D Day
Just caught up with the D-Day 70 proceedings on TV (out all day). Immediate thoughts; the Ouistreham do was too long and drawn out as VIPs arrived late thus keeping the real VIPs waiting, the 'playacting' on the Sword beach was bizarre, Obama's speech was excellent.
In contrast the Arromanches service was excellent, no clever clever timings with the tide this time, just a very British affair culminating in a sing-song. Good to see the ATC cadets there as well.
Best of all though was the sight of some of these 90+ youngsters kissing the local ladies and even having a bit of a jive. Old habits...
In contrast the Arromanches service was excellent, no clever clever timings with the tide this time, just a very British affair culminating in a sing-song. Good to see the ATC cadets there as well.
Best of all though was the sight of some of these 90+ youngsters kissing the local ladies and even having a bit of a jive. Old habits...
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You may not know. But one of the Daks had travelled from the USA to participate, another from Finland, indeed they have come from all over, one even isn't a Dak but an LI2 the Russian built under licence variant
Dakota "Union Jack Dak" - Transatlantic Success!
D-Day 70 ? Pt.12 ? Daedalus D-Day 70th Preview | GAR
Dakota "Union Jack Dak" - Transatlantic Success!
D-Day 70 ? Pt.12 ? Daedalus D-Day 70th Preview | GAR
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And good on him.. 
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An impressive item
Some excellent pictures from the drop prep, see
Going to D-Day 70th - in a 70 year old Piper L-4 Grasshopper! - General Discussion - LSP Forums
Ferocious Frankie - flown by Nigel Lamb of the Fighter Collection up at Duxford - really lovely guy.
His father was flying a Mustang over the beaches on 6th June '44 - so a very special series of sorties for him.
His father was flying a Mustang over the beaches on 6th June '44 - so a very special series of sorties for him.
Going to D-Day 70th - in a 70 year old Piper L-4 Grasshopper! - General Discussion - LSP Forums
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I was slightly puzzled as to why Aromanches was the BBCs base of operations, because it wasn't, actually, a 'landing beach'. Having said that, it was or became absolutely pivotal in the overall success of the liberation. I have known about 'Mulberry Harbour' since I was a kid, but I never really knew what it meant and how it was done.
Then I had a very brief opportunity to visit Aromanches last August and the Musee there. I was amazed at the sheer brilliance of the concept and its execution of the phrase; 'They brought a port the size of Dover with them'.
While all the exhibits, the beautiful model and the haunting view of decaying Mulberrys ringing the beach speak volumes, a single, 14" square photograph on the wall in the musee, somehow encapsulates the full meaning of the Normandy landings for me. It is a remarkable photograph on so many levels and one cannot help despair for the state of mind of the German High Command and ultimate Leadership when they saw it. And they would have seen it.
It was taken about two weeks after D-Day by a German aircraft from 11,000 metres - a jet aircraft. No photographic interpretation unit was required to see the fully operational harbour at Aromanches and the countless thousands of tons of material being landed and driven away by the inestimable Redball Express. Why did they not come to the inescapable conclusion that; 'We cannot fight these people'.
I shall certainly remember them - all of them.
Roger
Then I had a very brief opportunity to visit Aromanches last August and the Musee there. I was amazed at the sheer brilliance of the concept and its execution of the phrase; 'They brought a port the size of Dover with them'.
While all the exhibits, the beautiful model and the haunting view of decaying Mulberrys ringing the beach speak volumes, a single, 14" square photograph on the wall in the musee, somehow encapsulates the full meaning of the Normandy landings for me. It is a remarkable photograph on so many levels and one cannot help despair for the state of mind of the German High Command and ultimate Leadership when they saw it. And they would have seen it.
It was taken about two weeks after D-Day by a German aircraft from 11,000 metres - a jet aircraft. No photographic interpretation unit was required to see the fully operational harbour at Aromanches and the countless thousands of tons of material being landed and driven away by the inestimable Redball Express. Why did they not come to the inescapable conclusion that; 'We cannot fight these people'.
I shall certainly remember them - all of them.
Roger
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I think the Smile says it all 
In his mind he is not 89 years old and that is what counts !
(Courtesy of the Daily Mail article.)
In his mind he is not 89 years old and that is what counts !
(Courtesy of the Daily Mail article.)
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Watching Major General Cowan on the news, you would think on his salary he could afford a uniform where the shoulder board isn't full of holes where his previous rank badges used to live.
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Fascinating insight later on in the war involving beer, watch to the end.
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We WILL remember them, indeed.
My late father had a stroke of 'luck'. He was supposed to have been in the 2nd wave of landing craft on SWORD [?] on D-Day, but [according to him] Monty had then sacked his Brigadier, leading to a bit of re-scheduling ... as a result he had to wait until D+8. Subsequently wounded on 11 Jul 44 [gun blast and perforated eardrums] and evacuated to UK. When recovered, he was above the age limit for those being sent into Europe, and thus 'soldiered' on in UK until final release from the Army on 12 Feb 46. I therefore grew up with a father, unlike so many others.
I still have has Soldier's playbook and his [unmarked] map of Normandy
My late father had a stroke of 'luck'. He was supposed to have been in the 2nd wave of landing craft on SWORD [?] on D-Day, but [according to him] Monty had then sacked his Brigadier, leading to a bit of re-scheduling ... as a result he had to wait until D+8. Subsequently wounded on 11 Jul 44 [gun blast and perforated eardrums] and evacuated to UK. When recovered, he was above the age limit for those being sent into Europe, and thus 'soldiered' on in UK until final release from the Army on 12 Feb 46. I therefore grew up with a father, unlike so many others.
I still have has Soldier's playbook and his [unmarked] map of Normandy
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MPN11 ...
I too have similar remembrances about my late Father. As a 2nd Lt. Sapper, he was landed just ahead of H Hour Sword Beach to clear mines, wire and other obstacles ahead of the first wave ... which 'attracted much attention' (his words) from the Germans. He was later awarded the MC for his actions during the subsequent battle for Caen.
I too have similar remembrances about my late Father. As a 2nd Lt. Sapper, he was landed just ahead of H Hour Sword Beach to clear mines, wire and other obstacles ahead of the first wave ... which 'attracted much attention' (his words) from the Germans. He was later awarded the MC for his actions during the subsequent battle for Caen.
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View of the Garrison Hill battlefield, the key to the British defences at Kohima.
500N (your #47),
"...In his mind he is not 89 years old and that is what counts !..."
But, sadly, only in his mind !...D.
Wander00 (your #53),
This moving farewell is of course on the Kohima Memorial in the Burma War Cemetery there. By 6th June, 1944, the Kohima Battle was in its closing stages: the victorious British and Indian troops had got the Jap armies "on the run" after some of the most ferocious hand-to-hand fighting in WWII; the Japs would never regain the initiative.
But the sentiments expressed serve very well for all who fell in that War.
I was in that neck of the woods at the time, but still hors-de-combat following an unplanned al fresco arrival which reduced my "Vengeance" to bite-sized lumps, but luckily spared me and my gunner. It would have made no difference anyway, as the decision had been taken (prematurely in my [widely shared] view) to pull all the six VV sqns in Burma off 'ops' on the onset of the '44 Monsoon. We would never again dive "in anger"....D.
Cheers, Danny.
Don't forget the RAAF contributed 11 squadrons to D-Day push plus many aircrew in the RAF including my great friend Flt Lt Murray Adams MID now 96 who flew Spitfire IX's then Tempests [and P-40's/Hurricanes/Gladiators] with 80 Sqn on that day...
Australian contribution to the Battle of Normandy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Australian contribution to the Battle of Normandy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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When I went to college, the residences on campus were filled and I stayed in a home with a family in town. Their only child, a son, was killed on Omaha Beach in the first wave of D-Day landings. I could still see their loss in their eyes. I think they appreciated my staying with them, perhaps as somewhat filling the void in their son's loss. We all owe so much to those who fought tyranny and by their dedication, providing our freedom that we enjoy today. Let us never forget…
