CORONADO, Calif. – The United States Navy Parachute Team, also known as the “Leap Frogs,” will participate in this year’s 80th anniversary commemoration of D-Day from May 31 to June 11 in Normandy, France.
The team, based on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, is the official parachute demonstration team of the U.S. Navy and each member has conducted real-world operations before volunteering to join the group.
‘D-Day 80’ will consist of more than 120 commemorative events involving U.S. and NATO Allies, with the shared goal of honoring the sacrifices made by Allied service members during the amphibious landing at German-occupied beaches on June 6, 1944 — an invasion that changed the momentum of World War II.
“In the months leading up to D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in history, scouts and raiders were cloaked in secrecy, gathering vital intel for the impending invasion,” said Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. “The Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDU) men faced daunting odds at Normandy’s beaches, with over half becoming casualties as they moved forward with resolve, clearing the channels that would usher in victory for the Allies. Let us carry their legacy forward, never forgetting the price of freedom and the heroes who paid it.”
Today’s Naval Special Warfare force draws from the diverse and audacious spirit of the scouts, raiders and NCDUs. Their covert reconnaissance, intelligence-gathering, and obstacle clearance paved the way for the multifaceted capabilities of today’s SEALs.
“Jumping into the 80th Commemoration of D-Day gives us the unique opportunity to pay homage to our NCDU forerunners, as well as display the evolution and air capability of modern Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operators,” said Lt. Nick Obletz, NPT officer in charge.
The Leap Frogs are scheduled to jump into more than 10 D-Day 80 events in the greater Normandy area, including a large-scale airborne assault demonstration at the Iron Mike Memorial drop zone on June 9.
