Ham & Jam: 6th Airborne Division in Normandy - Generating Combat Effectiveness: November 1942 - September 1944

The highly effective leadership of Major—General Richard Gale overcame the haphazard nature of airborne operations 1939—1945, and enabled the unproven British 6th Airborne Division to achieve its objectives during the Normandy Campaign of June – August 1944.

Despite its scattered parachute landings 6th Airborne achieved its D—Day goals, and held the line for three months, a task for which it was not equipped. This study examines the factors that made this possible and analyses Gale’s impact ...