planned to be scheduled:
– Living history encampment
– Parachute jump demonstration
– Downtown military vehicle parade
– 101st Airborne Division Drop Zone visit from helicopter
– WWII music concert and dance
– Fireworks
– Exhibitions
– Veteran meetings
– Official ceremonies
– Historical march…
Info :
– The camp is located at the Carentan hippodrome. It is open to all individual WWII re-enactors and groups with appropriate ALLIED ETO, June 1944 impression. We prefer re-enactors representing units that liberated Carentan, i.e. : 101st Airborne, 2nd Armored Division, 70th Tank Battalion, Stars & Stripes news reporters, or those that fought in the area i.e. : 29th Inf, 82nd Airborne, Glider Pilots, 4th Inf. Division, USN Beach Bns, Amphibious Units, USO…
– Camp is free of charge for visitors.
– Advance registration is required. Participants are considered part of the re-enactment and must observe rules at all times. Deactivated weapons (complying with French law) are permitted on the campgrounds.
– The organization reserves the right to reject re-enactors who do not meet safety, authenticity, or other standards.
– Complimentary commodities are available on site. On-site catering will be supplied by the Kerdun Organisation.
– For security reasons, fires or barbecues are strictly prohibited on site.
– Re-enactors and collectors are provided with space for setting up their period military encampment and exhibit their military vehicles, uniforms and gear. (There is no civilian camping or non-period vehicles permitted on site)
– Military vehicle shuttle service available each hour from camp to « Dead Man’s Corner Museum»
– Times are still subject to change
Friday June 1
Camp Liberty Jump, check-in and field encampment build-up starts at 14:00 until Saturday 9:00 am
Saturday June 2
10 h 00 Camp Liberty Jump opens to the general public
Opening ‘Fixed bayonet’ exhibit (1/6 scale)
Opening La Presse de la Manche photo exhibit
Opening C-47 airplane visits
Opening helicopter flight over the drop zones
14 h 00 WWII Military vehicle liberty convoy through Carentan
17 h 00 Tank demonstration
Meeting with veterans
Press conference
20 h 00 USO Camp Show
Fireworks
Sunday June 3
08 h 00 Depart from Place du Valnoble, Carentan centre « Brothers in Arms March », 3rd edition, ‘Walk where they Fought, in the Footsteps of the 101st Airborne Division’
10 h 00 Camp Liberty Jump opens to the general public
Opening ‘Fixed bayonet’ exhibit (1/6 scale)
Opening C-47 airplane visits
Opening La Presse de la Manche photo exhibit
Opening helicopter flight over the drop zones
15h 00 Static shows, German and US paratroopers with vehicles
16h 00 BIA March arrival at Camp Liberty Jump
17 h 00 Veteran meetings
Author’s book signing
19 h 00 Drop Zone Carentan – Liberty Jump Team WWII jump from vintage C-47
20 h 00 Nocturne at Camp Liberty Jump. GI field camp life
Monday June 4
10 h 00 Camp Liberty Jump opens to the general public
Opening ‘Fixed bayonet’ exhibit (1/6 scale)
Opening ‘La Presse de la Manche photo exhibit
Tank exhibition
Opening C-47 airplane visit
Opening helicopter flight over the landing beaches
20 h 00 Nocturne at Camp Liberty Jump. GI field camp life
Tuesday June 5
10 h 00 Camp Liberty Jump opens to the general public
Opening ‘Fixed bayonet’ exhibit (1/6 scale)
Opening La Presse de la Manche photo exhibit
Opening C-47 airplane visit
Wednesday June 6
Official ceremony at Capt Hancock Monument, Cabbage Patch, Purple Heart Lane, Carentan
Official ceremony at Signal Monument, in front of Carentan Mayor’s Office
Contacts:
MILITARY FIELD CAMP & PARADE Registrations and info: CampCaf: Fred de Bock. Tel :06.72.07.18.75 Email : Campcaf07@orange.fr
MAIN ORGANIZATION Info: Kerdun Organization, Gilles Barbé: Tel :06.61.50.54.01 carentan.airborne@neuf.fr
BROTHERS IN ARMS MARCH Registration and info: Carentan Historical Centre, 2 village de l’Amont, 50500 Saint-Côme-du-Mont. Tel : 02.33.42.00.42 Email : Carentan.101@orange.fr
We have been told that there is a supper on the 3rd June for the veterans where they can go and eat at peoples houses that were in the invassion zone. We live in Laulne, close to Lessay and would be pleased to have some veterans for supper to hear some of the history of the invasion. We are English and moved here three years ago. We have heard stories from our French neihbours and the people whe lived here in our village then, but would be fasinated to hear from the Americans. We have a gite that sleeps six people if added accommodation is needed. Look forward to hearing from you
Is it possible for me to contact a 101st historian? Someone who knows details about the Battle at Carentan.