British actor Richard Todd served as a member of the British parachute regiment during World War II.

 British actor Richard Todd served as a member of the British parachute regiment during World War II. 



At one point he served as adjutant and was responsible for writing the letters home notifying families that their sons and fathers and brothers had been killed. 


Todd would star in two of the greatest World War II true story films. 


He portrayed Wing Commander Guy Gibson in the 1955 movie The Dam Busters which told the story of operation chastise. 

The final scene of the film has Gibson notify Dr Barnes Wallis he had letters to write. Todd later commented he hated filming that scene because it brought back memories of all the letters he had written during the war. 


For the 1962 film the  Longest Day Todd was cast to portray Major  John Howard who led the glider attack on the Orne River bridges on the morning of June 6th 1944. Todd had been one of the relief unit paratroopers that had jumped and met up with Howard's glider unit. In his portrayal of Howard Todd wore the pin and Beret he had worn on June 6th 1944 (photo below). 


Aware of Todd's history the filmmakers feature a moment when the relief group arrives Howard gives a slight nod to an actor portraying paratrooper Richard Todd.

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