D-Day Experience editions
D-Day Experience gathers the worldwide largest image database of the Second World War about the airborne troops during their different combat missions on the European territory, shared through several luxurious books.
Book, The legendary cricket of D-Day
Since the end of WWII, stories and legends about the Airborne cricket's use have grown and flowered. Many untruths were proposed by various media and other sources leading not only to deformation of history but also to an erroneous presentation of one of the most un-warlike and incongruous items of "battle gear" carried by the American parachutist! This booklet, with many pictures, based on historical facts, interviews of key personalities related to the introduction of the cricket within the airborne units, and vintage documents tries to dismiss the generally accepted ideas and report the true history of the legendary cricket of D-Day. Who initiated it all, where were the crickets produced, and who produced them? What type was official issue and which units used them? For the first time, these questions have now been answered. Paperback Book - English Version. Delivered with a reproduction of the cricket.
Book, Bridges are Ours, Vol. 1, 82nd Airborne Market-Garden
Book Bridges are ours. Size 325 x 245 mm Hardcover – 464 pages – 700+ photos English version only
Book, Burning Bridges, Vol. 1, 82nd Airborne Market-Garden
Book Burning Bridges. The story continues in volume 2, “Bridges are Ours” Size 325 x 245 mm Hardcover – 464 pages – 700+ photos English version only
Book, Col. Ben Vandervoort, The Way we Were n°4, 82nd Airborne
Col. Ben Vandervoort is the fourth volume in noted historian Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were . The 505th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division is one of the finest parachute infantry regiments to emerge from the Second World War. Its second battalion did much toward earning this reputation, and the records show that its intrepid commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort deserves much of the credit due in securing these accolades. His two Distinguished Service Crosses are certainly evidence enough to support this claim. Among the more riveting stories of heroism in WWII is that of Lt. Col. Vandervoort, who led his battalion of paratroopers to victory on D-day, despite having broken his ankle when he dropped on Ste. Mere Eglise in the early morning hours of June 6th. His coolness under fire, outstanding courage and initiative, coupled with his dogged determination, contributed materially to the successful completion of the missions assigned to him. Colonel Vandervoort s role in the Normandy campaign was immortalized when actor John Wayne portrayed him in the Hollywood epic "the Longest Day", based on the best-selling novel by Cornelius Ryan.
Book, Col. Ben Vandervoort, The Way we Were n°4, 82nd Airborne, Limited Edition
Limited edition (hardcover) printed to 82 copies only. Col. Ben Vandervoort is the fourth volume in noted historian Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were . The 505th PIR of the 82nd Airborne Division is one of the finest parachute infantry regiments to emerge from the Second World War. Its second battalion did much toward earning this reputation, and the records show that its intrepid commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort deserves much of the credit due in securing these accolades. His two Distinguished Service Crosses are certainly evidence enough to support this claim. Among the more riveting stories of heroism in WWII is that of Lt. Col. Vandervoort, who led his battalion of paratroopers to victory on D-day, despite having broken his ankle when he dropped on Ste. Mere Eglise in the early morning hours of June 6th. His coolness under fire, outstanding courage and initiative, coupled with his dogged determination, contributed materially to the successful completion of the missions assigned to him. Colonel Vandervoort s role in the Normandy campaign was immortalized when actor John Wayne portrayed him in the Hollywood epic "the Longest Day", based on the best-selling novel by Cornelius Ryan.
Book, Colonel Bob Piper - The Way we Were n°2, 82nd Airborne, Limited Edition
Limited edition (hardcover) printed to 82 copies only. "Colonel Bob Piper" is the second volume in noted historian Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were. Col. Piper is a paratroop officer who served as a platoon leader, regimental adjutant (S-1) and regimental intelligence officer (S-2) in "G" company, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division during the Second World War. He made all four combat jumps of the 505 and fought in all six of the 82nd's campaigns, being wounded only one time. As a member of the regimental staff, one of the many tasks assigned to Piper was ensuring the security and wellbeing of the only female member of the 505. Surprisingly, there were women with some of the paratroop units in the combat zones of the ETO. And, yes, they did wear jump boots, jump wings, the All-American shoulder patch and the ubiquitous steel pot! They were very few, indeed, but they were there. Colonel Piper took this task so much to heart, that when the war ended, he couldn't bear the thought of having to stop, so he took an oath to care for her for the rest of his life. 72 pages, 220 illustrations, English version.
Book, Doc McIlvoy and his Parachuting Medics, The Way we Were n°3, 82nd Airborne
"Doc McIlvoy" is the third volume in Michel De Trez's WWII paratrooper portrait series titled The Way We Were. Major Dan McIlvoy was a medical officer in the 82nd Airborne Division s famed 505th PIR. As a proud member of this unit from its first day of existence, he was only apart from it for two days, while being MIA in Normandy. The saga of the 505th Medical Detachment is retold through Doc McIlvoy s own story. As a battalion surgeon, and later as a regimental surgeon, Doc McIlvoy instituted many new methods of caring for, and evacuating, the unit s many casualties. Many of these innovations were later adopted as standard operating procedure by the US Army Medical Corps. Throughout his history of service, Doc McIlvoy supervised the treatment of hundreds of combat casualties. Through his great initiative, surgical skill and devotion to duty, he was able to save the limbs and lives of a great number of his wounded comrades. Soft cover, 168 pages, 360 illustrations, English version.
Books, The Way We Were, Piper, McIlvoy, Vandervoort, 82nd Airborne
Set of 3 books from The Way We Were's collection, all written by Michel De Trez. - N° 2 Colonel Bob Piper, HQ Co., 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division (SOLD OUT) . - N° 3 Doc McIlvoy and his parachuting medics, Regimental Surgeon, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division. - N° 4 Col. Ben Vandervoort, CO, 2nd Bat, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division. Bilinguale books : French & English.
CARENTAN - Linking Omaha Beach / Utah Beach, Part 1
SOLD OUT CARENTAN, Linking Omaha Beach - Utah Beach, Part I The first in a series of five books about the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy comprising over 3,000 pages and 4,000 photographs, this initial volume concentrates on events immediately preceding D-Day. Organized by Regiment of the 101st Airborne, after 30 years of investigative research most of the photos that appear in the volume have been identified, for the very first time. A combination of three prestigious collections, this book of airborne images is undoubtedly now the most impressive ensemble published anywhere in the world. American historian Mark Bando, along with the two founders of the D-Day Paratroopers Historical Center, Emmanuel Allain and Michel De Trez joined forces to merge their knowledge and collections. Bando began to collect photographic and oral histories long before it became fashionable. His expertise and knowledge, collected over the years, directly from the veterans while their memories were still fresh and intact. Never before has the epic liberation of Carentan and linking of the invasion beaches by the 101st Airborne been covered with such attention to detail. 235 x 295cm, Hardback - 232 pages - 350 + illustrations English version
CARENTAN - Linking Omaha Beach / Utah Beach, Part 2
CARENTAN - Linking Omaha Beach / Utah Beach, Part 2 - Jumping Behind Enemy Lines 235 x 295cm, Hardback - English version, 368 pages
CARENTAN - Linking Omaha Beach / Utah Beach, Part 3
CARENTAN, Linking Omaha Beach - Utah Beach, Part 3 - Bloody Drop Zone This book retraces in pictures the epic of the 101st Airborne Division in its first combat jump in History. This third volume of a series of six books totaling more than 3,000 pages and 4,000 photos is dedicated to the first hours of D-Day on Bloody Drop Zone, DZ D -- Saint-Côme-du-Mont. Organized by location of the 101st Airborne's battlefields, most of the photos are identified. In itself, this constitutes information that was not available until now. More than thirty years of research and investigation have been necessary to identify them. This book is the combination of three collections of original vintage photographs and is without a doubt the most impressive collection in the world. Mark Bando, an American historian of the 101st Airborne, and Emmanuel Allain and Michel De Trez, the founders of the D-Day Experience Museum, pooled their knowledge and collections to create this book. Mark Bando began collecting this history when most of us were not born. 235 x 295cm, hardback. English version, 216 pages
CARENTAN - Linking Omaha Beach / Utah Beach, Part 4
CARENTAN, Linking Omaha Beach - Utah Beach, Part 4 - First to Lead - Setting up the Headquarters in Normandy This book retraces in images the epic journey of the 101st Airborne Division during its first combat jump in history, in Normandy. This fourth volume in a ten-part series totaling over 3,000 pages and 4,000 photos is dedicated to the establishment of command posts in the early hours of D-Day around DZ C, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, and Hiesville. Organized by the location of the 101st Airborne’s battle sites, most of the photos are identified. In itself, this represents information that was previously unavailable. More than thirty years of research and investigation were necessary to identify them. This book is a combination of three collections of period photographs and is undoubtedly the most impressive collection in the world. To create it, Mark Bando , an American historian of the 101st Airborne, along with Emmanuel Allain and Michel De Trez , founders of the D-Day Experience Museum, pooled their knowledge and collections. Mark Bando began collecting testimonies when most of us were not even born. 235 x 295 mm, over 400 illustrations, 296 pages. Bilingual edition: English-French.
