Twenty sticks, about 430 pathfinders of both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions had important missions to mark six drop zones (DZ) and one landing zone (LZ) and to make them clear of all obstacles and enemy forces. To accomplish their task, they had to jump thirty minutes before some 13,100 airborne troops.

A stick of about eighteen men was composed of eight to twelve qualified Pathfinders and their security personnel. Each stick was led by an officer, who jumped with his combat load of equipment and a "walkie-talkie" to be used in communicating with officers of the three sticks who jumped as part of the team (on the same DZ). Two pathfinders jumped with a beacon, four others carried lights while the remaining men were loaded with ammunition. They were to serve as security personnel to protect the equipment and to cover the pathfinders on the DZ while the beacon operators could concentrate on directing the incoming planes.

The 505th Parachute Infantry Pathfinder Teams were part of the 82nd Airborne Division�s Pathfinders (commanded by Major Neal Lane Roberts), whose mission was to mark the three DZs reserved for the Division. Nine "Sticks," numbered 10 through 18 contained the 82nd Pathfinder Teams of the 82nd, three sticks for each DZ. The three sticks of 505th Pathfinders jumped in near the town of St. Mere Eglise, and were broken down as follows:

Stick 10: 2nd Team, 505th Parachute Infantry Pathfinders, composed of 15 personnel, including at least 2 officers

Stick 11: 3rd Team, 505th Parachute Infantry Pathfinders, composed of 19 personnel, including at least 1 officer