Normandy relic 5" shell from USS Thompson

[Peter Graham]

This year, with my family, I paid my first visit to Normandy. We stayed on the outskirts of Viervile sur Mer, perfect for exploring the American beaches. One evening my son and decided to investigate what looked like some German bunkers I had spotted on google earth while researching for our trip. These turned out to be the remains of the radar station at Pointe et Raz de la Percee, on the cliffs between Omaha beach and Pointe du Hoc. These bunkers are down a dirt lane and well off the tourist trail so I had high hopes of finding a relic or two. I wasn't disappointed. We parked our Land Rover at the end of the lane and as soon as we got out my son spotted two large shell fragments lying at the side of a recently ploughed field. They immediately went into the back of the Land Rover and we continued to explore the site. The site is littered with shrapnel, barbed wire and all manner of unidentified battle debris plus two large underground bunkers, radar bases and machine gun Tobruks. Awesome place.

 

When we got home I sent photos of the shell fragments to the Royal armouries in Leeds. They couldn't identify the smaller piece of confirmed that the more intact shell was from a US 5" naval gun. I wasn't too difficult to find where it came from. I did a bit of web research and discovered that the only US ship assigned to bombard Pointe et Raz de la Percee on D-Day was the USS Thompson which was indeed armed with 5" guns, I know this is not conclusive proof that the USS Thompson fired this shell but it's a fair bet.

 

The USS Thompson had an interesting history, serving with distinction in WW2 and Korea and starring as the USS Caine in 'The Caine Mutiny'. She was eventually scrapped in 1971. This shell is now a prized part of my collection and I plan to have it mounted on a wood plinth with a plaque explaining it's history.

 

Pointe et Raz de la Percee. Our Land Rover in the middle distance right where we found the shells.

 

 

Myself on a radar base.

 

 

My son in a machine gun tobruk.

 

 

The two shells right after we found them.

 

 

The 5" shell cleaned up and varnished.

 

 

The USS Thompson

 

[hink441]

Very nice detective work on your relic. I like it alot !! Thanks for the great pictures!!!