PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Who knew the RAF were on Omaha Beach on D-Day?!
Old 8th Apr 2014, 23:07
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MAINJAFAD
 
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I knew of the unit's existence as there were 2 RAF mobile radar convoys landed on D Day at Omaha and Juno. The History of the FDT's and mobile radar convoys that were involved in Operation Neptune can be found here.

http://www.rquirk.com/cdnradar/cor/chapter11.pdf

Plus you can add the two RAF/USAAF manned mobile radar units airlifted into Arnhem as part of Market Garden to that as well (though neither unit got to do their planned mission due to 3 of the 4 gliders carrying them and their radars were lost, one landed outside the landing zone when the tug was shot down, One glider was shot down while under tow and the third was destroyed on the ground before unloading. (the radar's were AMES Type 6, with two gliders carrying the transmitter / aerial equipment, while the other two gliders had the display and radio systems on board, both gliders that were lost in flight had the same load, thus the systems were unable to operate). Details are here

6080 & 6341 Light Warning Units, 38 Group : History

Oosterbeek Airborne Museum does have a Type 6 transmitter antennae system on display, which suggests that it was the Display / Comms equipment was on board the gliders which were lost before landing (which is a pity as a working ground to air radio could have been a massive game changer on that operation). I do know that a LAC RDF Mechanic from one of the units was killed in a tree while trying to rig an aerial to get working long range radio comms.
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