It happened 11 years ago, a strange rescue, during the Normandy operation in a water filled canal and more recently, the renewed acquaintance of the two people involved after not seeing one another for over 10 years.

SFC William Hayes, then a member of the 508th Parachute Combat Team, and later a member of the 505th AIR, was one of those two persons and had begun his part of the Normandy operation, eight days before when detailed briefings and table operations were in high gear in Nottingham, England.

During the days that followed, the unceasing activity kept each individual of the team on the move, readying equipment for the big day—June 5, 1944.

The day came sooner than some wanted it to and the long shuffle to the airfield began under cover of darkness, elements of the command on the airfield for the flight due to become airborne at one minute past 11:00.

Loading on the C-47s with combat equipment was a job within itself, each man struggling up the flimsy ladders to be swallowed up seemingly in the one opening ol the huge bird.

Sgt. Hayes was the number five man in the stick and as the plane took off from the runway, he could see the land slowly fade in the distance. Jumpmaster of his plane was General Roy Lindquist,, then Colonel and Commander of the 508th.

As the C-47s approached the coast of Europe, flak was encountered but the formation continued towards its destination without suffering any losses.

Jump Into Normandy
Approximately six minutes from the coastline and 12 miles behind enemy lines, the airborne assault began with Gen. Lindquist leading the way. It was 1:01 a. m. in the morning when the team descended on a land that was previously flooded to deny its use to all intruders.

Upon landing, Hayes became entangled in his 'chute and was forced to use his trench knife before freeing himself from the predicament. Rising to his feet, he gathered his equipment together and made a dash across the field to a canal, where he joined other members of the 508th.