Who knew the RAF were on Omaha Beach on D-Day?!
There aren't many perks to being on the Committee of the Association of RAF Fighter Control Officers but corresponding with a Dr Lesley G Dobinson CEng MIET about the participation of RAF radar units who took part in the assault phase on D-Day has got to be right up there!
Embarrassingly (I thought Fighter Direction Tenders were the closest we got) it was news to me that an RAF Radar Unit disembarked from Tank Landing Craft onto Omaha Beach on D-day, at 1700 hours, with their 27 specialised vehicles that were fitted with Radar and Radio Communications equipment. This RAF Unit was 15082GCI. Its function was to protect the American Beachhead, and American assault troops, from air attack by using its Radar equipment to locate the position and altitude of enemy aircraft and, by means of direct radio contact with RAF fighter aircraft, to direct them to intercept and engage the enemy aircraft. This was a facility that the US Military were unable to provide themselves at that time.
This little known RAF Unit was awarded 4 Military Crosses, together with 2 Military Medals and a Croix de Guerre to their Chaplain, Medical Officer, Commanding Officer and the Chief Technical Officer - quite amazing when you consider that RAF Officers, throughout the whole of WW2, were only awarded a total of 69 Military Crosses!
Dr Dobinson (now aged 90) was one of the technicians that landed with 15082GCI Mobile Radar Unit on Omaha Beach on D-Day and he was personally responsible for getting the 15082GCI RAF Memorial erected on the Beach a couple of years ago. I believe he is the only surviving RAF veteran from the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach.
I'm delighted that he will be attending the 70th Anniversary events in Normandy which will include attending the unveiling by the Commanding General of the new 29th Infantry Division USNG statue and laying a tribute at the 15082GCI RAF Memorial.
This is just one small attempt to spread the word and help Dr Dobinson to achieve appropriate recognition for 15082GCI and the key role that they played in Operation Overlord.