2nd Lieutenant DeWindt
On the morning of June 6th, 1944 Lieutenant DeWindt was a glider pilot in the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron and was carrying soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division's 327th Glider Infantry. DeWindt's glider was also carrying Brigadier General Amend, the Deputy Commander of the 101st Airborne.
In order to provide additional protection for Brigadier General Amend, steel plates had been welded onto the deck of the glider. DeWindt had not been informed of this modification until it was too late, and he had extreme difficulty in controlling the over-loaded glider once it was released from its C-47 tow plane.
The glider crash-landed into the French countryside, decapitating the co-pilot and killing General Amend, who had been seated in his jeep. DeWindt was unharmed. Days later DeWindt made contact with Captain Miller, whose 2nd Ranger squad was searching for Private James Ryan.
