France demands passports from British troops parachuting into Normandy for D-Day
Hundreds of soldiers dropped into the same field in Normandy on Wednesday which was used 80 years ago by troops from the UK, the US, Canada and France
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British paratroopers who landed in Normandy to commemorate the anniversary of the D-Day landings were met with French customs officials demanding passports.
Hundreds of soldiers dropped into the same field in Normandy on Wednesday which was used 80 years ago by troops from the UK, the US, Canada and France.
However, upon landing, troops were greeted by a makeshift French customs post.
The British soldiers then formed a queue and presented their passports for inspection.
British paratroopers who landed in Normandy to commemorate the anniversary of the D-Day landings were met with French customs officials demanding passports
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"It is something we haven’t experienced before," Brigadier Mark Berry, the commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade told The Sun.
"But given the Royal welcome we have had from every other feature, it seems like a very small price to pay for coming to France."
Videos show soldiers in camouflage combat gear walking towards a temporary customs check.
Brig Berry paid tribute to the 23,000 airborne troops from Britain, America, the Commonwealth and Canada who used parachutes and gliders to swoop behind Nazi lines.
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They were dropped into France hours before the beach landings took place.
The troops were told to destroy a gun battery and secure control of four key bridges.
Brig Berry added: "The soldiers 80 years ago were jumping at night with considerably less sophisticated equipment, into enemy-held territory.
"Today I know that I won’t meet an enemy force that 80 years ago was presenting an existential threat to our nation."
Videos shows soldiers in camouflage combat gear walking towards a temporary customs check
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US and Belgian troops who jumped alongside the British troops were not required to check in with French customs.
The US troops took off from France, while Belgian soldiers are EU citizens so bypassed the border check.
Jonathan Monti, a French immigration official, said the drop-zone post was set up to "welcome UK soldiers".
He said: "We are doing immigration control and we are not supposed to do it in a field.“But for this special event, for the 80th anniversary, we are welcoming the UK soldiers."