Floyd Billingsley – 505 Parachute Regiment of 82nd Airborne Division – April 28, Unit left Port of New York for Casablanco Morocco. After six months of preparation, the Unit left arrived Kaiouan for first combat jump. Operation Husky was the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The 505th was assigned to hold vita crossroads for landings at Gela, Vittoria, and Caltagirone. Assisted in capturing airfield at Ponte Olivo. On July 10th, the Unit securing crossroad.
The objective of the Y crossroads was captured. On July 11, the Goring Panzer Division began a counterattack. The Unit held onto the Biazzo Ridge. The unit counterattack the Germans overrunning mortar and machine gun positions. By evening of July 11, the unit had repulsed the Goring Division. The Unit continue to advance taking Trapani, Partanna, Santa Ninfa, and Salemi.
The Unit received orders to drop on the beaches of Salerno. The night drop centered on Paestum reinforcing the beachhead. After a part of the capture of Naples, the Unit captured canal bridges in route to the Volturno River. In November, the Unit was re-assigned for preparation for France.
In early 1944, the Unit was transferred to England. On June 6, the Unit dropped into France as a part of the Normandy Invasion, Operation Overlord. On January 28, the Unit marched into Amel, Belgian. The 505th landed east of Merderet River and captured Ste-Mere-Eglise as the first French town to be liberated. In protection of troops on Utah Beach, the Unit eliminated the headquarters of the German 1st Battalion, the 158th Grenadier Regiment. All German staff officers in the command post were killed. The Unit spent two weeks of continuous combat before returning to England.
On September 17,1944, the Unit made its fourth combat jump for Operation Market Garden. In December 1944, the Unit was dropped to help defend in the Battle of the Bulge. In April 1945, the Untit crossed the Elbe River into Germany. On May 1, 1945, Floyd Billingsley was Killed in Action. The 505th lost 465 men and 3,500 Men were wounded.
The objective of the Y crossroads was captured. On July 11, the Goring Panzer Division began a counterattack. The Unit held onto the Biazzo Ridge. The unit counterattack the Germans overrunning mortar and machine gun positions. By evening of July 11, the unit had repulsed the Goring Division. The Unit continue to advance taking Trapani, Partanna, Santa Ninfa, and Salemi.
The Unit received orders to drop on the beaches of Salerno. The night drop centered on Paestum reinforcing the beachhead. After a part of the capture of Naples, the Unit captured canal bridges in route to the Volturno River. In November, the Unit was re-assigned for preparation for France.
In early 1944, the Unit was transferred to England. On June 6, the Unit dropped into France as a part of the Normandy Invasion, Operation Overlord. On January 28, the Unit marched into Amel, Belgian. The 505th landed east of Merderet River and captured Ste-Mere-Eglise as the first French town to be liberated. In protection of troops on Utah Beach, the Unit eliminated the headquarters of the German 1st Battalion, the 158th Grenadier Regiment. All German staff officers in the command post were killed. The Unit spent two weeks of continuous combat before returning to England.
On September 17,1944, the Unit made its fourth combat jump for Operation Market Garden. In December 1944, the Unit was dropped to help defend in the Battle of the Bulge. In April 1945, the Untit crossed the Elbe River into Germany. On May 1, 1945, Floyd Billingsley was Killed in Action. The 505th lost 465 men and 3,500 Men were wounded.
Floyd Billingsley – 505 Parachute Regiment of 82nd Airborne Division – April 28, Unit left Port of New York for Casablanco Morocco. After six months of preparation, the Unit left arrived Kaiouan for first combat jump. Operation Husky was the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The 505th was assigned to hold vita crossroads for landings at Gela, Vittoria, and Caltagirone. Assisted in capturing airfield at Ponte Olivo. On July 10th, the Unit securing crossroad.
The objective of the Y crossroads was captured. On July 11, the Goring Panzer Division began a counterattack. The Unit held onto the Biazzo Ridge. The unit counterattack the Germans overrunning mortar and machine gun positions. By evening of July 11, the unit had repulsed the Goring Division. The Unit continue to advance taking Trapani, Partanna, Santa Ninfa, and Salemi.
The Unit received orders to drop on the beaches of Salerno. The night drop centered on Paestum reinforcing the beachhead. After a part of the capture of Naples, the Unit captured canal bridges in route to the Volturno River. In November, the Unit was re-assigned for preparation for France.
In early 1944, the Unit was transferred to England. On June 6, the Unit dropped into France as a part of the Normandy Invasion, Operation Overlord. On January 28, the Unit marched into Amel, Belgian. The 505th landed east of Merderet River and captured Ste-Mere-Eglise as the first French town to be liberated. In protection of troops on Utah Beach, the Unit eliminated the headquarters of the German 1st Battalion, the 158th Grenadier Regiment. All German staff officers in the command post were killed. The Unit spent two weeks of continuous combat before returning to England.
On September 17,1944, the Unit made its fourth combat jump for Operation Market Garden. In December 1944, the Unit was dropped to help defend in the Battle of the Bulge. In April 1945, the Untit crossed the Elbe River into Germany. On May 1, 1945, Floyd Billingsley was Killed in Action. The 505th lost 465 men and 3,500 Men were wounded.
The objective of the Y crossroads was captured. On July 11, the Goring Panzer Division began a counterattack. The Unit held onto the Biazzo Ridge. The unit counterattack the Germans overrunning mortar and machine gun positions. By evening of July 11, the unit had repulsed the Goring Division. The Unit continue to advance taking Trapani, Partanna, Santa Ninfa, and Salemi.
The Unit received orders to drop on the beaches of Salerno. The night drop centered on Paestum reinforcing the beachhead. After a part of the capture of Naples, the Unit captured canal bridges in route to the Volturno River. In November, the Unit was re-assigned for preparation for France.
In early 1944, the Unit was transferred to England. On June 6, the Unit dropped into France as a part of the Normandy Invasion, Operation Overlord. On January 28, the Unit marched into Amel, Belgian. The 505th landed east of Merderet River and captured Ste-Mere-Eglise as the first French town to be liberated. In protection of troops on Utah Beach, the Unit eliminated the headquarters of the German 1st Battalion, the 158th Grenadier Regiment. All German staff officers in the command post were killed. The Unit spent two weeks of continuous combat before returning to England.
On September 17,1944, the Unit made its fourth combat jump for Operation Market Garden. In December 1944, the Unit was dropped to help defend in the Battle of the Bulge. In April 1945, the Untit crossed the Elbe River into Germany. On May 1, 1945, Floyd Billingsley was Killed in Action. The 505th lost 465 men and 3,500 Men were wounded.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Texas.
Family Members
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