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| Parachutists launch D-Day tribute | Parachutists launch D-Day tribute |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| British veterans are taking part in a series of events in France on the eve of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. | British veterans are taking part in a series of events in France on the eve of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. |
| Commemorations began with a parachute drop to mark the airborne phase of the Normandy landings that launched the beginning of the end of World War II. | Commemorations began with a parachute drop to mark the airborne phase of the Normandy landings that launched the beginning of the end of World War II. |
| On Saturday Prince Charles and Gordon Brown will attend a ceremony alongside the French and US presidents. | On Saturday Prince Charles and Gordon Brown will attend a ceremony alongside the French and US presidents. |
| It was on the evening of 5 June 1944 that a force of 130,000 allied troops set off for France from England. | It was on the evening of 5 June 1944 that a force of 130,000 allied troops set off for France from England. |
| Their arrival on the French coast was replicated early on Friday morning by a landing craft from 1 Assault Group Royal Marines in Port au Bessin. | Their arrival on the French coast was replicated early on Friday morning by a landing craft from 1 Assault Group Royal Marines in Port au Bessin. |
| Remembrance services | Remembrance services |
| There was a mass drop of British parachutists at the Pegasus Memorial in Ranville at 0745 BST. | There was a mass drop of British parachutists at the Pegasus Memorial in Ranville at 0745 BST. |
| Some of those who dropped into the same fields 65 years ago watched as members of today's 3 Para leapt from Dakota and Hercules aircraft. | Some of those who dropped into the same fields 65 years ago watched as members of today's 3 Para leapt from Dakota and Hercules aircraft. |
| In the early hours of 6 June 1944, Allied glider landings and parachute drops enabled British troops to take the strategically important Pegasus Bridge near Caen. | In the early hours of 6 June 1944, Allied glider landings and parachute drops enabled British troops to take the strategically important Pegasus Bridge near Caen. |
| A team of British parachutists recreated the D-Day drops | A team of British parachutists recreated the D-Day drops |
| George "Les" Martin, 84, from Wigan, Lancs, was one of those who jumped. He said: "It was dark. You were huddled up in the plane and we got fed up. | George "Les" Martin, 84, from Wigan, Lancs, was one of those who jumped. He said: "It was dark. You were huddled up in the plane and we got fed up. |
| "We jumped through a hole in the floor, not like the modern way. You were sat on the edge of the hole with nothing to hold you in. It could be quite terrifying." | "We jumped through a hole in the floor, not like the modern way. You were sat on the edge of the hole with nothing to hold you in. It could be quite terrifying." |
| The Normandy Veterans Association, for whom the occasion marks the last visit to France as a group, will be attending a service and parade at Monty's statue in Colleville-Montgomery at 1000 BST. | The Normandy Veterans Association, for whom the occasion marks the last visit to France as a group, will be attending a service and parade at Monty's statue in Colleville-Montgomery at 1000 BST. |
| At 1300 BST the Royal British Legion, schoolchildren and veterans will lay a wreath at Bayeux International War Cemetery. | At 1300 BST the Royal British Legion, schoolchildren and veterans will lay a wreath at Bayeux International War Cemetery. |
| Later around 20 pipers will play as veteran Bill Millin visits the museum at Pegasus Bridge. On D-Day Mr Millin played his brigade ashore with his bagpipes. | Later around 20 pipers will play as veteran Bill Millin visits the museum at Pegasus Bridge. On D-Day Mr Millin played his brigade ashore with his bagpipes. |
| In Asnelles around 80 children from London and the south east will plant flags in the beach with messages of thanks and talk to veterans about their experiences. Late on Friday evening there will be 25 simultaneous firework displays along the Normandy coastline followed by the illumination of Port Winston, a temporary harbour built by the British in Arromanches. | In Asnelles around 80 children from London and the south east will plant flags in the beach with messages of thanks and talk to veterans about their experiences. Late on Friday evening there will be 25 simultaneous firework displays along the Normandy coastline followed by the illumination of Port Winston, a temporary harbour built by the British in Arromanches. |
| The day will end with a midnight vigil attended by Chief of General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt at Pegasus Bridge, Ranville. | The day will end with a midnight vigil attended by Chief of General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt at Pegasus Bridge, Ranville. |
| The main commemorations will take place on Saturday. | The main commemorations will take place on Saturday. |
| On Tuesday, Clarence House confirmed that Prince Charles would travel to Normandy after he received a last-minute invitation from the French government. | On Tuesday, Clarence House confirmed that Prince Charles would travel to Normandy after he received a last-minute invitation from the French government. |
| Pegasus Bridge was the first bridge captured by British troops on D-Day | Pegasus Bridge was the first bridge captured by British troops on D-Day |
| French officials denied they had intended to snub the Royal Family after it emerged that the Queen had not been invited to the commemorations. | French officials denied they had intended to snub the Royal Family after it emerged that the Queen had not been invited to the commemorations. |
| The Prince is expected to attend at least one event alongside US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown. | The Prince is expected to attend at least one event alongside US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown. |
| They will gather at the Normandy American Cemetery, by Omaha Beach - code name for one of the five beaches where the Allied invasion of German-occupied France began. | They will gather at the Normandy American Cemetery, by Omaha Beach - code name for one of the five beaches where the Allied invasion of German-occupied France began. |
| Hundreds of British veterans will hold their main memorial event at the Arromanches beaches where thousands of UK and Canadian troops came ashore on 6 June 1944, and during the following days. | Hundreds of British veterans will hold their main memorial event at the Arromanches beaches where thousands of UK and Canadian troops came ashore on 6 June 1944, and during the following days. |
| There will also be a Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral. | There will also be a Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral. |
| Elsewhere, vandals have smashed eight Commonwealth war graves and 12 veterans' memorial stones at a cemetery in Wallsend on Tyneside. The Royal British Legion called the attack "heartless" and "disgusting". |