WWII's Most Daring Raids

During the Normandy landings, US paratroopers from Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division, were tasked with neutralising four German howitzers poised to fire on Utah Beach in preparation for the Allied invasion. The mission was critical to preventing the artillery from assaulting the beachhead and securing the landing area.

Easy Company's First Assault is a television programme presented as a single episode. It falls within the genre of historical military drama and focuses on a specific operation carried out during the Second World War. The episode centres on a daring raid undertaken by American forces, giving viewers a concise look at a pivotal moment in the Normandy campaign. The core of the story follows a small team of US paratroopers tasked with neutralising four German howitzers that were poised to fire on Utah Beach. Their objective is to prevent the artillery from inflicting heavy casualties on the invading troops during the initial landings. The narrative follows the preparation, the movement across hostile terrain, and the ultimate effort to silence the enemy guns before they can open fire. Set against the backdrop of the Normandy landings, the episode highlights the strategic importance of Utah Beach and the threat posed by the German artillery positions. By focusing on this single mission, the programme illustrates how a relatively modest force could influence the wider outcome of the invasion by eliminating a key defensive element. The operation is carried out by members of Easy Company, part of the 101st Airborne Division. These US paratroopers are depicted as a tightly knit unit, trained for rapid, high‑risk assaults, and their actions in the episode underscore the role of airborne troops in the broader Allied effort to secure the French coast.