The Day the Devils Dropped In The 9th Parachute Battalion in Normandy - D-Day to D+6     by Neil Barber Over 200 illustrations Hardback, 224 pages Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd., to order click here Price £19.95 Covers the battalion from the Merville Battery action to the battle at the Château St. Côme. The first hours and days following the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 have strong claim to be the most crucial in world history. Spearheading the vast undertaking were British and American airborne forces. The Day the Devils Dropped In examines in fascinating detail the pivotal role of the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment over the first week of the landings. Tasked with neutralising the mighty Merville Gun Battery before the start of the landing on Sword Beach, it then had several other D-Day objectives to perform prior to taking up a vital defensive position at the Château St. Côme on the Breville Ridge. Failure by the Paras to achieve any of these objectives could well have unravelled the whole OVERLORD operation with catastrophic consequences. In his quest to uncover the true story of the early days of the landings, Neil Barber has successfully tracked down surviving participants in the operation. As a result he is able to tell the full story of the fierce fighting that characterized the early days of the landings largely in the very words of those who lived through the experience. This adds much to the credibility and immediacy of this enthralling book which paints a superb picture of what soldiers care to call 'the fog of war'. The result is an inspiring and revealing read and a fine tribute to those whose contributions must never be forgotten. For an extract of one of the original interviews conducted by the author with a veteran of the 9th Battalion click here: Pte. F Glover, A Co.