General Apathy Posted February 25, 2020 Share #15926 Posted February 25, 2020 Hi Mikie, it's been quiet indeed. Thanks for your concerns. I'm still well. I've only been weathering out the third storm in succession over here. I've got some things lined up to post here. In about a week all will be revealed. So here's one from the archives, so to speak….. A shot of the Waal bridge at Nijmegen Then and Now. In the Then shot it looks like a US soldier is using a 'liberated' a bicycle. Rene . Hi Rene, thanks for the bridge shots, I have been able to drive several of my vehicles over that bridge in the past during visits to Holland. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted February 25, 2020 Share #15927 Posted February 25, 2020 Sad to hear this. If you ever need any moral support, let me know. My wonderful wife Annie had surprise serious medical issue 2 weeks ago. But things are on the mend with her. Word of advice to everyone. Be sure to check with your doctor if something seems a little off with how you feel. Even if it doesn't seem serious to you at the time. Annie waited a couple of months since it didn't seem too serious, but it turned out to be serious after all. My dear cousin had a similar experience a couple of months ago. I'm a natural worry wart. Sometimes it turns out with good reason. Take care everyone! Mikie . Hi Mikie, thanks for offering support even though your wife has her own issues, much appreciated, I hope she is making a full recovery. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted February 25, 2020 Share #15928 Posted February 25, 2020 Sent Hmmm...Wild guess, late war emergency low budget assembly technique? Those used in Normandy would have been from earlier in the war? . Hi Mikie, yes Piet and myself were thinking along similar lines, a cheaper late war design. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted February 25, 2020 Share #15929 Posted February 25, 2020 Ken, So sorry to hear about your siblings. You and your family are in my prayers. ...Kat . Hi Kat, many thanks for your thoughts, and take care of yourself as well . . . . . . . . Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted February 25, 2020 Share #15930 Posted February 25, 2020 Ken, I wonder if the difference is just different manufacturers. Interesting though. Is it too rusted to see any hallmarks? ...Kat . Hi Kat, I don't think any of the stakes were ever maker marked or dated, dates would have been nice to find. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted February 25, 2020 Share #15931 Posted February 25, 2020 . Normandy ' shrapnel ' recovered . . . . . . . . . Called in to see a French friend yesterday and photographed this large lump sat outside his garage, it's a US bomb however its difficult to be definite on the weight rating of this example. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted February 29, 2020 Share #15932 Posted February 29, 2020 . Normandy collection . . . . . . . . . Called in to see a French friend last week and photographed some of his collection it's 99% based on items his family recovered after the war and what he has gathered together since. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 29 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted February 29, 2020 Share #15933 Posted February 29, 2020 Wow! That stuff is all real? The photo looks to me like a scale model diarama. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15934 Posted March 1, 2020 Wow! That stuff is all real? The photo looks to me like a scale model diarama. Mikie . . Normandy collection . . . . . . . . . Called in to see a French friend last week and photographed some of his collection it's 99% based on items his family recovered after the war and what he has gathered together since. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, March 01 2020 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCDUFF Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15935 Posted March 1, 2020 Hi Ken, wow, great dioramas! Museum look rather than just a collection! Cheers Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15936 Posted March 1, 2020 . Normandy collection . . . . . . . . . Called in to see a French friend last week and photographed some of his collection it's 99% based on items his family recovered after the war and what he has gathered together since. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 29 2020 .IMG_4585.JPG Hi Ken, the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this picture is this Anyway, nice 'gathering' Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15937 Posted March 1, 2020 Hi everyone, today (the first of March) markes the 75th anniversary of the liberation of my home town Venlo. Taks force Byrne (320th IR , 35th ID and the 784 Tank battallion crossed the German Border into the Netherlands (how ironic) and at around 16:00 hours local time entered the outskirts Venlo. This is what it must have looked like back then. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15938 Posted March 1, 2020 This is the same spot today. The red arrow in the picture will be explained by the next Then shot. It markes the spot where this Sherman M36 B1 tank destroyer is located. It is quite a rare beast since about 187examples were build. It is equipped with a 90mm gun. If you look carefully you can see the same person pictured in the first Then shot (the one holding something under his arm) standing in front of the tank. And if you look past the gun barrel you can see a couple of GI's running towards the houses. The tank crew looks in the same direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15939 Posted March 1, 2020 This tank probably belonged to the 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Co. C (as this Battalion was part of the 320th combat team) Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15940 Posted March 1, 2020 This Now shot shows the direction they were heading in. It leads in a direct line towards the city centre. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15941 Posted March 1, 2020 A small display to commemorate the 75th liberation anniversary. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15942 Posted March 1, 2020 And a small exerpt from the booklet 'Story of the 320th Infantry' which mentions Venlo. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15943 Posted March 1, 2020 And my last post for today: the book (first, second and third edition) that got me, at a very young age, hooked on the (local) history of WW2. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCDUFF Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15944 Posted March 1, 2020 A special day for you and your home town Rene! Thanks for the posts; very interesting as always. Cheers Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15945 Posted March 1, 2020 Hi everyone, today (the first of March) markes the 75th anniversary of the liberation of my home town Venlo. Taks force Byrne (320th IR , 35th ID and the 784 Tank battallion crossed the German Border into the Netherlands (how ironic) and at around 16:00 hours local time entered the outskirts Venlo. This is what it must have looked like back then. Kaldenkerkerweg 45.jpg Rene Best wishes to you and Venlo on the anniversary of the liberation. May your freedom never be threatened again. Wonderful Then and Nows. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15946 Posted March 1, 2020 Hi Ken, the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this picture is this e9d21d8766381ffacafa0aa5be430d8e.jpg Anyway, nice 'gathering' Rene Sent Ouch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15947 Posted March 1, 2020 . Normandy ' shrapnel ' recovered . . . . . . . . . Called in to see a French friend yesterday and photographed this large lump sat outside his garage, it's a US bomb however its difficult to be definite on the weight rating of this example. Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, February 25 2020 . fullsizeoutput_43fb.jpeg Wow. Big bomb go BOOM!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15948 Posted March 1, 2020 Kaldenkerkerweg 45 a.jpg This tank probably belonged to the 654th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Co. C (as this Battalion was part of the 320th combat team) Rene Remarkable chance that they happened to pose next to a rare Sherman variant and preserved the image of it for history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted March 1, 2020 Share #15949 Posted March 1, 2020 Hi everyone, today (the first of March) markes the 75th anniversary of the liberation of my home town Venlo. Taks force Byrne (320th IR , 35th ID and the 784 Tank battallion crossed the German Border into the Netherlands (how ironic) and at around 16:00 hours local time entered the outskirts Venlo. This is what it must have looked like back then. Kaldenkerkerweg 45.jpg Rene Are there any commemorative events planned to mark the day? How aware are the average folks of the event? Thank you for keeping the memory slice here. Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted March 2, 2020 Share #15950 Posted March 2, 2020 Called in to see a French friend last week and photographed some of his collection it's 99% based on items his family Ken, This is fascinating! Is this in a museum or your friend's house? P.S. I hope your siblings are doing better. They are still in my prayers. ...Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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