
This is the incredible moment 97-year-old US veteran Tom Rice parachuted into Normandy, 75 years after he made the same journey on D-Day.

The former 82nd Airborne paratrooper, who hails from San Diego, California, was among some 200 parachutists who filled the Normandy skies of France for the 75th anniversary of the invasion as they leaped from vintage C-47 Dakota planes in what was a moving sight.

They were honoring the airborne soldiers who jumped into gunfire and death ahead of the June 6, 1944 seaborne invasion. Their engines throbbing, the C-47 transporters dropped group after group of parachutists.

Rice sat calmly in the plane as he waited for his turn, his steely blue eyes filled with focus. Then he put his glasses on and jumped in a tandem into the very same area he landed on D-Day near Carentan, a town among the main targets for the paratroopers.

Tom Rice, 97, is winning hearts across the world after he parachuted into Normandy on Wednesday, 75 years after he made the same journey on D-Day

The former 82nd Airborne paratrooper, who hails from San Diego, California, was among some 200 parachutists who filled the Normandy skies of France for the 75th anniversary of the invasion

Rice jumped in a tandem into roughly the same area he landed solo on D-Day near Carentan, a town among the main targets for the paratroopers

The paratroopers were honoring the airborne soldiers who jumped into gunfire and death ahead of the June 6, 1944 invasion

He made a safe landing to roaring applause as an American flag blazed underneath him. As he stood up, Rice flashed a huge smile and held up two peace signs with his fingers high above his head.

'It went perfect. Beautiful jump, beautiful flight,' he said. 'Everything was perfect. I feel great. I'd go up and do it all again.'

Rice also noted the differences of the two jumps. In 1944 it was dark and he was jumping alone into a blaze of bullets.

'It was morning here, dark there, and that was hard going on the D-Day jump,' he recalled. 'I landed standing up for the most part, then went down on my knees and bounced a couple times because I had so much equipment and I had a difficult time getting out of that equipment.'

The paratroopers jumped from the C-47s in Second World War colors and other aircraft, aiming for fields of wild flowers on the edge of the town, in one of the early objectives for Allied troops who invaded from the air and sea.

Rice made a safe landing to roaring applause as a large American flag blazed underneath him toward the end of the jump

'It went perfect, perfect jump, beautiful flight,' he said. 'Everything was perfect. I feel great. I'd go up and do it all again'

Rice also noted the differences of the two jumps. In 1944 it was dark and he was jumping alone into a blaze of bullets

'It was morning here, dark there, and that was hard going on the D-Day jump,' he recalled. 'I landed standing up for the most part, then went down on my knees and bounced a couple times because I had so much equipment and I had a difficult time getting out of that equipment'

Following the jump today, Rice proudly flashed two peace signs high above his head as he posed with other paratroopers

Rice smiles as he is applauded after taking part in the parachute drop over Carentan in north-western France this morning

Rice speaks to the press after taking part in the commemorative parachute drop over Carentan in Normandy today

Rice (pictured left today, and right in his uniform during the Second World War) said he remains troubled by the conflict

Today, thousands of veterans joined a service in remembrance of the landings in Normandy, while world leaders including President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May gathered for an event in Portsmouth.

Considered a turning point in the Second World War, Operation Overlord saw thousands killed and injured. May will be making her final official appearances as prime minister during the commemorations.

Other parachute jumps marking the 75th anniversary are planned involving British veterans at Sannerville. Rice, who had been training for six months, said the original jump on D-Day was 'the worst jump I ever had'.

Like many other veterans, Rice said he remains troubled by the war.

'We did a lot of destruction, damage. And we chased the Germans out and coming back here is a matter of closure,' he said. 'You can close the issue now.'

Paratroopers take part in a parachute drop from seven C-47 aircraft over Carentan in north-western France this morning

US paratroopers jump from vintage C-47 Dakota planes in a commemorative parachute jump over Carentan in France today

US veteran paratrooper veteran Vincent Speranza watches a parachute drop from seven C-47 aircraft over Carentan today

Allied troops who invaded launched the campaign to free Europe from Nazi occupation. A paratrooper is pictured today

The paratroopers jump from C-47 Dakotas over Carentan on the Normandy coast today ahead of the 75th D-Day anniversary

US soldiers take pictures with their mobile phones as paratroopers take part in the parachute drop over Carentan today

Parachutists jump from C-47 transporters today as they aim for fields of wild flowers on the outskirts of the town of Carentan

Among the jumpers today is due to be American D-Day veteran Tom Rice, 97, who jumped into Normandy in June 1944

US soldiers watch the paratroopers taking part in a parachute drop over Carentan in north-western France this morning

The parachute drop from seven C-47 aircraft over Carentan is part of D-Day commemorations marking the 75th anniversary

Other parachute jumps as well as those over Carentan (pictured) are planned involving British veterans at Sannerville

He added: 'I got my left armpit caught in the lower left hand corner of the door so I swung out came back and hit the side of the aircraft swung out again and came back and I just tried to straighten my arm out and I got free.'

Asked how his D-Day comrades would have felt about him jumping, Rice said: 'They would love it.' He added: 'Some of them couldn't handle it. Many of them are deceased. We had 38 percent casualties.'

With the number of D-Day survivors dwindling fast, Rice said: 'I represent a whole generation.'

Other parachutists jumped with Second World War souvenirs, some carrying items their grandfathers took into battle. Many spectators wore war-era uniforms, and music of the time played over loudspeakers.

Robert Schaefer, a retired lieutenant colonel with the US Army's Green Berets who served in Afghanistan, carried whiskey, cigars and the dog tag and wallet his grandfather, George J. Ehmet, had with him when he fought as an artillery man in France.

Soldiers from the US 75th Ranger Regiment in uniform stand on the overlook after climbing the cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc

Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment old the American flag after scaling the cliffs in Cricqueville-en-Bessin, Normandy

Soldiers climb the cliff of Pointe-du-Hoc some 75 years on from the American assault of Omaha and Utah beaches in 1944

During the American assault on June 6 in 1944, US Army Rangers scaled the 100ft cliffs to seize German artillery pieces

In 1944, the Rangers scaled the 100ft cliffs to seize German artillery that could have fired on the American landing troops

The troops were recreating a journey taken by the US Army's 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions to destroy Nazi guns on the cliffs

'I feel like I got to jump with my grandpa,' Schaefer said afterwards.

How US Army Rangers scaled 100ft cliffs to protect troops on Utah Beach on D-Day Pointe du Hoc is between Utah and Omaha beaches in France Pointe du Hoc was a key location on D-Day where 225 men scaled 100ft cliffs before taking out German guns. The 100ft jagged cliffs were the highest point between the landings on June 6, 1944 at Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east. The US Army's 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions scaled the cliffs in a valiant assault to destroy Nazi 155mm artillery positions that could have fired on the landing troops. U.S. flag lies as a marker on a destroyed bunker on June 8, 1944 - two days after the site at Pointe du Hoc was captured The operation helped prepare the way for Allied troops landing on beaches a few miles up the coast to break Adolf Hitler's stranglehold on France. A memorial on the cliffs was later erected by the French to honour the Rangers who were under the command of Lieutenant Colonels James Rudder and Max Schneider. Of the 235 men who took on the cliffs to destroy the gun positions, only 90 were fit for battle two days later. Advertisement

Thousands of people watched on Wednesday as the jumpers softly floated through the bright skies.

With the throb of their engines rumbling through cloudy skies, the C-47 transport planes in Second World War colors dropped sticks of jumpers with round canopies reminiscent of those used by airborne forces in 1944.

Meanwhile, US Army Rangers climbed the jagged cliffs of Normandy's Pointe du Hoc near Utah Beach today to honor the men who scaled them 75 years ago in a valiant D-Day assault.

Elderly veterans looked on this morning as members of the 75th Ranger Regiment started mounting the limestone promontory at dawn, pulling themselves up on ropes one by one, seagulls swooping above them.

They recreated a journey taken by the US Army's 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions to destroy Nazi guns, preparing the way for Allied troops landing on beaches a few miles up the coast to break Hitler's stranglehold on France.

Of the 235 men who took on the cliffs in 1944, only 90 were fit for battle two days later. Today's event was part of extensive ceremonies in France and Britain marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944.

Elsewhere, divers today laid a wreath on the bed of the English Channel in a poignant tribute to a group of soldiers who died on the eve of D-Day, as world leaders prepare to converge to commemorate the 75th anniversary.

The ring of poppies was left among the remains of seven DD Valentine tanks that fell off a boat and sank during a disastrous practice run of the landings in April 1944, claiming the lives of six Royal Dragoon Guards members.

Exercise Smash simulated the landing of thousands of armoured vehicles on the Normandy beaches, but the disaster at Studland Bay in Dorset persuaded commanders to scrap the plans and land them further on shore.

The operation helped prepare the way for Allied troops landing on beaches to break Hitler's stranglehold on France

Soldiers from the US 75th Ranger Regiment stand on the overlook after climbing the cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc today

Of the 235 men who took on the cliffs in Normandy in June 1944, only 90 were fit for battle two days later

Today's event is part of ceremonies in France and Britain marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944

US Army Rangers climbed the jagged cliffs of Normandy's Pointe du Hoc to honor the men who scaled them 75 years ago

The 75th Ranger Regiment started mounting the limestone promontory at dawn, pulling themselves up on ropes one by one

Planes fly over as Rangers of the US 75th Ranger Regiment stand on the overlook after climbing the cliffs of Pointe-du-Hoc

The early morning tribute to the victims of Exercise Smash was organised by Paul Pettitt, 53, who has campaigned for the tanks to get special protection and enlisted the help of local divers.

Mr Pettitt said: 'Over 20 divers went out and laid wreaths on each of the tanks. Divers came from each of the major training agencies and as well as club boats we were supported by two local dive skippers, Pete Williams and Trevor Small.

'Clubs that took part were Isle of Purbeck Sub Aqua Club, Flippas n Fins, Arnewood Sub Aqua Club, Southsea Sub Aqua Club and also a serving member from the Royal Dragoon Guards.

'It was a great success as we managed to lay wreaths on all the six tanks where we think men may have been lost. We tried to visit the seventh tank but it was too rough.'

A British Second World War D-Day veteran takes pictures during a ceremony today near Pegasus Bridge in Ranville, France

Members of the US Navy pause while a trumpet plays 'The Last Post' as the men were helping to plant US and French flags at the graves of US soldiers at Normandy American Cemetery today near Colleville-Sur-Mer in France this morning

Divers this morning left a wreath among the remains of seven DD Valentine tanks that sank in Studland Bay in Dorset, during a disastrous practice run of the landings in April 1944, claiming the lives of six members of the Royal Dragoon Guards

Lieutenant C Gould, Sergeant V Hartley, Corporals Arthur Park and V Townson and Troopers A Kirby and E Petty all drowned in the disaster. Pictured: The wreath being laid at the spot on the English Channel at Studland Bay this morning

The deaths were kept secret for decades but a memorial to those who died was erected to mark the 60th anniversary of Exercise Smash in 2004. The exercise simulated the landing of thousands of armoured vehicles on the Normandy beaches

The early morning tribute to the victims of Exercise Smash was organised by Paul Pettitt, 53, who has campaigned for the tanks to get special protection. He said: 'Over 20 divers went out and laid wreaths on each of the tanks'

The remains of seven tanks now lie 60ft beneath the waves on Studland Bay, 75 years after the ill-fated Exercise Smash

The sandy shoreline of Studland Bay was chosen for a live-firing practice for D-Day because it was almost identical to the beaches at Normandy.

The surrounding area was largely unpopulated so it was seen as safe to fire into land without the risk of harming civilians. At dawn on April 4, 1944 the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards launched their floating Valentine tanks.

The weather soon deteriorated and the tanks were overcome by the waves and sank 60ft to the seabed, with six servicemen all drowning in deaths that were kept secret for decades.

But a memorial to those who died - Lieutenant C Gould, Sergeant V Hartley, Corporals Arthur Park and V Townson and Troopers A Kirby and E Petty - was erected to mark the 60th anniversary in 2004, 60ft beneath the waves.