Oklahoma D-Day

Last updated April 29, 2019

Oklahoma D-Day is the world's largest scenario game of paintball that recreates events of World War II, held at Oklahoma's D-Day Adventure Park in Wyandotte, Oklahoma every June. ^{[ dubious – discuss ]}The game was created by Dewayne Convirs, and was first held in 1997 - with attendance of 135 players. The following year was more popular, with 335 players participating.^[1]^[2]

Paintball is a competitive team shooting sport in which players eliminate opponents from play by hitting them with spherical dye-filled gelatin capsules ("paintballs") that break upon impact. Paintballs are usually shot using a low-energy air weapon called a paintball marker that is powered by compressed air (nitrogen) or carbon dioxide and was originally designed for remotely marking trees and cattle.

Wyandotte is a town in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 333 at the 2010 census, a decline of 8.26 percent from 363 at the 2000 census. The town is the tribal headquarters of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma, for which the town was named. Wyandotte is part of the Joplin, Missouri metropolitan area.

General

The game seeks to faithfully recreate battles from the real Normandy invasion, including Omaha beach, Utah beach, Sword Beach, Colleville, Sainte-Mère-Église, Caen, Pegasus Bridge, and Vierville. The game caters to an average of 4000 players a year, often run on the anniversary of the events being recreated.

Sword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of German-occupied France that commenced on 6 June 1944. Stretching 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, the beach was the easternmost landing site of the invasion. Taking Sword was to be the responsibility of the British Army with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a naval bombardment force provided by the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Polish, Norwegian and other Allied navies.

Colleville-sur-Mer Commune in Normandy, France

Colleville-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandie region in northwestern France.

Sainte-Mère-Église is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France. On 1 January 2016, the former communes of Beuzeville-au-Plain, Chef-du-Pont, Écoquenéauville and Foucarville were merged into Sainte-Mère-Église. On 1 January 2019, the former communes of Carquebut and Ravenoville were merged into Sainte-Mère-Église.

The site has 100 acres (0.40 km²) of camping area and amenities for players,^[3] and the game is played on a 740-acre (3.0 km²) area at the D-Day adventure park with a range of differing terrains to suit different scenarios (including open fields, ravines and creek beds). Trench works, villages, firebases, headquarters, bunkers and gun emplacements provide strategic options for players.^[1] Play itself deviates from standard tournament paintball rules - in that when hit by paint, players move to a reinsertion zone and are back in the game within thirty minutes. Emphasis is on completing objectives rather than solely eliminating enemy players,^[1] and the game makes extensive usage of World War II era equipment and vehicles (including tanks and bazookas, among the standard paintball markers).

A paintball marker, also known as a paintball gun, paint gun, or marker, is the main piece of paintball equipment in the sport of paintball. Markers use an expanding gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) or compressed air, to propel paintballs through the barrel and quickly strike a target. The term "marker" is derived from its original use as a means for forestry personnel to mark trees and ranchers to mark wandering cattle.

In game, players belong to either the Germans or the Allies. Allied forces include the French resistance, Americans, British, and Canadians. Each side has its own Battle Staff in corresponding "tactical operations centers" and divisions assigned to three different beachhead or other objectives. The Allies invade from off playing field locations, including actual wet insertions from landing craft.

A military staff is a group of officers, enlisted and civilian personnel that are responsible for the administrative, operational and logistical needs of its unit. It provides bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units. A staff also provides an executive function where it filters information needed by the commander or shunts unnecessary information.

A tactical operations center (TOC) is a command post for police, paramilitary, or military operations. A TOC usually includes a small group of specially trained officers or military personnel who guide members of an active tactical element during a mission.

A documentary film about the event, Soldiers of Paint, was released in May, 2013.^[4]

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References

1 2 3 Adkisson, Kevin (June 1, 2008). "WWII inspires paintball game in Wyandotte Discover Oklahoma" . Retrieved 14 March 2010.
↑ Dwayne Convirs (July 2009). "A note from Dwayne Convirs". Paintball X3. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
↑ "D-Day adventure park - Camping FAQ".
↑ "About". soldiersofpaint.com. DOUBLE SIX PRODUCTIONS. Retrieved 12 September 2016.

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[newsok-1] 1 2 3 Adkisson, Kevin (June 1, 2008). "WWII inspires paintball game in Wyandotte Discover Oklahoma" . Retrieved 14 March 2010.

[2] Dwayne Convirs (July 2009). "A note from Dwayne Convirs". Paintball X3. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-02-22.

[3] "D-Day adventure park - Camping FAQ".

[4] "About". soldiersofpaint.com. DOUBLE SIX PRODUCTIONS. Retrieved 12 September 2016.