Woodland walks in June will tell the little-known story of how elite American Pathfinder troops flew from a local airfield to spearhead the US Airborne D-Day invasion.
Former RAF Witham, now Forestry-England owned Twyford Wood near Colsterworth, witnessed a top-secret mission that played a key role in the liberation of Europe.
The first hosted walk on June 5th will mark 82 years since aircraft of America’s 9th Troop Carrier Command took off carrying elite paratroopers from the US Army’s 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions to Normandy on the eve of D-Day
The second walk is on June 18th, with both guided by military heritage specialist Brian Riley.
Airborne troops dropped behind enemy lines in advance of the main taskforce to position Eureka radio signalling beacons and secure drop zones for the Airborne assault.
The walks have been organised by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) as a legacy of its National Lottery Heritage Fund Soldiers from the Sky project, celebrating the district’s hosting of British, American and Polish Airborne Forces during World War II.
Routes follow the airfield’s still intact runways tracing how, at precisely 21:54 Double British Summer Time, the first of 20 Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft took off, skimming the channel at 50ft to fly under enemy radar on their way to Normandy.
Within the hour, the US Airborne assault on Normandy was in full swing. Two new information boards telling the airfield’s story have recently been installed by SKDC.
The walks last around two and a half hours and start at 5.30pm from the main Twyford Wood car park, off the A151 Colsterworth to Bourne Road.
Cllr Bridget Ley, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “It is incredible to think that such a significant mission was planned and executed from an airfield on our doorstep. Walking the old runways and hearing what happened here is an opportunity not to be missed.”
The walks are free to attend but tickets must be booked via Eventbrite – https://tinyurl.com/D-Daywalk
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