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 Carentan is located in Normandy, at the base of the Cotentin peninsula of northwestern France. Situated on the left bank of the small Taute River, just above its confluence with the Douve, mid-way between Bayeux and Cherbourg.
During the Normandy Invasion of World War II, Carentan lay between the Omaha and Utah assault beaches and was the object of violent fighting before American troops linked up there on June 13, 1944.
The Carentan Historical Center recalls the events surrounding the liberation of 1944. |
Museum's Supporters
Lt. General William Yarborough, USA (ret)
Brig. General Ed Thomas, USA (ret)
Brig. General Ed Sayre, USA (ret)
Brig. General Jack Norton, USA (ret)
Col. Bob Piper, USA (ret)
Dr. Robert Franco, USA (ret)
Col. Mike Ekman, USA (ret)
Colonel Robert J. Dalessandro,
Director of the US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College, Carlisle, USA
Col. John Antal, USA (ret)
Mrs Barbara Gavin Funtleroy
Mr Jean-François Landry, Mayor of Carentan
Mr Pierre Fauvel, Mayor of St.-Come-du-Mont
Mr Louis Regnault, Adjoint à la culture de la commune de Carentan
505th PIR Veteran Association
506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association
Band of Brothers Veteran Association
"D" Company, 505th PIR, 82 A/B WWII Living history Association, UK
WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Foundation
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ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS
The Carentan Historical Center collections reflect and support the museum's mission to educate the public about World War Two airborne history. These collections have been developed for over twenty years to meet the expanding needs of both the visitors and the museum.
 Most of the artifacts in these collections have historical provenance or local significance. Amassed by three passionate researchers, over a period of more than two decades, these collections have evolved into a unique record of human achievement. The CHC focuses mainly on the airborne battles fought in Normandy - the 82nd Airborne Division at Ste. Mere Eglise and the 101st Airborne Division at Carentan - but it also tells the story of all the pivotal battles fought by the American paratroopers in the ETO throughout WWII. It also provides a meaningful learning experience that promotes awareness and understanding of the past, in the present, for the future. BUILDING THE COLLECTIONS
 To continue to grow, as Europe's leading airborne historical institution, the CHC must ensure that its collections reflect the historic achievements that have been written in Normandy and across all of Europe. In order to achieve this goal, the CHC depends upon authentic artifacts to develop and enrich the collections, which are accessible to the public through exhibitions and publishing. You can help to ensure that your cultural heritage is preserved for the benefit of the current and future generations by donating or selling authentic airborne memorabilia to the CHC, where it will be respectfully preserved and maintained. There are two different ways in which you can help the museum's collections to grow - by making a monetary contribution or by donating authentic WWII airborne artifacts. Under most legislation, any gift to the CHC is tax deductible. Making a contribution The CHC collections house objects which document the storied history of the airborne forces in WWII and we are constantly seeking to acquire new artifacts to add to our base. While we do purchase items, our acquisition funding is limited. If you would like to help our collections to grow, one way in which you can make a difference is to make a monetary contribution to the CHC. Whether large or small, all contributions will be most appreciated. It will help enable us to purchase the artifacts which are the heart and soul of this museum. We realize that not everyone who wants to help has airborne artifacts that they can donate, yet this is one way in which anyone can help us to preserve our proud airborne heritage. Your contribution will be gratefully acknowledged, and as we are a non-profit organization, your contribution should be fully tax deductible. Making a donation Vehicles, weapons, uniforms and equipment are just a portion of the items the CHC needs in its collections. We also exhibit smaller, personal memorabilia, such as dog tags, medals, maps, personal photographs and scrapbooks. We welcome the donation of any of these items. Please talk to us about any item that you wish to donate, and we will assess it to ensure that it meets the museum's policies regarding our collections. Where appropriate, the CHC will assist you in placing a monetary value on your gift. You will be appropriately acknowledged when making a donation to the CHC, and again, in most cases, your gift is fully tax deductible. If you have any questions regarding an item that you are considering as a donation, or if you would like to discuss the possibility of our purchasing an item with one of our specialist curators, please e-mail us at d-day@skynet.be or phone us at 32.2.731.32.24.  Items needed for our collections:
The CHC is actively looking for WWII vehicles, weapons, uniforms, helmets, equipment, insignia, photographs, books and other ephemera. Within this framework, items of special interest are:
• A complete C-47 aircraft for outside display
• An M-5A1 Stuart light tank for outside display
• Personal recollections and memoirs
• Personal motion pictures taken in Europe by airborne troopers
• Photographs taken in the field, or on the airfields prior to an operation
• D-day worn US jumpsuits
• Paratrooper helmets with painted insignia
• Tactical maps of battlefields
• Dog tags
• Leather jackets worn by airborne officers
• Patches
• OSS and SOE uniforms, patches, radios and secret weapons
• German souvenirs captured by paratroopers (daggers, helmets, uniforms, soldbuchs, etc.)
We are committed to the preservation and long-term care of your donation,
which will be placed on display in one of our museum exhibits.
CHC Museum's most recent acquisitions
Description : Winter jacket from Capt. Charles W. Howland, 509th PIB Origin : Howland's family via private collector Date acquired : February 2005
Charles W. Howland of Royersford, PA, fought with the Gingerbread Men since the parachute assault on North Africa. He had served as a company commander and in that capacity had earned a reputation as a highly courageous and outstanding officer. Handsome, always smiling, pleasant to all, he was loved by every man in the battalion. Along with numerous parachute drops he also made an amphibious assault at Anzio. He survived the bloody clash at Sadzot, Belgium but was killed during January 1945 on the final days of the Battle of the Bulge.
Lt. Chuck Howland was an enterprising and highly regarded young officer of the 503d Parachute Infantry, the first American parachute formation to make a combat jump - into North Africa in the November 1942 Allied operation called "Torch". Chuck Howland jumped in the same stick as famous Congressional Medal of Honor owner, Paul B. Huff. Lt. Howland commanded the 509th Parachute Scout Company the actual forerunner of the US Airborne Pathfinder units. In Italy, he was the commander of Hq. Co. 509th PIR and was known for his intrepid action of flying a Piper Cub airplane over peak of Mount Croce, dropping badly needed supplies. During the So. France campaign, following LTC Yarborough's return to the US, Capt. Howland became Battalion XO.
At the end of the Battle of the Bulge, the 509th was ordered to seize the town of Born. Aware that an attack was forming up in front of the village, the German defenders began showering the area with artillery and mortar fire. Howland was standing in the turret of a parked tank at the Bn. CP. A mortar round exploded next to the gallant young Captain, killing him instantly. He had his helmet strap buckled under his chin and the concussion killed him. There wasn't a mark on him. He looked like he was just lying in the snow sleeping.
Word of Howland's death quickly spread to the Bn. One of the most popular men, one they had begun to believe was physically immortal, was dead. The law averages had finally caught up with his courageous soldier, a veteran of countless fierce actions on two continents.
 The CHC collection centerpiece: General Matthew Ridgway's famous helmet.  Description : Gen. Matt Ridgway's paratrooper helmet Origin : Anonymous private collector Date acquired : November, 2004  This notable American general became famous while leading his troops across North Africa, Sicily, Italy and on through Europe during WWII. He is frequently mentioned in the company of other famous European Theater generals, such as Mark W. Clark, Omar N. Bradley, George S. Patton, Jr. and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Just as Gen. Patton was famous for wearing twin pearl-handled revolvers, Gen. Ridgway had a habit which became his 'trademark', too. He always had a hand grenade attached to one side of his harness, a first-aid kit attached to the other, and his starred helmet with the dangling chinstrap. The helmet stayed with the general, not only through all of his campaigns during WWII, but also while commanding the UN forces in Korea, as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe and as Chief of the General Staff of the US Army. In the mid-1990's, the general's belongings were sold at public auction. The helmet was purchased by a private collector, who recently agreed to transfer it to the CHC for display.
 Description : Douglas DC-3, C-47 Origin : HBO mini-series 'Band of Brothers' Date acquired : May, 2004 This C-47 fuselage, which has recently been acquired by the CHC, was one of the props used in the filming of the TV mini-series 'Band of Brothers', and retains a very 'well-worn' look. It was used extensively in most of the D-day scenes. It is currently being converted into a 'walk-through' exhibit, coupled with a full-motion flight simulator to allow you the unique opportunity of experiencing a D-day flight.  Description : Memorabilia from a 509th POW Origin : Susan G. DeVan Date acquired : January, 2005 This group consists of the medical ID card, ribbons, letters, a booklet, snapshots, dog tags issued by the US Army, dog tags and an ID card issued at Stalag II B, newspaper clippings and cigarettes which all belonged to pfc E.R. LeCarpentier, a 509th PIB medic. Captured in Italy in September of 1943, he spent the duration of the war in POW and concentration camps.  Description : 1/501st PIR helmet & liner and 3/502nd PIR helmet Origin : Bastogne's pharmacist attic Date acquired : February, 2005 These two helmets came out of a house on Bastogne's main street. They surfaced with the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Both helmets are veterans of Bastogne.  Description : D-Day C-47 pilot A-2 jacket Origin : George N. Wirtanen Date acquired : February, 2005 Captain George N. Wirtanen, 304th Troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd TCG flew paratroopers into Normandy on D-Day. CHC Museum's most recent donations
 Donator : Anonymous Date : April 2006 Origin : Martinvast Description : M-2 knife, mess kit, glove and cricket from Albert A. Krochka UNIT : Hq. & Hq., 501st PIR, 101st Airborne Division These personal belongings carried since D-Day by Pvt. Al Krochka were abandoned at Martinvast, after pulling out of the Carentan. Pvt. Albert A. Krochka, from Intelligence section of Regimental Hq. was also regimental photographer for the 501 PIR. He fought with his regiment at La Barquette.  Donator : M. Baudry, teacher from the Carentan school through anonymous donator Origin : Ingouf farm Date : March 2006 Description : Battlefield damaged three tone camo German para helmet collected by M. Baudry in 1945 at the Ingouf farm, Carentan, where Colonel Bob Cole led his famous bayonet charge. Unit : 6th Fallschirmjager Regiment  Donator: Saint-Côme-du-Mont resident. Date: March 2005. Desription: 1940's roadsigns from 82nd Airborne Division sector.  Donator: Ben Vandervoort. Date: May 2004. Desription: Footlocker from Col. Ben Vandervoort. Unit: Commander 2nd Bn., 505 PIR, 82nd Airborne.  Donator: Polly McIlvoy. Date: June 2004. Description: Dog tags, armflag and medical ID card from Col. McIlvoy. Unit: Surgeon, 505 Pir, 82nd Airborne.  Donator: Fran Mozley. Date: January 2004. Description: Paratrooper helmet worn by Maj. Mozley during the Normandy and Holland campaigns Unit: 326th Eng. Bn., 101st Airborne.
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Ben,
Sorry for the long delay answering your very touching email. We have been very busy organizing festivities for the 62nd anniversary of D-DAY.
We would very please and very proud to accept any donation coming from your Clan. Be assured that it will be put in good use to honor and preserved the US Army history in France and present it to the public.
Warmest regards,
Michel De Trez
Director CHC
I have viewed your website, and and have proclaimed a thought that may be of
intrest to your cause. I am the head of a large Xbox Live Clan, known as
Clan USMC. www.freewebs.com/clanusmcbiasquad
One of the games we play is ‘Brothers in arms’ with the intention of
remembering the 101st Airborne who played a demanding and incredibly
important role during D-Day and the Battle for Normandy. We are hoping that
‘Brother in arms’ captures their long and hard fought battles into the
fields and towns of France, Holland, Belgium and finally Germany. We hope
that our clan will act as a major virtue in remembering and paying tribute
to the soldiers of the Second World War, who were truly ‘The greatest
generation’ Brothers In Arms captures the team work, sacrifice, duty and
honour and the significance of their shared Brotherhood. These are men who
at a young age became soldiers, some even not old enough to vote in their
country but still had the job of carrying a rifle and killing with it. The
realism in this game is far more than hard hitting, it is fascinating, I
myself have attended Normandy to Honor veterans of different nations and be
with them to share and spread their heartfelt stories of courage, bravery
and loss in the face of the enemy. If I could go back sixty or more years
from now those men would be no different from the soldiers in Brothers In
Arms, young, dedicated to duty and willing to do their part and put their
lives down for the men next to them.
I wish to pay tribute to the soldiers that share their emotional and
overwhelming experiences with us so that we can learn from them and when in
doubt, think about the sacrifices they made and human limitations stretched,
and find it within ourselves to gain courage and a positive attitude in any
situation.
From this we can learn to become strong as a nation and as a person. In the
time of need they stick by one another and save others lives for the cost of
their own, they must always be remembered as Heroes and that is what they
truly are. These men are so brave that unbelievable to any man or woman, and
indescribable to any one who had not been beside them in the line of fire.
These are proud men, and for their past and present actions they have more
than the right to be. God bless them all.
I have been to Normandy, and Brothers In Arms is virtualy identical to the
real thing. The same doors, windows, trees, hedges, roads, paths and walls
are all there. It is actualy pssible to use a map of a town like Ste Come
du-mont or Carentan and find your way round the game using that, its truly
amazing. Brothers In Arms provides, in some cases a trip to Normandy.
Standing on the Cathedral in Carentan, looking down upon the town I could
see each street was the same as it is in real life.
Last year I took part in being an honor guard for The veterans of Pointe Du
Hoc and Omaha Beach, and have shared many emotional times in Normandy.
Clan USMC BIA Squad had made in an objective to up-hold the past and defend
its fragile existence against the new and dimissive. Clan USMC wants to
express the need for History and the meanings that lay within, this is done
through a number of ways, and in some ways by supporting the presentation of
History and supporting events all over the world, in some cases,
economically, using money won in prizes and tournaments. some of us have
taken up reenacting and through this, we has experienced some of the best
and emotional days of his life, some within Normandy 2005 where he escorted
veterans around the cemetry's and once again made them feel like the heroes
they are. A veteran would never leave our sights without a thankyou and good
luck. The veterans were some of the very few that saw the in-evident battle
that took place between the dying History and the new, the past experiences
needed to be kept visible and accesible rather than be lost to a repeating
world of no progression. To forget History we could only progress in a state
of ignornace rather than a state of clarity and purpose. For History The
Clan USMC must protect and deliver, useing many methods.
I proclaim that any Tournament money won will be directly sent to your
cause. If prizes are won they will be sold for the donation of not only your
dream and goal, but our's aswell. Thankyou for reading my letter, and good
luck for the future!
Yours sincerely, Benjamin Bushby (Dog 6 USMC)
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