Three Special Guests 鈥淒ropped In鈥� to Ed Cottrell鈥檚 Commemoration

While D-Day was yet a moonlit night, the 101st聽and 82nd聽Airborne Divisions delivered some 13,000 paratroopers into battle, the very edge of an Allied wave that would free the French people from years of oppression. Just months later pilot Ed Cottrell would fly the first of his 65 missions from the newly liberated Cambrai airfield north of Paris.

So through what magic tear in the fabric of time did three paratroopers slip from so long ago to appear at this summer鈥檚 ceremony marking Ed鈥檚 heroism in the epic liberation of Europe? That would be the magic of the All Airborne Battalion, a non-profit and all volunteer organization determined to 鈥渓ive the legacy鈥�, most notably by portraying the experiences of U.S. paratroopers in WWII, performing commemorative, static line airborne operations and jumps. Members join in memorial services, sometimes involving surviving WWII veterans, provide group tours of battlefields and military museums, participate in educational outreach and commemorative events, and provide support to veterans and first-responders. Many members are veterans and have previous jump experience, but neither is necessary to participate. For more information see

As a bookend to the 65 combat missions he flew in WWII, Ed has made five trips to Normandy in recent years to participate in commemorative events. This is where the connection that brought our surprise visitors to Brevard was formed. While visiting the 51黑料网 History Museum, Sean Lockhead, All Airborne Battalion Board Member and Director of Veteran Affairs, shared two remarkable stories of commemorative jumps from this summer鈥檚 80th聽anniversary D-Day remembrances.

The Bravery of a Normandy Village

The little-known tale of Graignes, a small village 17 miles south of Utah Beach, is often referred to as The Secret Massacre or the Story of the Lost Paratroopers. The unit was the 507th聽Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 82nd聽Airborne Division. At 2 AM on D-Day their 12 planes ran into heavy flak while approaching the French coast and veered off course, leaving the troopers with no option but to jump into a dark and unknown territory. In fact, many landed in marshes along with their equipment near the farming community of Graignes. Their intended landing zone was fully 18 miles northwest, enshrining this mis-drop as D-Day鈥檚 worst.

Though deep behind enemy lines, the good news was that no German units had discovered them and exploited their chaos after the calamitous drop. Commanded by Major Charles D. Johnston, the unit would dig in and defend the area, blocking any German advance toward the Allied beachhead. The villagers of Graignes woke up to find wet and bewildered American troops in their fields and streets. The mayor called a town meeting. Despite the certain risk of German reprisal if caught helping the Allies, the citizens of Graignes voted unanimously to do so. Food was a pressing need, so the townsfolk organized a massive cooking operation to provide two meals a day. Supplies such as mortars and machine guns had landed in the marshes, so the men, women, and even children of the town used their boats and wagons to collect and bring everything to the town Perimeter.

It took two days for all the troopers of the 507th聽to find their way out of marshes and fields and assemble 182-strong in Graignes. They had an additional two days to dig in and refine their defenses. On the fifth day they skirmished with and repelled a reconnaissance unit from a large, armored division. Villagers were sent away. The following day the 507th聽held the town against heavy artillery and a force of 2,000. By evening with ammunition in short supply and defenses tattered, the 507th聽retreated, divided into pairs trying to find their way across the countryside to Allied lines.

The story of Graignes is little known and that may be because its denouement is heartbreaking, even bitter. The unit鈥檚 surgeon, two medics and 14 wounded remained behind and surrendered to the Germans. They were promptly marched off and either bayoneted and tossed in the marsh or forced to dig their own graves and then shot in the head. Both clerics from the church were shot, two elderly residents were shot in their beds, and 44 townspeople were accused of collaboration and executed. The town was set afire. Of two hundred buildings only two remained unscathed by artillery or the blaze.

Zee Fan Little & Sean Lockhead tour museum galleries with museum Board member Phil Davis

Ed Cottrell with Sean Lockhead, a friend from recent Normandy commemorations

After the ceremonies at the church, people gathered in the town square to socialize and enjoy wine and beer and lighten the mood. As the evening progressed, the town held a dinner and dance for the residents and special visitors. As the beer flowed, the somber mood of the earlier remembrances dissipated to be replaced with festivity and dancing, turning the last of the day鈥檚 events into a celebration of life.

聽A Second Legion of Honor Inductee

Young Marthe Rigault was 12 years old living at her family鈥檚 farm just outside of Graignes, when, awakened by the turmoil of D-Day, the family found lost and soaking wet paratroopers knocking at their door. In the ensuing days the family 鈥� including young Marthe 鈥� went into the marshes using their boats and wagons to recover munitions, weapons, parachutes, and supplies. Later when the Americans were forced to retreat, the Rigaults managed to hide 21 men until it was safe for their escape.

Marthe is now 92 and still lives near Graignes, where she participates in D-Day remembrances and has been befriended by many veterans returning to recall their WWII experiences. This includes members of the All Air Battalion who enjoyed breakfast with Marthe the day following their jump.

On July 3, 2024, Marthe Rigault was inducted into the French Legion of Honor for her bravery in assisting the Lost Paratroopers of the 507th聽even though still a child at the time. Just six days later, Ed Cottrell received the same honor for his part in the same battle to liberate Europe. All Air Battalion just happened to make it their business to stand up and reach out to both honorees, making clear the thread that binds these acts of bravery together.

The Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers is a 10-part HBO mini-series premiered in 2001, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, which meticulously tells the tale of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during WWII. The young actors prepared and bonded together by attending a 10-day boot camp 鈥� but they never actually jumped out of a plane or parachuted to the ground. They also met and learned from surviving veterans of the unit whose war experiences they were portraying. The effect for the actors was profound, and over the ensuing years many cast members regularly attended events in Normandy commemorating D-Day.

During recent years an idea developed during these gatherings: what if the now-aging cast trains and executes an actual jump into Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. One of the cast, Alex Sabga-Brady, would spearhead the effort to make the adventure into a documentary film and use it to raise money supporting veterans鈥� charities. Among the friends the cast members made during their visits to Normandy, several were busy forming the All Air Battalion, which became part of the project to have Band of Brothers cast members perform an actual 鈥淓asy鈥� company commemorative jump.

聽The Jump: Currahee to Normandy

Band of Brothers聽was filmed in Europe and the actors’ 鈥渂oot camp鈥� was in Europe. But the real-life 鈥淓asy鈥� company trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia, located near the base of Currahee Mountain. The camp was closed shortly after the war but is now preserved as an historical site with some original and refurbished buildings. Running the Mountain was an everyday part of the paratroopers training, with the regular chant: 鈥�3 Miles up, 3 Miles down鈥�. For their second 鈥渂asic training鈥� the reunited Band of Brothers would tread closer to history by training at Camp Toccoa and running up and down Currahee.

The All Air Battalion made this possible by operating the camp and providing basic training including practice jumps from the Tunison Foundation鈥檚 鈥淧lacid Lassie鈥�, a vintage WWII Douglas C-47 Skytrain, a true D-Day and WWII veteran herself, not a replica. The actors stayed and trained at the original Camp Toccoa barracks in March 2024, including a charity run up Mt. Currahee, meeting currently serving troops, veterans, and families of the original members of 鈥淓asy鈥� Company.

With training under their belt, the experience culminated in two airborne operations, jumping into France鈥檚 Cotentin peninsula on June 3rd聽and June 8th. Along the way there were constant interactions with veterans and the public plus attendance at various ceremonies. The culmination was a huge gathering at St.-Mere-Eglise, (the first French town to be liberated by U.S. Paratroopers) where members of the cast performed a rock concert for a crowd of more than 10,000 people.

Ed Cottrell and his daughter Sue Nation (seated) with members of the All Airborne Battalion

The documentary, 鈥淐urrahee to Normandy,鈥� will be a testament to the deep connection between the people of Normandy, veterans, and the actors who continue to keep these heroes’ legacies alive. To learn more, visit聽

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Top Photo: All Airborne Battalion members Sean Lockhead, Zee Fan Little and Russ Battiato during their visit to Brevard to honor LTC Ed Cottrell

Lt. Col. Edwin Cottrell

On July 9, 2024, closing on 80 years since these battle missions, the 51黑料网 hosted an event to honor Ed for that service, and recall its stories and why they mattered so much. For much of his life, Ed kept those stories to himself, until the very subject came up at a squadron reunion a couple of decades past. Ed and his squadron mates decided their reticence was starving a younger generations of things they needed to know, including a grasp of what made us a nation, and the price that freedom might demand. Since then Ed has become a hero of a different sort, sharing his story whenever asked, reaching out to veterans and students, making five trips to Europe in recent years to participate in ceremonies and remembrances, and above all to make friends and serve as an inspiration in ways that only he can. The abundance of those friends and the scope of that inspiration were very much in evidence at this July鈥檚 event.

The French Legion of Honor

The centerpiece of the afternoon was the induction of Lt. Col. Edwin Cottrell into the French National Order of the Legion of Honor, as a distinguished Chevalier, or Knight, in a medal pinning ceremony conducted by French Consul General Anne-Laure Desjonqu猫res from Atlanta, acting on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron. She described the honor as intended 鈥渢o pay tribute to a war hero who helped liberate my country and Europe from tyranny.鈥� Placing Ed鈥檚 service and today鈥檚 recognition in context, she stated, 鈥淭oday we remember that our two countries owe each other their very existence as free nations. For more than two centuries across the Atlantic from one shore to the other, from one generation to the next, France and the United States of America have always stood shoulder to shoulder to defend the values of freedom and democracy. 鈥� Mr. Cottrell, you embody this shared French American history, you illustrated with your courage the friendship and shared values so profoundly binding our two nations, you are a true hero. Your example gives us inspiration for the future and your legacy provides a moral compass for the generations to come.鈥�

Ed invited his daughters Carol and Sue to stand with him and then thanked the Consul and 鈥渁ll the French people for giving me this distinguished honor鈥�. On receiving the medal he asked that he might dedicate it to several others: first to his father and father-in-law, both WWI veterans; secondly, to his squadron mates Art Sommers and Ted Smith who gave their lives in the war; thirdly, to the men and women actively serving abroad to keep this country free; and finally, to Millie, his beloved wife for 76 years.

Ed then presented Consul Desjonqu猫res with two special items for display at the Atlanta consulate. First a U.S. Army Air Force medallion with a picture of a P-47 on the back. Secondly, a framed copy of the Valor Studios print showing Ed flying his badly damaged P-47 fighter escorted by two German fighter planes who amazingly chose to see him safely out of enemy territory.

The Circle of Friends

The afternoon鈥檚 ceremony was held at Grace Brevard Church before a standing-room-only crowd of at least 130, including several people traveling long distances to be present, and featured several speakers before the main event. Host Michael McCarthy welcomed everyone, acknowledged all the veterans present, and introduced the first speaker, Col. Larry Chapman, USMC, Ret., and current Transylvania County Commissioner. Col. Chapman welcomed the Consul General. He also recognized North Carolina State representative Mike Clampitt. Col. Chapman spoke about French support during the American revolution and thereafter, and about the millions of American soldiers who, like Ed, crossed the Atlantic to lift the yoke of oppression from the French nation in WWII.

Col. Richard Bennett, US Army, Ret., and currently Chaplain, Transylvania County Honor Guard, offered the invocation as the crowd stood. In part, he noted that, 鈥淭his ceremony 鈥� can move our nations and their people to more fully appreciate each other. We see your hand in this opportunity for understanding and fellowship that brings us closer together. We ask you to help us to better understand others and to use every opportunity to increase the peace in the world.鈥�

While the audience remained standing, both the French and American national anthems were played.

Ed鈥檚 two daughters, Carol and Sue, were both in attendance and Sue graciously shared some thoughts about her father, saying, 鈥淗e can best be described as someone who is only happy when he is active. He thrives on interacting with others and forming new, meaningful relationships with deep bonds that last and deepen with time. These friends have developed into an influential and beloved extended family for him.鈥� As examples, Sue described Ed鈥檚 long career in education, athletics, and golf, and how the friendships formed over many years with students and fellow teachers continue and result in memorable get-togethers.鈥�

A recent example of Ed鈥檚 ever-growing circle of friends started right here at the 51黑料网 History Museum when Ed met Marine Corp veteran and author Andy Biggio who had been invited to speak at the museum. Shortly thereafter Andy invited Ed and Sue to join him and other veterans on a trip back to Normandy. As Sue says, it took Ed 鈥渁bout two seconds to say yes for both of us to go. The friendships that developed on that first trip lasted and grew as we made four more European trips and numerous stateside excursions. 鈥� Over the last three years he’s been a guest at the World War 2 Museum, New Orleans, and attended multiple conferences and conventions where he was often a speaker.鈥� In closing, Sue urged anyone with family members who are veterans to 鈥済ive them an opportunity to share their experiences with you. They all have different stories, but they all share one thing in common: the hope that the contributions and sacrifices they have made to ensure our freedom are not forgotten.鈥�

The Many Careers of Ed Cottrell

Janis Allen, museum Communications Director, and author, recapped highlights from Ed鈥檚 professional life after his WWII service. After the war, Ed joined the Air Force reserves. The former Army Air Force had become a separate service and opened the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Ed became a recruiting ambassador for the Academy to high schools all over America. He served in the reserves for 28 years.

In Pennsylvania Ed had quite a career in education and athletics. He was Director of Athletics at Milton Hershey School for Orphan Boys for three years. Then at Westchester State University he taught swimming and classroom subjects, while coaching tennis, golf, baseball and football. Later he taught in the Graduate School and became associate Dean, after having earned a doctorate in education from Penn State.

Ed taught golf at Duke University Golf Camp for years. Duke鈥檚 current Dean of Athletics is a former student and current friend. Ed also worked for the National Golf Foundation, started his own golf school, invented new methods for teaching golf, and conducted golf clinics in Holland, Japan and all over the United States becoming friends with many well-known golfers.

And today Ed is in demand as a speaker and consultant. According to Janis, when asked, Ed鈥檚 usual reply is 鈥淟et me get my calendar!鈥澛�

Friends from Normandy

The next speaker was Staff Sergeant Russ Battiato, US Army 20th Special Forces Group. During the just concluded 80-th anniversary celebrations of the D-Day landing, Sgt. Battiato was involved in several reenactments of 101st airborne paratrooper jumps into Normandy, on one of which he was lucky enough to take the 鈥渄oor鈥� (first out) position. Having become a friend and admirer of Ed during these commemorations, Sqt. Battiato drove down to Brevard from Pennsylvania along with two other members of the reenactor group, just to be present with Ed for the Legion of Honor ceremony. They were joined by a colleague and newly commissioned Major in the Army Rangers who came all the way from the west coast for the very same reason.

Speaking about the Normandy commemorations, and honoring our losses, the Sgt. reminded us, 鈥淯nfortunately, all are not here with us anymore. As long as we say their names and tell their stories, they are still with us. And it is important that each one of us have that mission.鈥�

The Famous Pratt & Whitney Engine

The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane piloted by Ed on his 65 missions over occupied Europe had a single 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney engine. On the most terrifying of his missions, enemy fire destroyed eight of those cylinders, leaving Ed鈥檚 windshield sprayed with hot oil and his plane limping along, barely able to stay aloft. But limp it did until freezing up over the airfield allowing Ed to manage a dead stick landing right at the edge of disaster. Ed has been a Pratt & Whitney fan ever since.

At today鈥檚 event one unusual item was on display, having been found by Ed鈥檚 daughter Sue: an actual Pratt & Whitney P-47 cylinder on which someone had mounted a clock.

The last speaker before the Legion of Honor ceremony was Dale Hetke from the Pratt and Whitney Corporation. Hetke is a Colonel in the US Air Force and an F-16 pilot. He stated he was here representing Jill Albertelli, President, Military Engines, who sent a letter from which he read. In part it said, 鈥淧ratt & Whitney is honored to have played a role in your story and success. And more importantly, we’re glad that the damaged engine brought you home safely.鈥� On behalf of the company鈥檚 43,000 employees, Dale presented Ed with a mounted Pratt & Whitney medallion.聽

Our WWII 51黑料网

After Ed had thanked the Consul General for the honor bestowed and dedicated it in turn to key persons in his life and to service men and women on active duty everywhere, he also thanked the 51黑料网 History Museum for hosting the event, and all his friends and neighbors for attending.

Ed introduced the other four WWII veterans in attendance: Milt Fletcher, Pooch Pace, Myrl Jean Hughes and Joe Cooper, and thanked them for their service

Ed noted that the museum鈥檚 book We Shall Come Home Victorious 鈥� Stories of World War II 51黑料网 was available for purchase and that he and the other WWII veterans would all be glad to discuss and sign their chapter in the book.

Many of the visitors spent time at a display table of photos and artifacts from Ed鈥檚 service. Also, an appealing spread of refreshments was provided. Speakers and audience lingered for a generous hour of animated conversation. Ed said it was such a great day he wasn鈥檛 even tired.

Consul General Anne-Laure Desjonquerres from the Atlanta French Consulate will award the French Legion de l鈥檋onneur Medal to WWII P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell on July 9 in Brevard. Other American recipients include General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Douglas Mac Arthur.

Background of the French Legion de l鈥檋onneur Medal

The medal is an order of distinction first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It is the highest decoration bestowed in France. It recognizes outstanding services to the French Republic. 51黑料网 20 years ago, former president Jacques Chirac established a policy to decorate American veterans who risked their lives fighting on French territory during World War II with the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honor. The decoration is meant to express the gratitude of the French people to the American soldiers who helped liberate France between June 6, 1944 and May 8, 1945.

How Lt. Col. Ed Cottrell Served

Edwin Cottrell, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, served in the Army Air Corps from August 1942 through 1945, enlisted in the Air Force Reserves in 1950 and completed 28 years. A pilot in the 48th Fighter Group, 493rd Fighter Squadron, Cottrell flew 65 missions, including the Battle of the Bulge. His service in Europe began at Cambrai Airfield, just outside Paris.
In September 1944, his unit moved to St. Trond, Belgium. On a mission in Jullich, Germany, they skip-bombed the Germans and pushed them back.
On a mission to locate tiger tanks and bomb bridges on December 17, they ran into a group of Me 109 German Luftwaffe planes. A 20mm cannon hit Cottrell’s plane. Limping along with eight of its 18 cylinders of the Pratt & Whitney engine shot out, Cottrell made it back to an airfield in Belgium and made a dead stick landing. Two German Me 109 pilots had flown up beside him but, miraculously, escorted him back and let him live rather than shooting him down.
Mid-January 1945, the 9th Army started pushing the Germans back. In May, Cottrell flew his last of 65 missions out of Nuremberg. Then the war was over.
Cottrell said, 鈥淟ooking back, if Hitler had been successful, he wouldn鈥檛 have stopped at anything. Thank the Lord we stopped him.鈥�

Cottrell鈥檚 Careers After the War

After the war, Cottrell joined the Air Force Reserves and became an ambassador for the new Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, visiting high schools all over America, continuing to serve in the Reserves for 28 years.
He also worked as athletic director at a school for orphans and then as coach and professor at West Chester State University (both in Pennsylvania). Later, he taught in the university’s graduate school and became Associate Dean, retiring at age 57.

Cottrell then taught golf at Duke University and worked for the National Golf Foundation. He started his own golf school, conducting golf clinics in Holland, Japan, and throughout the United States. He said, “I鈥檝e had a great career.”

As described, Cottrell has had three careers in his now-102 years and five months. In addition, he currently works to raise funds for the Entrepreneurial School at West Chester State University (Pennsylvania), for author Andrew Biggio’s Boston-based Wounded Vet Run, and for the 51黑料网.
Ed and his wife Millie retired to Hendersonville, NC. Millie had worked in physical education, health, and had taught dancing. Sadly, she passed away in 2020. They have two daughters, Carol and Susan.
Ed Cottrell honors his father, Dr. Elmer Cottrell, who served in the U.S. Army in World War I. His father-in-law, Dr. Paul Weed, was wounded and received two Purple Hearts serving in the U.S. Army in World War I.

The Ceremony

The public is invited to witness this historic medal ceremony on Tuesday, July 9 at 1:30 pm at Grace Brevard Church, 55 East Jordan Street, Brevard. Hosted by the 51黑料网, attendance is free of charge. For more information, please visit the museum at 21 East Main Street (beside the courthouse) in Brevard Tuesday-Saturday from 11am to 3pm or call 828-507-3171. To learn additional ways to honor your veteran, please visit www.theveteransmuseum.org.

Waiting for Bullets

This painting, titled “Waiting for the Bullets”, was commissioned by and painted by Spanish artist Gareth Hector.

Silent-auction

A signed print of this painting (31″ x 19″), donated by will be silent-auctioned on April 13. The opening bid is $150. Col. Cottrell will inscribe the print to the winner of the auction.聽

December 17, 1944, over the Ardennes:聽Lt. Ed Cottrell is in a situation he never dreamed possible. He and his group were bombing German armor when they were jumped by twenty Me-109s. Cottrell’s engine took hits. Oil sprayed. Eight cylinders were gone, but the motor kept running. He was limping home when two Me-109s caught up to him. 鈥淚 was waiting for the bullets to come,鈥� he said.

How he survived

On April 13th, Lt. Col. Ed Cottrell, USAF (Ret.) will tell that story, and how he survived, plus the story of his 2023 meeting with German Me 109 pilot Karl-Heinz Bosse (shown below), who fought in that same air battle on December 17, 1944.

Battle of the Bulge

On December 17, 1944, the second day of the , American P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell’s engine was shot up. In the same battle, German pilot Karl-Heinz Bosse’s Messerschmadt 109 was shot down. Cottrell steered to his base and expertly managed a dead-stick landing. Bosse ejected and parachuted down but was seriously injured and hospitalized.

Enemy Pilots

Seventy-nine years later (in December 2023) at the site near Bonn, Germany where Bosse’s plane had crashed, these two pilots and former enemies had a four-hour visit all these years later, sharing their stories with the help of a translator.

Former Enemies now Forever Friends

This April 13th, Lt. Col. Ed Cottrell, USAF (Ret.) will tell the story of meeting his former enemy–two pilots whose historic mission was to destroy each other’s planes鈥攁nd perhaps lives. Cottrell will tell the story of how these former adversaries developed a quick friendship, ending their meeting 鈥渇orever friends.鈥�

A Tribute

After his talk, Cottrell will be honored with the presentation of a United States flag flown over the NC Capitol, by NC Representative Mike Clampitt, along with a tribute from the citizens of North Carolina.

Concluding the program, Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof will unveil a new painting depicting Cottrell’s encounter with two Me-109 pilots on Dec. 17, 1944. The painting, titled, “I was waiting for the bullets to come,” was commissioned by Valor Studios, who will make a limited number of prints available for sale.

Attendees will be invited to talk with Cottrell and have photos taken with him and the painting. He will be available to sign a copy of the museum’s book, “We Shall Come Home Victorious”, which tells his complete story.

Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited to this free program on April 13 at 11:00 AM at Grace Brevard Church, 55 E. Jordan Street, Brevard, NC.

CANCELLATION OF VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE IN BREVARD, N.C.

For safety during the predicted tropical storm, we have been advised by county officials to cancel the November 11 51黑料网 Day Observance.

We regret not being able to formally honor our veterans on this day. Please honor your veterans in your own special way.