IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Share #1 Posted June 8, 2011 Opération UTAH BEACH 6th june 2011 Plan by "la boutique du Holdy" and "Challenge LCVP association" with "l'association du souvenir militaire" and "the Lions of Carentan" This crazy project for the 6th june 2011 was to land in the morning on Utah Beach with original LCVP landing craft , the first time since 1944 ! I will try to write this story , for ever in our mind ! For us all became real the 5th june evening when we went to carentan for a briefing with the LCVP association member , the occasion for us to go aboard the PA30-4 for the first time. We talk about all point of the operation and it was a big problem , the weather ! The operation was nearly canceled , the hight wind and a very bad see made the beaching very dangerous. The execution of the operation will be confirme or not on the 6th at 3am First contact with PA30-4 and his crew The night was full of doubt few of us can sleep . At 3.am .... the call here we go boys , departure in 30min ! All was getting ready , with strange feelings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #2 Posted June 8, 2011 Loading in a GMC a starting of a raining day , next stop Carentan. The road was quiet , all was thinking .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted June 8, 2011 Arrived to Carentan at 4.am , some "souvenir" pictures befors boarding . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted June 8, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted June 8, 2011 waiting .... Out of the night the PA30-4 arrived at the RDV , 4.15am the stress it high . It's in this small space we will pass 4 hours in hard conditions , in the dark wainting the daylight with only 4 red light . For the boarding the crew was wearing modern stuff , later the were wearing wet weather USN dress and navy M1 and life jacket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted June 8, 2011 Stressed face before bording. Boarding start with rain like in 1944 Our mascot a landing craft made of lego by the lions To be continue .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted June 8, 2011 Lets go ! A last goodbye for our friends, we were half exiting and half scared. the worst was later .... the river befor the see in the dark to be continue ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted June 8, 2011 Share #8 Posted June 8, 2011 I knew this was going to be posted and cannot wait to see the actual landing pictures.... BTW IVY we crossed each other as you walked all-soaking wet up the causeway towards Ste Marie Du Mont and I was driving down to the UTAH Beach museum on Monday at roughly 0945Hr.... Looking forward to seeing the rest! And please post some pictures of the SteMdM displays!! Cheers, Johan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted June 8, 2011 wep johan we did the footstep after ! difficult for us totaly wet , after 4 hours in the craft and without a minute sleeping but we made it ! Yes I will post some pictures of the 4th ID CP display ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share #10 Posted June 11, 2011 Ok I saw no interest about this event ..... :ermm: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfryar44 Posted June 11, 2011 Share #11 Posted June 11, 2011 Great pictures, can't wait to see the rest! Bryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OD MAN Posted June 11, 2011 Share #12 Posted June 11, 2011 Awesome job, you guys are really dedicated!! :salute: Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got da Penny Posted June 11, 2011 Share #13 Posted June 11, 2011 Thank You for posting photos. I feel like i was actually there along with you guys. I can only imagine how it must have felt to have retraced histories "footsteps". :thumbsup: Regards,Carey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
man860 Posted June 11, 2011 Share #14 Posted June 11, 2011 Thank you for posting these pictures! I bet you all could not sleep, just like the soldiers on D-Day. Very exciting and I can not wait to see your landing... Also, great items you are all wearing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gparlin Posted June 11, 2011 Share #15 Posted June 11, 2011 This is the first time that I have been in the reenactors section of the forum, I saw your title regarding D-Day and had to check it out. The pictures that you have posted as well as your squad’s authenticity depicting the U.S. Solider are most impressive. Thank you for posting your squad’s tribute to the Utah Beach Landing and I salute you for it. Gregg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted June 11, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted June 11, 2011 Thanks for the comment guys ! We are proud to have done that , strange feelings and we were so scared a link for a video of the event Enjoy !! click here D Day Landing Utah Beach 6 juin 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holdy Posted June 12, 2011 Share #17 Posted June 12, 2011 hy It was a verry good experance ,that I will never forget ! certainly like the veterans never forget ther landing in 1944 !!! Thank Ivy for thes pictures :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoadedJustin Posted June 16, 2011 Share #18 Posted June 16, 2011 The pictures look great but the video is not working, I would love to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corpsmancollector Posted June 16, 2011 Share #19 Posted June 16, 2011 Fantastic photos Ivy, thanks for posting them. It must have been a very special experience for you and your friends. Look forward to seeing some more! Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted June 30, 2011 Share #20 Posted June 30, 2011 Here's the article about this endeavour in the July 2011 edition of the French Militaria Magazine.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted July 1, 2011 Share #21 Posted July 1, 2011 Like everyone else here, I am anxiously looking forward to seeing the photos of the landing itself. Having been in a LCVP twice underway (in broad daylight and close to shore), I understand how scary they can be to ride in, you get the feeling it will flip over or sink instantly in rough water. I cannot imagine how that must have felt being in one across the channel at night time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake_E Posted July 1, 2011 Share #22 Posted July 1, 2011 Very intense and I'm also intrigued for the rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbtcoveralls Posted July 2, 2011 Share #23 Posted July 2, 2011 militaria magazine has photos of the landing from the beach side and WOW! It is one of the most extrordinary things I've ever seen. I just want to impress on everyone just how dedicated these guys are. A good number of troops were killed doing just what they were doing even without being shot at. The danger is real. Landing craft can be broached and people could be drowned. It is one thing to do this because you're ordered to and it is your job. It is another thing to do it to honor and respect and remember, as a volunteer. My hat is off to the men who did this. If you do it again, I'll buy the plane ticket and be there in a heartbeat! Tom Bowers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share #24 Posted July 8, 2011 Thanks for the comments all , I finaly post the rest of the pics After boarding start the Carentan river with for only light our TL 122 and the 4 red light , after 1 h we were at see in the dark with rain . Arrived in the channel the first daylight , we can see the coast .... Utah Beach !! For us watching the first daylight from an LCVP on utah beach a 6 june it's unbelievable ! The see is not so calm ans the craft is mooving , start for us turn in circle to wait the beaching . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVY Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share #25 Posted July 8, 2011 During 3 hours we did "round in the water" in weather condition not so easy , the cold and the rain never stoped ! Some guys sleep , other smoke or eat but only one was sick ! 7h we aproching the coast , the want to watch if the beaching condition are ok , near the beach we can see lot of people wainting ! to 8h we get bach at see waiting for the "H" hour . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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