Normandy 2016 - 72nd Anniversary of D-Day

[jonesy1275]

Here's some photos of my annual pilgrimage to Normandy for the D-Day commemorations. I do a little bit of re-enacting, battlefield research and of course, meeting veterans whilst over there. I generally stick to the area inland of Utah Beach as that's where my interests lie especially the glider landings.

 

Having a 1942 Jeep is the only way to travel.

 

Here we are travelling down some of the lanes between Hiesville and Holdy.

 

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The farm gates of Marmion Farm near Ravenoville.

 

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The monument for the C-47 from the 439th Troop Carrier Group which carried men from HQ E/506 PIR, 101st Airborne Division. All onboard were killed when the C-47 was shot down near Beuzeville au Plain.

 

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Chateau Colombieres on the outskirts of Hiesville, the 101st Airborne Division set up the first surgical hospital in Normandy following the invasion.

 

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What it's all about. Meeting the veterans.

 

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From left to right:-

 

Jack Port, 4th Infantry Division who landed on Utah Beach

Jack Hamlin, USCG who picked up survivors off the shore of Omaha Beach

Vincent Speranza, H/501, 101st Airborne Division, late war replacement who fought for the defence of Bastogne

Dan McBride, F/502, 101st Airborne Division, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day

Bob Noody, F/506, 101st Airborne Division, parachuted into Normandy on D-Day

 

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Dan McBride F/502 landed in fields close to the village of Boutteville. Alone in the fields, a German machine gunner had him pinned down for hours but he managed to outflank him and permanently silenced the machine gun.

 

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My friend Bob Noody F/506 and the photograph that has made him famous. A bazooka man in HQ, he was onboard his C-47 at Upottery Airfield in England when an Air Force photographer took one of the most iconic photos of D-Day.

 

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A little bit of re-enacting whilst out there. Here's me and the gang at Marmion Farm.

 

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For the majority of the time, I re-enact a Glider Pilot. Here I am describing my landing near Hiesville to paratroopers from the 101st.

 

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Commanding officer of the 506th PIR, Col. Robert Sink's first command post was set up in this farmhouse at Culoville.

 

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Time for researching glider landings.

 

Then and now. At the crash site of a well known photograph. The remains of a Horsa Glider being cleared from a lane some 1.25 miles from St. Mere Eglise and very close to the La Londe A-6 Advanced Landing Ground. From extensive research done by the Whitebeam Battlefield Research Forum, the nickname 'Hoatson' on the side of the fuselage was identified to being that of F/O Frank L Hoatson, 436th TCG who flew as Co-pilot to 2nd Lt Vincent P Boyer. They flew as part of Mission Elmira Serial 32 from Membury Airfield taking off on the evening of 6th of June 1944.

They carried personnel from the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division and miracously, there were no casualties.

 

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Location of another Horsa landing. This is on the D129 heading towards the Pratt memorial. This Horsa was named 'Edna'.

 

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On the evening of the 6th of June and morning and evening of the 7th of June 1944, the small hamlet of Les Forges which is some 2 miles south of St. Mere Eglise became the largest landing zone for Troop Carrier gliders bringing in reinforcements and supplies.

LZ 'W' as it was designated, had Les Forges directly in the middle and eight serials of gliders were scheduled to land there. This equated to over 370 gliders aiming for a landing zone roughly 2.5 miles in diameter. The fields were typically small with solid hedgerows separating them which would be a Glider Pilots worst nightmare. From the numerous photographs and videos which were taken, it is evident that the CG-4A's and Horsa Gliders struggled to stop in time, slamming into the earth banks severely injuring and sometimes killing the pilots and passengers.

 

 

On the 6th of June this year, I headed up to Les Forges to say a little prayer of thanks to the Glider Pilots who landed there 72 years previously. There is no marker nor memorial there which is a shame. Maybe I need to address that.

 

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Honouring F/O Richard Mercer, Glider Pilot from the 86th Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group who died in the field behind the hedge whilst attempting to land his Horsa Glider. Last year I placed these memorial markers and I was pleased to still see them standing.

 

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[tarheeltim]

Awesome photos - thanks for sharing!

[G-Company]

Thank you for sharing, nice to hear the stories about those remarkable landings. Gives me a good reason for making some extra miles and visit new places in Normandie to explore on my way to the south of France..