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Norman D. Landing


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manayunkman

My oma always had stroopwafels for me.

 

She would get them straight from the corner bakery.

 

Ken,

 

Is that corner garage for sale?

 

Have my collection downstairs and live in the loft .

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General Apathy
8 hours ago, mikie said:

Rene,

 

Bringing a package of stroopwaffels on trips has become a minor tradition with me since you compelled me to try them.  We spent a long weekend enjoying the wonders of Yosemite National Park.  A couple helped keep my energy up while battling the rugged hiking trails.  At one point, my dear wife Ana and Kiddo even tried one.  

 

And then on the way home, we passed by this place...https://www.oakdalecheese.com/

 

They have a large attractive sign posted in front advertising their delicious grilled Gouda cheese sandwiches.  I almost jumped out of the car as we drove by, but the place wasn't open at that hour.   I'll HAVE to stop there on our next trip that way.  

 

Mikie

Yosemite Stroopwaffel.jpg

.

Hi Mikie,  pleased you had some time off and a few days away, just to show how our lives are inter-twined I also have a cake story from the weekend . . . . . . . .  . . 

 

On Sunday we did a very small show for the anniversary of operation Bluecoat in the British section of the Bocage, Viv and Mike were trying out this motorcycle combination, I held onto the side and was offering Viv a piece of Victoria sandwich cake that Marjorie had baked.

 

Ken, It was à great Day so glad you showed us the hôtel Then & Now..... Really interesting..... We Have had fun on FB With this picture..... You do make me laugh.... We are getting our one and only set of guests this week (so much prep and cleaning) then we'll have à gathering…. 

 

Have à good rest of the week xxxxx

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

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General Apathy
5 hours ago, manayunkman said:

My oma always had stroopwafels for me.

 

She would get them straight from the corner bakery.

 

Ken,

 

Is that corner garage for sale?

 

Have my collection downstairs and live in the loft .

.

Hi Pieter,  yes the garage and the hotel on the left are for sale, it really does require someone to buy them and preserve this piece of history.

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_5b31.jpeg.52fd6d6537b00e59187a65f646aebd77.jpeg

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General Apathy
9 hours ago, mikie said:

We've been away for a few days in an area with unreliable internet connections.  So am quite happy to come back and find a spot-on Then and Now, and learned about a vehicle I hadn't heard of before.  It's good to be back. 

 

We spent a long weekend in the beautiful Yosemite Valley.  I didn't spot anything of the least bit of militaria interest until we were packing up to head home.  This jeep pulled up to the restaurant next door to our motel.  Sorry it isn't WWII vintage, and I'm not totally sure it is even military, but it's all I've got.  

 

Mikie 

Yosemite Jeep (1).jpg

Yosemite Jeep (2).jpg

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Hi Mikie,  here's a chart of Jeep grills for you, the one in your photograph is second up from bottom in the right-hand side column M151A2.

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_2376.jpeg.e9219aab0841239250caf6ba87a247b4.jpeg

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7 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

Hi Mikie,  pleased you had some time off and a few days away, just to show how our lives are inter-twined I also have a cake story from the weekend . . . . . . . .  . . 

 

On Sunday we did a very small show for the anniversary of operation Bluecoat in the British section of the Bocage, Viv and Mike were trying out this motorcycle combination, I held onto the side and was offering Viv a piece of Victoria sandwich cake that Marjorie had baked.

 

Ken, It was à great Day so glad you showed us the hôtel Then & Now..... Really interesting..... We Have had fun on FB With this picture..... You do make me laugh.... We are getting our one and only set of guests this week (so much prep and cleaning) then we'll have à gathering…. 

 

Have à good rest of the week xxxxx

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_5b58.jpeg.1cec14079fc48960a55f9557ac36f5a0.jpeg

 

I'd say that story and picture takes the cake!

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6 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

Hi Mikie,  here's a chart of Jeep grills for you, the one in your photograph is second up from bottom in the right-hand side column M151A2.

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_2376.jpeg.e9219aab0841239250caf6ba87a247b4.jpeg

That is a great little cheat sheet.  I'll have to memorize it. Not an easy thing to do with my memory, or lack thereof.  

 

Mikie

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7 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

Hi Pieter,  yes the garage and the hotel on the left are for sale, it really does require someone to buy them and preserve this piece of history.

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_5b31.jpeg.52fd6d6537b00e59187a65f646aebd77.jpeg

I was wondering the same thing if they were for sale.  Hope they get sold to an appreciative new owner.  

Mikie

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General Apathy

.

French military show last Sunday . . . . . .

 

What I enjoy about the Militaria shows over here in Normandy is the variety of entrants that appear, not just British, German and American uniforms but also French uniforms and resistance clothing, and here's one that was at last Sundays show a bicycling priest Monsignor David, a French friend, and cracking sense of humour  . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 05  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_5b65.jpeg.d4ab7aa48b09df2aabd978485b1b3cb4.jpeg

 

 

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On 8/4/2020 at 1:41 AM, mikie said:

Rene,

 

Bringing a package of stroopwaffels on trips has become a minor tradition with me since you compelled me to try them.  We spent a long weekend enjoying the wonders of Yosemite National Park.  A couple helped keep my energy up while battling the rugged hiking trails.  At one point, my dear wife Ana and Kiddo even tried one.  

 

And then on the way home, we passed by this place...https://www.oakdalecheese.com/

 

They have a large attractive sign posted in front advertising their delicious grilled Gouda cheese sandwiches.  I almost jumped out of the car as we drove by, but the place wasn't open at that hour.   I'll HAVE to stop there on our next trip that way.  

 

Mikie

 

Hi Mikie, your picture could very well be a still from a stroopwafel commercial....😀

 

Rene

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3 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

French military show last Sunday . . . . . .

 

What I enjoy about the Militaria shows over here in Normandy is the variety of entrants that appear, not just British, German and American uniforms but also French uniforms and resistance clothing, and here's one that was at last Sundays show a bicycling priest Monsignor David, a French friend, and cracking sense of humour  . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 05  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_5b65.jpeg.d4ab7aa48b09df2aabd978485b1b3cb4.jpeg

 

 

Well, he certainly looks appropriately attired...............

 

Rene

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On 8/3/2020 at 2:27 PM, Dogsbody said:

Great Then and Now, Ken.

 

Kat, that vehicle is a so called Loyd carrier.

 

Rene

 

 

 

Rene,

 

This is a very interesting video. Thanks so much for sharing this one. That is a great little vehicle!

 

...Kat

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On 8/4/2020 at 5:07 AM, General Apathy said:

.

Hi Mikie,  here's a chart of Jeep grills for you, the one in your photograph is second up from bottom in the right-hand side column M151A2.

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 04  2020. 

 

.

 

Ken,

 

This chart is a keeper! Great info.

 

...Kat

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5 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

French military show last Sunday . . . . . .

 

What I enjoy about the Militaria shows over here in Normandy is the variety of entrants that appear, not just British, German and American uniforms but also French uniforms and resistance clothing, and here's one that was at last Sundays show a bicycling priest Monsignor David, a French friend, and cracking sense of humour  . . . . . . . . . . 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 05  2020. 

 

.

 

 

 

This is great! I love the unusual and out of ordinary! There is a lot of great stuff packed into that small display. I love the bike. 

 

...Kat

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I got back home from my 5-day trip to Normandy a few days ago. I've been there a number of times before and already saw most of the sites, my I went with my uncle and for him it was the first time.

 

On the way to Normandy we passed through the Somme valley, where some of the heaviest fighting of WW 1 took place. The British launched the Somme Offensive on July 1st, 1916 and on the first day alone they had 19.270 dead; the worst day for the British army ever. The offensive ended on November 18, 1916 after about 8 km of ground was conquered, at a cost of over 1 million casualties on both sides.

 

We took the D929 from Bapaume to Albert; this Roman road was the axis of the offensive and there are literally dozens of cemeteries, monuments and sites at no more than a few km away on both sides of the road. Here are a few:

 

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The Wind Mill Memorial. The bumps behind the flagpoles are the ruins of a wind mill that was converted by the Germans to a blockhouse (bunker). This is one of the highest places of the valley with a free view to all directions, and thus strategically very important. It took the Australians two weeks and 3700 dead to take this spot.

 

 

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Directly opposite the Wind Mill Memorial is the Tank Memorial.

 

 

A few km away is the Thiepval memorial. It lists 72.337 names of British and South-African soldiers that were killed in WW 1 and have no known grave.

 

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I visited a few more sites (Newfoundlanders Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel and the Lochnagar Crater) and I can only recommend anyone to go there if they have the chance, but it's time to continue to Normandy. I can post pics of the other sites though if anyone is interested.

 

We stayed in a hotel in Bayeux because this small medieval town is centrally located, but also quite beautiful with plenty of restaurants to choose from. The first site we went to was the Mulberry Port, the remains of which are still easy to see in the sea between Arromanches and Asnelles. The museum in Arromanches does a great job in showing how much planning went into this genial concept and how they actually made it work.

 

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Another very charming village is Port-en-Bessin, a small fishing village that is located between two cliffs with its 17th century Vauban tower that was built to protect the village from British and Dutch pirates. The Germans built a bunker right under it, and on top of one of the cliffs is an observation bunker.

 

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(drumroll) And then now what you have all been waiting for: Omaha Beach! It is hard to imagine this beautiful and quiet beach it is today was the scene of such carnage 76 years ago, and such an important event in the world history. The bunkers from WN62 right on top of the beach are accessible and show that anything on the beach is a sitting duck...

 

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On the cliffs above Omaha Beach at Colleville sur Mere is the American cemetery. It is the last resting place of 9388 (of which 307 unknown) American troops that died during WW2.

 

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Near Omaha Beach and the cemetery, on opposite side of the D514, is the Overlord Museum. This museum has a stunning collection of artifacts (mainly vehicles) but doesn't really go in detail about D-day itself. I do however highly recommend it for a visit.

 

A bit further along the coast is Pointe du Hoc, the German artillery complex that was stormed by the Rangers. While there are a number of craters visible that show the effect of battleship artillery on land, most of the site is overgrown with long grass and small bushes which make it hard to see just how damaged the area is.

 

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Moving on, the next stop is Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église.

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At the German cemetery at la Cambe over 21.000 German soldiers and foreign volunteers are buried. Compared to the American and British military cemeteries the German one is very 'low-profile' with flat gravestones, on each one are two names. Although units are not mentioned, ranks are.

 

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Some of the people buried here are famous:

 

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And some are outright criminals:

 

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Bayeux is the first town in France to be liberated on D-Day and soon became a logistical hub. Because there was only one wider road going through the town, the British constructed a ring road that is still there, with just some roundabouts added.

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Bayeux also has the largest British WW2 cemetery in France with 4648 burials, including 466 German soldiers. Because of its logistical function, there were a number of field hospitals in the fields around the town and a lot of the soldiers buried here died in those hospitals. Opposite the entrance of the cemetery is the Bayeux Memorial, with over 1800 names of British soldiers who died in Normandy but are still missing. Other than the already mentioned Germans, there are also Soviet, French, Polish, Czech and Moroccan graves.

 

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Close to the British cemetery is the Museum of the Battle of Normandy, which does in an excellent job showing how the battle went in chronological order, along with sections about field hospitals, emergency airfields etc. and a nice collection of artifacts.

 

We managed to do all this in five days; the only thing I didn't see was the famous Bayeux tapistry but the waitinglines were just too long (at least 90 mins). All the museums were open but a mouth mask was required inside.

 

Congratulations if you managed to read till here and not fall asleep. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I forgot to add one of my favorite sites in Normandy... The Batterie de Longues-sur-Mer. Four gun bunkers, each containing a 150mm naval gun and a observation/command bunker at the edge of the cliff and everything is in original condition., complete with war damage.

 

 

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General Apathy
8 hours ago, mikie said:

Fall asleep? No way!  Great report and photos. If ok with Ken, I'd like to see more. 

Mikie

.

Hi Mikie,  no problem from me, in fact I asked David a couple of days ago in a PM to add some photo's, which he has done very successfully and thank you David.  The downside is,  I now realise that's its time to get rid of the old box Brownie and get a real camera if I want to make any kind of impression with my photographs on the readers here. . . . . . . . . . . . . :blush:

 

Hopefully with the band of contributors posting here should I disappear under the wheels of something one day while larking around then the thread would continue. . . . . . . . .  :lol: 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 06  2020. 

 

.post-344-0-78962400-1456527961.jpg.998ad8790a90485554a3df4ee31cc472.jpg

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General Apathy
12 hours ago, earlymb said:

 

I got back home from my 5-day trip to Normandy a few days ago. I've been there a number of times before and already saw most of the sites, my I went with my uncle and for him it was the first time.

 

Another very charming village is Port-en-Bessin, a small fishing village that is located between two cliffs with its 17th century Vauban tower that was built to protect the village from British and Dutch pirates. The Germans built a bunker right under it, and on top of one of the cliffs is an observation bunker.

 

 

 

 

20200801_095823.jpg.703e26bf7deeb2fdf4eb2376943738f9.jpg

 

 

.

Hi David,  well between us we have posted a Then & Now of Port-en-Bessin, here's my photo archived shot . . . . . . . :lol:

 

British engineers have laid oil / fuel pipelines to storage containers on the right-hand side of the photo covered by canvas and camouflage covers, note the ladder leaning against one of the storage tanks. There's a strange stripped down vehicle in the bottom right-hand corner, possible done for carrying aboard ship for field work. 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 06  2020. 

 

.fullsizeoutput_5ba7.jpeg.60425a416eb71976a299147b708c67b9.jpeg

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2 hours ago, General Apathy said:

The downside is,  I now realise that's its time to get rid of the old box Brownie and get a real camera if I want to make any kind of impression with my photographs on the readers here. . . . . . . . . . . . . :blush:

 

Or just get a 3 year old smartphone, that's what I used 😆

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Great Normandy pictures. Thanks for posting. Funny thing is that I can almost match them one for one with the ones I took during my first 5-day Normandy trip. 

 

Since this was not your first trip I assume you've also seen the Maisy battery complex, if not, I can recommend it for you next trip 🙂DSC_3137a.jpg.cfea9a96feceeacc64c9e89365db936c.jpg

 

Rene

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, General Apathy said:

.

Hi Mikie,  no problem from me, in fact I asked David a couple of days ago in a PM to add some photo's, which he has done very successfully and thank you David.  The downside is,  I now realise that's its time to get rid of the old box Brownie and get a real camera if I want to make any kind of impression with my photographs on the readers here. . . . . . . . . . . . . :blush:

 

Hopefully with the band of contributors posting here should I disappear under the wheels of something one day while larking around then the thread would continue. . . . . . . . .  :lol: 

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 06  2020. 

 

.

Hi Ken, no need to get rid of the old box brownie.............seeing those pictures is always a pleasant reminder of the good old days 😄🎞️📷

Rene

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I found this old thing at a garage sale last fall for $3.00.  Impossible for me to pass up.  Everything functions perfectly on it.  Ken, if this is a step up from your current camera, I will happily send it off to you.  

 

Mikie

Brownie 2A.jpg

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General Apathy
17 hours ago, mikie said:

I found this old thing at a garage sale last fall for $3.00.  Impossible for me to pass up.  Everything functions perfectly on it.  Ken, if this is a step up from your current camera, I will happily send it off to you.  

 

Mikie

Brownie 2A.jpg

.

Hi David, thanks for your suggestion I should get a Smartphone, and Mikie for your kind offer of providing the camera above, I think I'm still a little behind the curve on you two guys, I'm still making my own pin-hole cameras from surprise-surprise shoeboxes . . . . . . . . . . :huh:

 

Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, August 07  2020. 

 

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