D-Day 80 Year Anniversary

[artee]

It seems that the bods at defence are having trouble rustling up enough planes for a mass parachute drop.

Grant Shapps orders review into plane shortage before 80th D-day anniversary (https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/19/grant-shapps-orders-review-into-plane-shortage-before-80th-d-day-anniversary)

Weren't there some C-130s that could've done the job? :bored:

The UK defence secretary, Grant Shapps (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/grant-shapps), has ordered an urgent review after it emerged there is a shortage of planes for a mass parachute drop to mark the 80th anniversary of D-day.

The conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have left the RAF’s transport fleet stretched and defence officials are scrambling to find more aircraft for next month’s commemorations in Normandy.

Hundreds of paratroopers were expected to jump into Normandy on the eve of D-day (https://www.theguardian.com/world/d-day) to honour the actions of their predecessors in the second world war, but plans have been scaled back due to a shortage of aircraft.

The Mail on Sunday reported just one plane was left for the Parachute regiment to use for the event but Shapps said he expected more would be found.

He told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg he had “no doubt at all we’ll have additional planes there”.

“It is actually the case that the A400, which is the aircraft we use, are being used in operations at the moment.

“It’s one of the reasons why I have argued, and successfully argued, to get £75bn more in cash terms into our armed forces because I think you do need to be doing more of these things,” he said.

The RAF’s transport aircraft have played a crucial role dropping aid into Gaza, as well as being involved in operations in Ukraine, leaving resources limited.

Under current plans, paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade combat team will jump from an RAF A400M and the Red Devils parachute display team will also jump into Normandy.

Shapps told GB News he wanted to make sure D-day was “remembered properly” and he had ordered an immediate review of RAF resources.

“We know there are several live wars going on and [planes] are being used for those purposes, but I’m quite sure to commemorate something as significant as D-day we can do a bit better than that, and I’ve undertaken to make sure we do,” he said.

Kevan Jones, the Labour MP and a former defence minister, called on Shapps to resolve the issue out of respect for those who fought for Britain.

“Veterans who took part in the historic operation on the blood-soaked Normandy beaches and the Nazi-infested territory beyond it will rightly be furious that 80 years on, the MoD can’t provide enough planes,” he said. “Grant Shapps should pull his finger out and sort this immediately.”

/continues...

[Herod]

The BBMF have a Dakota, and it could even have a fighter escort. Having said that, it's probably going anyway.

[pr00ne]

The BBMF have a Dakota, and it could even have a fighter escort. Having said that, it's probably going anyway.

It’s at Duxford on overhaul.

[biscuit74]

A 'review' has been ordered - really? How about asking yourselves why you thought getting rid of the (relatively new) C-130Js was such a good idea?
I bet that doesn't get a mention, if 'questions are asked'. Less kit means le4ss capability... Politicians !

[Lordflasheart]

...
They could always ask the Russian delegation (yes really ! ) -
https://www.politico.eu/article/d-day-allies-vexed-over-france-macron-invitation-to-russia-80-anniversary/
and
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russia-d-day-80th-anniversary-putin-pz5p392t8

- to bring a couple of extra IL-76s to the party.

LFH :E

[Ken Scott]

I’m not an apologist for the MOD but the A400s are busy on operational tasks so it seems reasonable that the 4 ac requested for a commemorative task aren’t available. Can you justify keeping a fleet (the C130Js) so as to have the capacity to do this kind of event?

Given the grief directed at the Reds, who exist solely for this kind of event, I would suggest not…

[bspatz]

I’m not an apologist for the MOD but the A400s are busy on operational tasks so it seems reasonable that the 4 ac requested for a commemorative task aren’t available. Can you justify keeping a fleet (the C130Js) so as to have the capacity to do this kind of event?

Given the grief directed at the Reds, who exist solely for this kind of event, I would suggest not…I think the issue is resilience, given that we are not at war and yet have already run out of resources for a fairly important memorial event.

[DuncanDoenitz]

I think the issue is resilience, given that we are not at war and yet have already run out of resources for a fairly important memorial event.
Exactly. The Paras appear to be ready, what if there was a real operational need to drop hundreds of them. (Possibly even somewhere more remote than 200 miles from Brize).

[Martin the Martian]

Exactly. The Paras appear to be ready, what if there was a real operational need to drop hundreds of them. (Possibly even somewhere more remote than 200 miles from Brize).

I suspect the aircraft would be there as well if it was a real operation.

I've noticed in recent months that the daily circuit bashing at Newquay (ex-St. Mawgan) by the Atlas fleet has all but disappeared.

[scarecrow450]

Having 6 A400'S reported as inactive may add to the mix ?

[langleybaston]

Given that Shapps has zero military background [I am informed] he does seem to have the right mind-set and motivation.
Whether he has enough clout in this case, and in more general terms, is another matter.
Either way, the planners for the event seem to have cocked up or just lacked VSO support.

PS I wonder who will get the responsibility for the DZ forecast?

[Sevarg]

22 aircraft and only 1 can do the D-Day drop. I'd want my money back. Some thing is very wrong some where.

[Krystal n chips]

Given that Shapps has zero military background [I am informed] he does seem to have the right mind-set and motivation.
Whether he has enough clout in this case, and in more general terms, is another matter.
Either way, the planners for the event seem to have cocked up or just lacked VSO support.

PS I wonder who will get the responsibility for the DZ forecast?

I'd hazard a guess here and say...the French perhaps ?

This on the basis there aren't any local objectors around this time who may not have been in favour of the wx data being collected.

[sycamore]

Isn`t there a thing called the C-17 around..? Seems it`s big enough to carry the whole Para Regiment....? or will they use a Skyvan and a couple of Caravans(C208)...?

[langleybaston]

I'd hazard a guess here and say...the French perhaps ?

This on the basis there aren't any local objectors around this time who may not have been in favour of the wx data being collected.

I gather the drop will be multi-national. If so, we may have a miniature replay of the arrangements for D Day, whereby Gp Capt Stagg was effectively the chairman and peacemaker of a multi-national Met. team, himself very poorly qualified in theory and in experience. Brave man, and lucky.

As it is, on UK Purple Exs the RN Met. has been known to differ from the RAF Mobile Met Unit. Too many cooks ..................

I have decided not to volunteer to do the job; dental appointments, gardening and several other important matters have priority.

[Mal Drop]

[Swings Lantern]
I remember when the numbers of Hercs coming home to Lyneham over Christmas was so high that we ended up parking them on the disused.
[Unswings Lantern]

[NutLoose]

Chuck them out of Chinooks.

[Easy Street]

I have always thought that the Levene reforms were a missed opportunity to find out exactly how much the Army really believes it needs an airborne capability by making it directly liable for the associated cost of maintaining an airlift fleet of the requisite size. I am sure that it would quickly come to the conclusion that it had better things to spend the money on.

As things are, it can sit back, paying the (relative) pittance of maintaining 16X pumped up on its elite-ness with para pay, getting it thrust forward to Akrotiri at the first sniff of action, blaming the RAF through informal channels for its inability to provide sufficient airlift, safe in the knowledge the same lack of capacity means it will never be used in meaningful scale, and therefore saving it the painful chore of self-critiquing the validity of the concept.

[NutLoose]

Well it’s proving that the fleet in a time of war ( someone else’s ) is stretched, so if they ever needed to do a substantial airborne drop in the future war scenario, they would be stuffed with the capability we have readily available…
TBH in my eyes, it’s a cost cutting measure in ditching the Herc fleet coming home to bite them in the ass, a capability sadly lost.
In this day and age with the technology being shown in Ukraine, who in their right mind would fly in transport aircraft into a contested zone to drop Para’s, every Johnny come lately with a manpad would have you shot out of the sky before you ever got close.

[Easy Street]

Well it’s proving that the fleet in a time of war ( someone else’s ) is stretched, so if they ever needed to do a substantial airborne drop in the future war scenario, they would be stuffed with the capability we have readily available…

Of course the fleet is stretched, it doesn't need the Army inflating its bid for a flypast drop to prove that. Having chosen not to fund its own ring-fenced airlift fleet, the Army has to live with the logistic priorities set by the Joint HQ. If moving kit to the front line is judged more important, that's tough sh*t for 16X.

[Finningley Boy]

I'd hazard a guess here and say...the French perhaps ?

This on the basis there aren't any local objectors around this time who may not have been in favour of the wx data being collected.
Are the French even expecting us? Apparently the reason that the Union Flag has been left off some bunting in France is, according to a French Lady, because of Brexit. Because we'd left the EU we were out of site, out of mind. That said, were the American and Canadian flags on the bunting I wonder? Even more interesting, German and Austrian flags?

FB

[Asturias56]

"so if they ever needed to do a substantial airborne drop in the future war scenario,"

I thought the days of a mass airdrop in a war died (with a lot of brave men) at Arnhem and Dien Bien Phu - 70 years ago.

Airborne forces almost always use a helicopter these days

[CISTRS]

I have always thought that the Levene reforms were a missed opportunity to find out exactly how much the Army really believes it needs an airborne capability by making it directly liable for the associated cost of maintaining an airlift fleet of the requisite size. I am sure that it would quickly come to the conclusion that it had better things to spend the money on.


Like hundreds of horses and cavalry, based in London for ceremonial purposes.
More horses than tanks...

[Asturias56]

Like hundreds of horses and cavalry, based in London for ceremonial purposes.
More horses than tanks...

Brings in a lot of tourist $$$$$$$$$ - and quite cheap compared to buying aircraft

[minigundiplomat]

"so if they ever needed to do a substantial airborne drop in the future war scenario,"

I thought the days of a mass airdrop in a war died (with a lot of brave men) at Arnhem and Dien Bien Phu - 70 years ago.

Airborne forces almost always use a helicopter these days

Apart from Operation Trent (and several drops during Corporate) - its a capability thats probably best not just gaffed off because it hasn't been used in a while. When was the last time the AD Force shot down an aerial intruder? When did the silent service last loose off a nuke?

[Not_a_boffin]

Apart from Operation Trent (and several drops during Corporate) - its a capability thats probably best not just gaffed off because it hasn't been used in a while. When was the last time the AD Force shot down an aerial intruder? When did the silent service last loose off a nuke?

Not entirely sure you can categorise the Corporate and Trent ops as "mass air-drops". Parachute-insertion, yes, mass, no.

[Herod]

I may be wrong, but I believe the last mass drop (36 x C-130) was Exercise Bold Guard way back in September '74. I left the fleet at the end of '75, and the RAF at the end of '76, so I'm open to correction.

[ICM]

Herod: I suspect you may be correct, as that was back in the UKJATFOR era, and I doubt there has been a proper 'mass drop' since that concept wound up. (I'd add that it cleaned out all other Hercules tasking for a number of days around the exercise.)

[tarantonight]

...
They could always ask the Russian delegation (yes really ! ) -
and


- to bring a couple of extra IL-76s to the party.

LFH :E

Putin always has an answer!. A very trustworthy man……………..

[langleybaston]

Herod: I suspect you may be correct, as that was back in the UKJATFOR era, and I doubt there has been a proper 'mass drop' since that concept wound up. (I'd add that it cleaned out all other Hercules tasking for a number of days around the exercise.)

ISTR a reasonably big one Arnhem plus 50, in 1994. It included some game old veterans. I hope I am correct because the few grey cells remaining say that I supervised the DZ forecast, racked with nerves.

Happy to be corrected.

[Herod]

ICM: Yes indeed, and of course Bold Guard was a tragedy. For those who don't know, it's on Wiki. I was on one of the last aircraft; 35 or 36, and the whole DZ was a blaze if red flares and lights. From my RHS, as we flew over I could see the freighter that shouldn't have been there. We naturally didn't drop, but diverted.

[javelinfaw9]

He should be held to task on this.Noone asks the Question.

[javelinfaw9]

Total BS AGAIN. Cost cutting exercise got shot of Herks. Now trying to make out its all a plan to not have enough airlift in place.
How this twice bankrupt chancer is a Minister of State astounds me. And he keeps getting jobs.?????,

[DuncanDoenitz]

Are the French even expecting us?

FB
I must be missing the point. I thought that surprise was one of the defining characteristics of Airborne Insertion.

[Asturias56]

" its a capability thats probably best not just gaffed off because it hasn't been used in a while"

that why the RN keeps HMS Victory I guess and the USN "Constitution" - but you can't just keep capability forever if its never used. No-one uses large scale paratroop drops any more and hasn't for at least 40 years - more like 65 in the west. Battleships have gone, cavalry has gone, torpedo bombers have gone...........

[SLXOwft]

ISTR a reasonably big one Arnhem plus 50, in 1994. It included some game old veterans. I hope I am correct because the few grey cells remaining say that I supervised the DZ forecast, racked with nerves.

Happy to be corrected.

I think the wind was outside limits for the vets in 1994, and there were a number of injuries to the younger generation of paras. There was a 1500 parachutist drop for the 75th anniversary of Operation Market in 2019.

I recollect seeing Starlifters for a mass drop going overhead, I am pretty sure this was the Arnhem 50th as six C-141s were used to drop UK and US paratroops. Which is a round about way of saying could not HMG have asked the US nicely to help out again with the planned June 6th drop?

[minigundiplomat]

" its a capability thats probably best not just gaffed off because it hasn't been used in a while"

that why the RN keeps HMS Victory I guess and the USN "Constitution" - but you can't just keep capability forever if its never used. No-one uses large scale paratroop drops any more and hasn't for at least 40 years - more like 65 in the west. Battleships have gone, cavalry has gone, torpedo bombers have gone...........

Is the decision on capability being made on equipment? or the decision on equipment being made on capability, and that's my point.

It seems to me the decision on capability is being made on the decision to withdraw the C130, whilst replacing it with eurotrash which is some way from providing the same flexibility.

We could get rid of all armour - lets face it, the last armour engagement was 1991 and that wasn't exactly 'the Fulda Gap'.
Our ASW haven't sunk a submarine since WWII - they can go.
AD fleet haven't shot down an aggressor since 1945 - in the bin you go.
Apache's were actually bought to kill tanks - they haven't done that - useful, but off they go.
Subs have never fired a nuke, and last sunk a ship in 1982 - gone.
When was the last time regiments went over the top accompanied by pipe and drum - gone
Red arrows? Minesweepers?

So, we have an Air Force of a few heli's, transport and some bombers, with a bit of ISTAR, a Navy of carriers and a few escorts, some infantry and SF. Job done.

[safetypee]

"… the decision on capability"

'Form follows function'; but form is limited by budget, which is limited by politics, limited by public perception - shaped by governments.

[Asturias56]

"So, we have an Air Force of a few heli's, transport and some bombers, with a bit of ISTAR, a Navy of carriers and a few escorts, some infantry and SF. Job done."

We're not a million miles away from that now unfortunately - but as safetypee says there is budget (far too low IMHO) and you start by cutting the things you're least likely to need. Parachuting large numbers of troops is clearly one.

[Mogwi]

Our ASW haven't sunk a submarine since WWII - they can go

Not quite true actually. You forgot the Santa Fe which was crippled by the combination of a Wessex 3 with depth charges and a Wasp with AS12. It ran ashore in Grytviken and was later scuttled.

Mog

[minigundiplomat]

Our ASW haven't sunk a submarine since WWII - they can go

Not quite true actually. You forgot the Santa Fe which was crippled by the combination of a Wessex 3 with depth charges and a Wasp with AS12. It ran ashore in Grytviken and was later scuttled.

Mog

1. The Santa Fe was, I believe, parked at the time, so not a great effort in finding it.
2. I was, wrongly as it seems, under the impression much of the damage was inflicted with a Milan.

However, given your participation and knowledge of Corporate and Paraquat are the stuff of legends, ASW can stay.

[Gaston Skydrol]

Are the French even expecting us? Apparently the reason that the Union Flag has been left off some bunting in France is, according to a French Lady, because of Brexit. Because we'd left the EU we were out of site, out of mind. That said, were the American and Canadian flags on the bunting I wonder? Even more interesting, German and Austrian flags?

FB
I live close to Pegasus Bridge and there’s plenty of Union Flags around both the bridge area and the surrounding villages.

[Mal Drop]

ISTR a reasonably big one Arnhem plus 50, in 1994. It included some game old veterans. I hope I am correct because the few grey cells remaining say that I supervised the DZ forecast, racked with nerves.

Happy to be corrected.
Arnhem 50 wasn't that big considering the 15-ships we were still (albeit rarely) putting up, I seem to recall we flew either four or six Hercs, I flew the 49th (and went to the memorial service at Oosterbeek, which was incredibly moving) as well as the 50th.

One recollection from the 50th was that a photographer in the freight bay broke the leg of the guy who was bracing him at the para-door when the ac Captain performed a fairly aggressive unannounced climb.

I seem to recall we dropped X PARA and there were certainly several veterans of the battle there, including the Chaplain. You are correct that some veterans of the battle took part in the drops.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/death-of-arnhem-veteran-18809/

[WE Branch Fanatic]

1. The Santa Fe was, I believe, parked at the time, so not a great effort in finding it.
2. I was, wrongly as it seems, under the impression much of the damage was inflicted with a Milan.

However, given your participation and knowledge of Corporate and Paraquat are the stuff of legends, ASW can stay.

ARA Santa Fe was at sea on the surface and detected by Antrim's Wessex with radar, and most of the damage was caused by a pair of depth charges.

https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/attachments/cbbacaae-aad5-4eed-b232-60ce928147a8-jpeg.657302/

https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/attachments/9f67def7-c871-4628-a906-07faba3be5e7-jpeg.657310/

[Lyneham Lad]

Is the book featured in post #44 out of copyright perchance?

[Spunky Monkey]

Its not just about when the units were last used, its about having the strategic ability and just as importantly about keeping a potential enemy guessing.
The infantry is about taking and holding ground, be it by APC, heli, parachute or marine.
Removing that ability is signalling to a foe that he can discount a threat.

As an aside, the Parachute Regiment has an esprit de corps from its ability to jump out of serviceable aircraft.
It is no coincidence that many look to further their careers in SF through from this Regiment.

I note Easy Streets comment earlier about the Army having its own heavy lift capability.
Which is surprising when the RAF kicked up a stink when the Apache was purchased for the AAC and not the RAF.

[Asturias56]

Is the book featured in post #44 out of copyright perchance?

Copyright?

I don't think anyone bothers these days - people seem to plunder everything all the time. Especially for AI these days

[SLXOwft]

Personally I prefer the pithier account in Chris Parry's published diary Down South

On went the trace for just one second and, before the background light faded, a small contact briefly illuminated that I instinctively judged did not correlate with any of my ice plot. It was pretty close to Edward III and (in maintaining a cheerful outlook) I wondered to myself whether the Black Prince had made an overnight appearance. Silly – and a bit intellectually pretentious – really! The new contact was about eight nautical miles away to the north of Barff Point and I guided Ian towards the contact, hardly believing that this small, instantaneous apparition could be a submarine. At every mile, I said to Ian, ‘Anything?’ ‘No, it’s still clampers, just ice and bergs’ was the constant reply.
In reality, I hadn’t expected Ian and Stewart to say anything for a while, as we were still in thick gloop. Then, at about a mile to go to the on-top,
‘It’s a submarine,’ said Ian unemotionally.
‘You’re joking,’ I said, thinking that it was a wind-up.
‘No, no. It is,’ said Stewart. ‘Amazing!’
I quickly worked out the ballistic corrections for the movement of the submarine. It was not difficult. He was heading 310 at 8 knots. The forward-through of the DCs was 164 yards and you had to allow 20 yards per knot of submarine speed – 8 times 20 is 160. Talk about making it easy for us – just go to the on-top along the submarine’s track and release. I fused both the weapons and was ready to release them (can you believe that this is actually happening!).
Ian then spoiled it for everyone, ‘Are you sure that it is not one of ours.
It could be Conqueror,’ he mused glumly.
A little bit of me thought, sod it, it’s a submarine and it’s going to get away.
‘Let’s do him before he sees us and dives.’
Then I thought, Conqueror should be away to the north-west, looking out for Arg surface ships. The only reason for him being here and on the surface would be that he is in trouble and has had to come up.
By this time, I was craning my neck and head in the blister to have a look. Frustrated and failing to see the submarine, I asked, ‘Has he got a flat casing and a tapering flat fin?’
‘It’s the Argie, no doubt about it,’ came the sudden, reassuring call from Stewart in the left-hand seat.
‘OK,’ said Ian, ‘are you sure that we have the ROE?’
‘Of course,’ I replied, reflecting the briefing and conversations the previous night. ‘He’s fair game – we might not get a second chance.’
‘OK, Boss, let’s go for it! Get astern of him and run up his track at 150 feet and we will release when you call on top. That should sort out the ballistic correction.’
What a moment! Every Observer’s dream to have a real live submarine caught in the trap with two depth charges ready to go! Momentarily, I thought about the men that we might be about to kill, but Ian started calling down the range. As Ian called, ‘On top, now, now, now’, I saw the fin of a submarine pass under the aircraft through the gap around the sonar housing and I released both depth charges.
Ian flipped the cab around violently to starboard to see the results of the morning’s work. I had told Fitz to man and cock the GPMG and, unstrapped, he tumbled back towards the rear of the aircraft. ‘******* hell, Boss!’ he exclaimed.
While this was happening, I glanced out of the starboard window. As we turned, the whole of the aft section of the submarine disappeared as two large explosions detonated either side of her casing about three-quarters of its length along and plumes of water shot up. It looked like she was in the process of diving when we struck her, but the explosions lifted her after end up and out of the water. She then began careering violently in all directions as I triumphantly reported back to Antrim the position of the stricken submarine. The HC (Helicopter Controller) didn’t get it at first, possibly because we used the brevity codeword for a submarine, and there was no response (!). I was, momentarily, disappointed that the submarine was not sinking, but, at the same time, worried about what it must have been like for those inside. Still, this is war – and things happen, to them and us. It’s always been that way. You make your own luck. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity! I then called in Brilliant’s Lynx (Nick Butler and Barry Bryant) to close with the Mk 46 torpedo and instructed Fitz to have a go at the submarine’s submarine’s masts, fin and sonars with the GPMG, in case it looked like diving. Once Fitz had finished, we brought the cab into the dip,* safely out of small-arms range, so that we could track the submarine on the surface and on the sonar if he dived. Simultaneously, as the submarine looked reluctant or unable to dive, I asked Plymouth to launch her alert AS-12-armed Wasp, since I believed that the submarine still posed a threat even on the surface. All the while, the visibility and low cloud were lifting dramatically, as if a curtain was being raised on a stage, to reveal a stunning backdrop of snowy peaks, huge mountains and glaciers, to complement the combat of mere mortals below. All the world’s a spectacular stage!
I could now see on radar that Antrim, Brilliant and Plymouth were closing at high speed from the north-east and, on its launch, took Plymouth’s Wasp under positive control. I was receiving constant calls for a SITREP from the ship, but, hell, I was busy trying to control an ASW action. I tried speaking in brevity codewords, but the HC or the Ops Room team did not fully understand or decode them properly. In the end, I said in plain speech:
‘CERTSUB [certain submarine] 320 Barff Point eight miles on surface – attacked with two ash cans [depth charges] and preparing for Bruiser [AS-12] attack by call sign [Plymouth’s Wasp]. I am Scene of Action Commander – CERTSUB allocated track 4011.’
After a pause: ‘Request DAMASS [Damage Assessment]’, from Antrim.
I was too busy at this stage, with controlling Plymouth’s Wasp and stopping the situation from becoming chaotic, to go into detail and the formal reports broke down: ‘He’s on the surface and I have definitely winged him. He seems to be down by the stern and there is smoke coming from his fin. I reckon that he is trying to get back to Grytviken.’ And, as an afterthought: ‘Request two more ash cans on my return.’

Parry, Chris. Down South (pp. 95-97). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition. Down South: A Falklands War Diary (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-South-Falklands-War-Diary/dp/0241959624/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1M8UDKIHJQH6A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qNX1KB1FyNpdx4zGNJl9Pt1hgln9SXPI65QBcZ7Dwnc .FcE2DgZSXOu2SCKxDEmmprGNcJwENWy_29WUp87ogy4&dib_tag=se&keywords=down+south+chris+parry&qid=1716491555&sprefix=down+south%2Caps%2C435&sr=8-1)Kindle £5.99 - Paperback £14.65 from the river pirates.

P.S. I know Mog was from a mud moving background but he and others were successfully using an AD aircraft, if a maritime one, so do we get to keep them too?:E

[SLXOwft]

Back to the subject of air drops, 10 days ago:
NATO paratroopers descended over Romania as part of exercise Swift Response 2024 (https://www.dvidshub.net/video/924420/nato-troops-take-part-largest-parachute-drop-since-second-world-war-b-roll-17-may-2024), the largest Allied airborne operation since the Second World War.
At an airbase near Câmpia Turzii, Romania, German Armed Forces paratroopers from the Rapid Forces Division led troops from France, Romania, Spain and the United States in an airborne operation that involved between 1,200 and 1,500 soldiers. Fourteen transport aircraft carried them to the drop zone, making this one of NATO’s largest and most complex manoeuvres this year.

Presumably there is justification for practicing these techniques?

It strikes me it is still a valid way to reinforce troops who are already where it isn't possible to land fixed wing transports and where distance/capacity limit the usefulness of delivery by rotary wing.

[Video Mixdown]

Not as far as I know. However I have only is only 9 of 262 pages - 3.4%. The front cover does not count.
With respect, that's like saying you only stole a few apples, not the whole tray. I completely disagree with A56 saying 'it's alright, everyone does it'. It is not OK. It is illegal and wrong. The publisher owns the rights to it and you should not reproduce it in whole or part without their express permission. The honourable thing to do would be to delete the post and point out that the book is on sale should readers wish to buy it.

[minigundiplomat]

Personally I prefer the pithier account in Chris Parry's published diary Down South



P.S. I know Mog was from a mud moving background but he and others were successfully using an AD aircraft, if a maritime one, so do we get to keep them too?:E

No - unless the FJ community issue a public statement declaring that they swing both ways.

[Herod]

SLXOwft. Swift Response, very pretty. However, that does assume total air superiority, and an enemy with no AA capability.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Anyway - noting the title of this thread, are there any documents out there that relate specifically to the air operations that were part of the preparations for the D Day landings and Normandy campaign? I am thinking of the attacks on transport infrastructure in Northern France and deception efforts, and preparations for the timely provision of air support on the day.

The maritime part of the Normandy campaign was codenamed Operation Neptune - was there a codename for the RAF/USAAF/RCAF part?

[SLXOwft]

With respect, that's like saying you only stole a few apples, not the whole tray. I completely disagree with A56 saying 'it's alright, everyone does it'. It is not OK. It is illegal and wrong. The publisher owns the rights to it and you should not reproduce it in whole or part without their express permission. The honourable thing to do would be to delete the post and point out that the book is on sale should readers wish to buy it.

The DWO gets very frustrated with authors, whose work she is editing, when they don't or won't understand the need to get permission to quote another author's work.

There is however a degree of flexibility under US Fair Use legislation but less so under the UK and other countries' Fair Dealing.

A partial quote follows:
Sufficient acknowledgementIn relation to certain exceptions, if you are making use of that exception to copy someone else’s work it is necessary for you to sufficiently acknowledge their work. For example, where you have copied all or a substantial part of a work for the purposes of criticism or review, or where the use was for the purposes of news reporting.

However such acknowledgement is not required where it is impossible for reasons of practicality.Fair dealingCertain exceptions only apply if the use of the work is a ‘fair dealing’. For example, the exceptions relating to research and private study, criticism or review, or news reporting.

‘Fair dealing’ is a legal term used to establish whether a use of copyright material is lawful or whether it infringes copyright. There is no statutory definition of fair dealing - it will always be a matter of fact, degree and impression in each case. The question to be asked is: how would a fair-minded and honest person have dealt with the work?

Factors that have been identified by the courts as relevant in determining whether a particular dealing with a work is fair include:

does using the work affect the market for the original work? If a use of a work acts as a substitute for it, causing the owner to lose revenue, then it is not likely to be fair
is the amount of the work taken reasonable and appropriate? Was it necessary to use the amount that was taken? Usually only part of a work may be used

The relative importance of any one factor will vary according to the case in hand and the type of dealing in question.


Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright

[SLXOwft]

Anyway - noting the title of this thread, are there any documents out there that relate specifically to the air operations that were part of the preparations for the D Day landings and Normandy campaign? I am thinking of the attacks on transport infrastructure in Northern France and deception efforts, and preparations for the timely provision of air support on the day.

The maritime part of the Normandy campaign was codenamed Operation Neptune - was there a codename for the RAF/USAAF/RCAF part?

OPERATION NEPTUNE was the assault phase of OVERLORD i.e. the beach assaults, air assaults, and all directly associated air and sea operations; some actions had subsidiary codenames e.g. Op Coup de Main, the initial glider assault and seizure of the Orne bridges. The deception ops also had a variety of names such as Body Guard South and Taxable. .

[WE Branch Fanatic]

This thread is intended to be about the eightieth anniversary of the D Day landings and wider Normandy campaign, the largest combined sea/air/land operation in history and a significant contribution to the destruction of the Nazi Third Reich.

As this is an aviation orientated site, perhaps this is a place to remember the air operations - the reconnaissance operations, the interdiction operations and raids on transport infrastructure, the deception activities that diverted attention from Normandy, glider and parachute operations, fighter cover over the beaches and later the beachheads, on call close air support, and the roles that Coastal Command aircraft and escort carriers played in keeping U boats away from the invasion force. There were of course others.

D Day followed other key events - such as the Norwegian Campaign which although futile, inflicted major losses on the German surface fleet, the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the campaign in the Mediterranean and North Africa which not only gave us a chance to fight the axis on land but stopped them from capturing the Middle East oilfields, victory in the Battle of the Atlantic which not only guaranteed our survival but also allowed the build up of men and equipment for a European landing, and the Bomber offensive that damaged German war production, tied up a million Germans in anti aircraft defences, and diverted German war production into anti aircraft guns instead of tanks or coastal artillery.

My late Grandfather was there - a Gunnery Senior Rate aboard HMS Belfast. I am not sure if my late Uncle Ted (an RAF Flight Engineer who survived a tour on the Lancaster and then moved to the Sunderland) took part or if he was still patrolling the Atlantic from a base in West Africa.

Some of these links date back to last year - I posted them on another site at the time:

Plans unveiled to mark D-Day's 80th anniversary (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/october/16/20231016-plans-unveiled-to-mark-d-days-80th-anniversary) - Royal Navy

Find out more about CWGC Bayeux War Cemetery (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/find-out-more-about-cwgc-bayeux-war-cemetery) - MOD

Find out more about D-Day 80 at the British Normandy Memorial (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/find-out-more-about-d-day-80-at-the-british-normandy-memorial) - MOD

Register with the Royal British Legion to attend D-Day 80 as a veteran (http://register%20with%20the%20royal%20british%20legion%20to%20atte nd%20d-day%2080%20as%20a%20veteran/) - MOD

Work starts to complete British Normandy Memorial with new visitor centre for D-Day 80 (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/january/18/20240118-work-starts-to-complete-british-normandy-memorial-with-new-visitor-centre-for-d-day-80) - Royal Navy

The top secret mission before D-Day (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv28w27r8ddo) - BBC News

Naval hero presented with historic D-Day chart to mark 100th birthday (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/february/02/20240202-naval-hero-presented-with-historic-dday-chart-to-mark-100th-birthday) - Royal Navy

RBLI invites families of D-Day veterans to 80th anniversary celebrations on June 6 (https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/beacons-will-be-lit-in-memory-of-d-day-301207/) - Kent Online

UNESCO considers D-Day landing beaches as world heritage site (https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/21/unesco-considers-d-day-landing-beaches-as-world-heritage-site) - Euronews

D-Day: Woolly soldiers and tanks to mark 80th anniversary (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-68363712) - BBC News

Portsmouth to host UK’s national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/portsmouth-to-host-uks-national-commemorations-for-the-80th-anniversary-of-d-day) - MOD

Naval veterans start 100-day countdown to D-Day commemorations (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/february/27/20240227-naval-veterans-start-100-day-countdown-to-d-day-commemorations) - Royal Navy

D-Day 80: Oxfordshire museum appeals for stories ahead of 80th anniversary (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-68427683) - BBC News

D-Day fallen remembered with 1,475 silhouette statues for 80th anniversary (https://news.sky.com/story/d-day-fallen-remembered-with-1475-silhouette-statues-for-80th-anniversary-13103203) - Sky News

Portsmouth engineers to play crucial role in UK commemoration of D-Day’s 80th anniversary (https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/portsmouth-engineers-to-play-crucial-role-in-uk-commemoration-of-d-day-s-80th-anniversary) - BAE Systems

Royal Navy: HMS Medusa restored by sailors at HMS Collingwood in Gosport ahead of D-Day 80th anniversary (https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/hms-medusa-restored-by-hms-collingwood-royal-navy-sailors-4593647) - Pompey News

D-Day in 80 Objects (https://theddaystory.com/d-day-in-80-objects/) - The D Day Story - Portsmouth

Falmouth plans 80th anniversary of the D-day landings (https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/24292223.falmouth-plans-80th-anniversary-d-day-landings/) - Falmouth Packet

Prime Minister and Red Arrows to lead D-Day 80 commemorations (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-and-red-arrows-to-lead-d-day-80-commemorations) - HM Government

Royal Navy’s role in D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations revealed (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/may/16/20240516-royal-navys-role-in-d-day-80th-anniversary-commemorations-revealed)

D-Day 80: 'Stunning' light show plan for Portsmouth commemoration (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-69019726) - BBC News

Royal Marines prepare for Normandy landings in honour of their forebears (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/may/22/20240522-commandos-prepare-for-d-day-events--on-beaches-in-east-cornwall) - Royal Navy

New frigate's crew follow the guns of Glasgow on D-Day pilgrimage (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/may/22/20240522-new-frigates-crew-follow-the-guns-of-glasgow-on-d-day-pilgrimage) - Royal Navy

On the shoulders of giants...

[WE Branch Fanatic]

There is now a dedicated website:

D Day 80 - Commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Normandy (https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/)

The 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings

On 5 and 6 June this year, a series of major commemorations in the UK and France will honour the brave personnel who risked their lives for freedom and peace.

Events in the UK (https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/home-page/attend-an-event/events-in-the-uk/)
Events in France (https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/home-page/attend-an-event/events-in-france/)
Discover D-Day (https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/home-page/discover-d-day/)
Partners (https://dday80.campaign.gov.uk/home-page/delivery-partners/)
Latest news (https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications?topical_events%5B%5D=d-day-80)

[Wokkafans]

An interesting series of "Then and now" images.

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/06/scenes-from-d-day-then-and-now/100752/

[Expatrick]

Fair enough - and absolutely right. But let's not forget the forthcoming anniversary of Bagration, which whether we like it or not, was crucial to the defeat of the Nazis.

[tdracer]

I'm leaving in a week, headed to London (initially) for an 80th Anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings (part of a Stephen Ambrose Tours deal). We'll be on the Normandy beaches on June 6 - with the planned C-47/DC-3 flyovers and paratrooper drop.
Sort of a bucket list thing for me - I've been to France several times, but never visited Normandy.
Looking forward to it - suspect it'll end up being very somber (sort of like when I visited the Battle of the Bulge Museum in Bastone about 10 years ago - had a beer at the "NUTS" pub in Bastone).

[GreenXCode]

Saw three C47s stage through Pungo Military Aviation Museum 11 May en route Normandy via Newfoundland and the US DDay Memorial in Bedford VA has a comprehensive plan https://www.dday.org/80th/schedule/ for 6 Jun. Privately funded and well worth a visit for those unfamiliar but interested in Shenandoah NP. Pungo has started flying again with Air Show planned 5/6 Oct (first time since CV19) at https://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/

[SASless]

A DC-3/C-47 Crew....is in Duxford following a Trans-Atlantic crossing and will be involved in the festivities at various venues...Duxford, Shuttleworth, and others.

Give them a good welcome and point them to some enjoyable Pubs and Curry houses.

If you do accompany them....keep a very close eye on one of the engineering types....especially a former B-29 Flight Engineer.

Don't let him near a potted tree as he is known to topple them after a long night down the Pub.

He is an extraordinary Engineer when it comes to War Birds.

[tdracer]

A DC-3/C-47 Crew....is in Duxford following a Trans-Atlantic crossing and will be involved in the festivities at various venues...Duxford, Shuttleworth, and others.

Give them a good welcome and point them to some enjoyable Pubs and Curry houses.

If you do accompany them....keep a very close eye on one of the engineering types....especially a former B-29 Flight Engineer.

Don't let him near a potted tree as he is known to topple them after a long night down the Pub.

He is an extraordinary Engineer when it comes to War Birds.
SAS, should I be in a pub on my trip and come across your buddy (or anyone else involved in the C-47/DC-3 entourage), I'd be happy to buy them a beer in return for a little aviation discussion :ok:

[SLXOwft]

Back in 2018 I was in Normandy and saw aircraft from a number of nations doing what appeared to be practice flypasts in the week before 6 June. My visit Pointe du Hoc coincided with that of some serving Rangers (in uniform) visiting the site of their forebears' famous action, and I was able to exchange a few words with their colonel inside a bunker under timbers I understood to be carbonised in the assault, a sobering experience.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Here is a video from the Imperial War Museums. It is titled The (unsung) naval operations that made D Day possible. It covers the build up of man and equipment that was made possible by the defeat of the U boat wolfpacks in 1943, the planning and reconnaissance, issues of resources, minesweeping efforts, and the naval bombardment as the landing craft went ashore.

The (unsung) naval operations that made D-Day possible (youtube.com)

Click the icon in the lower right corner to watch full screen.

[Asturias56]

One ot the Best sources for D day naval ops is Roskill's War at Sea - its astonishing to look at at the maps as to how everything was brought to the right place at the right time.

[NutLoose]

Sadly not able to see the Daks this year as I have a new job, but I did go to the 75th anniversary to see the massed fleet shown below.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48015795853_6c4bc2c62f_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48058197756_b7b2de8806_b.jpg

[havoc]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/960x960/img_5093_3c51c0709ffef9db3f13ae32a17b684baa60fc95.jpeg
Not aviation obviously

[ETOPS]

the festivities at various venues...Duxford, Shuttleworth

Flew into Shuttleworth yesterday to welcome four of the DC-3/C-47s. Great turnout and all the crews made most welcome - they sold quite a few t shirts as well :ok:

Couple of pics to give a taste a great day …

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x976/img_8972_f364cff5b31d6ec4bebceaf79605a30030dac00b.jpeg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1229x1271/img_8985_a9504f00bb7128ab5ba158d6cb9681f6ccebc53d.jpeg

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Here is another video, this time from Forces News. It covers Operation Fortitude - the deception campaign relating to D Day. It covers the operations to convince the Germans that a landing was likely to take place in Norway, and that any cross channel landing would be in the Calais area - the shortest route across the channel, including things like signal traffic for non existent units and the use of dummy vehicles and aircraft - and letting German reconnaissance aircraft see things that supported their own assumptions that we would would attack via the most direct route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY8uYqxvEQM

[chopper2004]

I popped into Old Warden last Sunday to see the pair of C-47,(Placid Lassie and That's All Brother) Western Air Lines Dc-3, and C-53 (former CIA CAT and Air America) so here are my photos.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1440x1079/c47_air_america_cat_douglas_airlines_064209da8b71b8c2e7c31d8 6ae6f17a981927608.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1440x1079/c47_air_america_cat_douglas_airlines_2_865ac9c70a25157f85b39 b59cc3e315a2c6d587e.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/c47_placid_lassie_1f3d090ffa471313f0c94affc2c4e2025f3c2cec.j pg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/c47_western_airlines_thats_all_brother_701e801868def874d8545 2db3f5aa3f0e160707a.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/c47_western_airlines_2_ed96109beeead38a2b1b2aae5c087e547ba43 35c.jpg

cheers

[ancientaviator62]

I have just checked my log book and on June 6 1984 we flew approx 100 D Day veterans over to Caen in two RAF Hercules. As I recall we left early in the morning and we brought them back the same day. Our a/c was XV 183 and Bill Akister was my captain. There was unfortunately no chance to talk to them but it was a privilege to have carried them.

[Biggus]

ancient,

From my log book, 6th June 1984. XV222, Lyneham - Brize - Caen - Lyneham. Aircraft captain was Wg Cdr Carrington, OC 24 Sqn. Like you, I never got a chance to speak to the veterans. They were whisked away on arrival in France, and we stayed with the aircraft until they returned.

As you say, a privilege to be involved in even a small way.

I saw a lot of Bill Akister and his tanker crew in the South Atlantic in 1984/85!

[ORAC]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1158x1158/image_f27a94d79c30d3cd6eff644c2a7b98b4b8f7e1d2.png

[ancientaviator62]

Biggus,
yes we did the emplanement at BZN .I remember wandering around some very sorry looking hangars at Caen, as we waited for the veterans to return. It was always a pleasure to fly with Bill.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

This thread is intended to be about the eightieth anniversary of the D Day landings and wider Normandy campaign, the largest combined sea/air/land operation in history and a significant contribution to the destruction of the Nazi Third Reich.

As this is an aviation orientated site, perhaps this is a place to remember the air operations - the reconnaissance operations, the interdiction operations and raids on transport infrastructure, the deception activities that diverted attention from Normandy, glider and parachute operations, fighter cover over the beaches and later the beachheads, on call close air support, and the roles that Coastal Command aircraft and escort carriers played in keeping U boats away from the invasion force. There were of course others.

D Day followed other key events - such as the Norwegian Campaign which although futile, inflicted major losses on the German surface fleet, the evacuation of the BEF from Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the campaign in the Mediterranean and North Africa which not only gave us a chance to fight the axis on land but stopped them from capturing the Middle East oilfields, victory in the Battle of the Atlantic which not only guaranteed our survival but also allowed the build up of men and equipment for a European landing, and the Bomber offensive that damaged German war production, tied up a million Germans in anti aircraft defences, and diverted German war production into anti aircraft guns instead of tanks or coastal artillery.

My late Grandfather was there - a Gunnery Senior Rate aboard HMS Belfast. I am not sure if my late Uncle Ted (an RAF Flight Engineer who survived a tour on the Lancaster and then moved to the Sunderland) took part or if he was still patrolling the Atlantic from a base in West Africa.

Some of these links date back to last year - I posted them on another site at the time:

Plans unveiled to mark D-Day's 80th anniversary (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/october/16/20231016-plans-unveiled-to-mark-d-days-80th-anniversary) - Royal Navy

Find out more about CWGC Bayeux War Cemetery (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/find-out-more-about-cwgc-bayeux-war-cemetery) - MOD

Find out more about D-Day 80 at the British Normandy Memorial (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/find-out-more-about-d-day-80-at-the-british-normandy-memorial) - MOD

Register with the Royal British Legion to attend D-Day 80 as a veteran (http://register%20with%20the%20royal%20british%20legion%20to%20atte nd%20d-day%2080%20as%20a%20veteran/) - MOD

Work starts to complete British Normandy Memorial with new visitor centre for D-Day 80 (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/january/18/20240118-work-starts-to-complete-british-normandy-memorial-with-new-visitor-centre-for-d-day-80) - Royal Navy

The top secret mission before D-Day (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv28w27r8ddo) - BBC News

Naval hero presented with historic D-Day chart to mark 100th birthday (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/february/02/20240202-naval-hero-presented-with-historic-dday-chart-to-mark-100th-birthday) - Royal Navy

RBLI invites families of D-Day veterans to 80th anniversary celebrations on June 6 (https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/beacons-will-be-lit-in-memory-of-d-day-301207/) - Kent Online

UNESCO considers D-Day landing beaches as world heritage site (https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/21/unesco-considers-d-day-landing-beaches-as-world-heritage-site) - Euronews

D-Day: Woolly soldiers and tanks to mark 80th anniversary (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-68363712) - BBC News

Portsmouth to host UK’s national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/portsmouth-to-host-uks-national-commemorations-for-the-80th-anniversary-of-d-day) - MOD

Naval veterans start 100-day countdown to D-Day commemorations (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/february/27/20240227-naval-veterans-start-100-day-countdown-to-d-day-commemorations) - Royal Navy

D-Day 80: Oxfordshire museum appeals for stories ahead of 80th anniversary (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-68427683) - BBC News

D-Day fallen remembered with 1,475 silhouette statues for 80th anniversary (https://news.sky.com/story/d-day-fallen-remembered-with-1475-silhouette-statues-for-80th-anniversary-13103203) - Sky News

Portsmouth engineers to play crucial role in UK commemoration of D-Day’s 80th anniversary (https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/portsmouth-engineers-to-play-crucial-role-in-uk-commemoration-of-d-day-s-80th-anniversary) - BAE Systems

Royal Navy: HMS Medusa restored by sailors at HMS Collingwood in Gosport ahead of D-Day 80th anniversary (https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/hms-medusa-restored-by-hms-collingwood-royal-navy-sailors-4593647) - Pompey News

D-Day in 80 Objects (https://theddaystory.com/d-day-in-80-objects/) - The D Day Story - Portsmouth

Falmouth plans 80th anniversary of the D-day landings (https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/24292223.falmouth-plans-80th-anniversary-d-day-landings/) - Falmouth Packet

Prime Minister and Red Arrows to lead D-Day 80 commemorations (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-and-red-arrows-to-lead-d-day-80-commemorations) - HM Government

Royal Navy’s role in D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations revealed (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/may/16/20240516-royal-navys-role-in-d-day-80th-anniversary-commemorations-revealed)

D-Day 80: 'Stunning' light show plan for Portsmouth commemoration (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-69019726) - BBC News

Royal Marines prepare for Normandy landings in honour of their forebears (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/may/22/20240522-commandos-prepare-for-d-day-events--on-beaches-in-east-cornwall) - Royal Navy

New frigate's crew follow the guns of Glasgow on D-Day pilgrimage (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/may/22/20240522-new-frigates-crew-follow-the-guns-of-glasgow-on-d-day-pilgrimage) - Royal Navy

On the shoulders of giants...


I wish that I had posted some of these links at the time - the first articles relating to D Day 80 appeared on the websites of the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence back in October last year.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Here is another video from the IWM - this time looking at the air campaign:

https://youtu.be/-W8W-nYZeMY?si=5VX7ENVKM8aotnM2

[langleybaston]

Am I the only member of the Forum to have seen some of D Day?

Living in Hove, Sussex, age seven, I was dragged out into the Close to see the streams of aircraft [yes, with the markings] flying south. Lots of neighbours in the road, some unashamedly weeping.

At about the same time dad was flying his barrage balloon from a ship out of Portsmouth, in the same direction.

On 6th June here we will be ringing the church bells for this, the last big number day for the remaining veterans.

[421dog]

Was there on D Day in 1984, looked like the war happened yesterday and there were so many veterans with stories that I never wanted to leave.

Went back on D Day in 2014, and there were a few rust spots where the LSTs disintegrated on the mud beach, and the German pillboxes were hotdog stands.

It is interesting how history in its reality, only lasts about as long as we do…

[tdracer]

I'm currently in London - went to the Churchill War Rooms yesterday, then had a very nice dinner at the RAF Club in London, highlighted by a talk by a 103 year old RAF Mosquito pilot veteran (50 bombing missions - 13 of them over Berlin). Still sounded sharp as a tack.

Today we went to Duxford - airshow as part of the 80 year D-Day anniversary. Planned paratrooper drop was cancelled due to the weather (high winds). A bunch of C-45/DC-3s were schedule to fly in at 5pm, but we had to leave before that happened to get back to London (early start tomorrow where we'll head to the Battle of Britain Bunker, spend the night at a hotel in Bournemouth, then take a ferry to Cherbourg on Monday).

[Diff Tail Shim]

I'm currently in London - went to the Churchill War Rooms yesterday, then had a very nice dinner at the RAF Club in London, highlighted by a talk by a 103 year old RAF Mosquito pilot veteran (50 bombing missions - 13 of them over Berlin). Still sounded sharp as a tack.

Today we went to Duxford - airshow as part of the 80 year D-Day anniversary. Planned paratrooper drop was cancelled due to the weather (high winds). A bunch of C-45/DC-3s were schedule to fly in at 5pm, but we had to leave before that happened to get back to London (early start tomorrow where we'll head to the Battle of Britain Bunker, spend the night at a hotel in Bournemouth, then take a ferry to Cherbourg on Monday).
Some of my friends down south have been involve with handling "Thats All Brother" on its current stay over here. Colin Bell was the Mossie pilot I believe?

[Bug]

I'm currently in London - went to the Churchill War Rooms yesterday, then had a very nice dinner at the RAF Club in London, highlighted by a talk by a 103 year old RAF Mosquito pilot veteran (50 bombing missions - 13 of them over Berlin). Still sounded sharp as a tack.
………
TD, can you post the name of the 103 year old veteran please?

[ancientaviator62]

There was a Spitfire (from Goodwood ?) displaying over Horsted Keynes railway station as part of the Bluebell Railway 'Southern at War ' event. As close to D Day as they could get om a weekend.

[tdracer]

TD, can you post the name of the 103 year old veteran please?
Diff got it, it’s Colin Bell.
The tour I’m on is Steven Ambrose Tour in combination with the CAF so ‘That’s All Brother’ is a focus (it’s a CAF Aircraft).
More after we have dinner.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Spectacular send-off planned for D-Day veterans sailing from Portsmouth (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/03/20240603-spectacular-send-off-planned-for-dday-veterans-sailing-from-portsmouth) - Royal Navy

Veterans heading for Normandy will receive a spirited send-off tomorrow morning, heralding three days of D-Day 80th anniversary events.

Vintage and serving Royal Navy warships will escort the ferry transporting around 40 men and women connected with the Normandy landings as they head to France for possibly the final salute.

The 80th anniversary of D-Day and subsequent campaign in Normandy is likely to be the last milestone marked on a grand scale on both sides of the Channel in the presence of those who were there in 1944.

With the youngest survivor of the operation aged 98, many veterans have chosen not to make the pilgrimage to France in favour of attending commemorations here in the UK – notably the showpiece tribute on Southsea Common on Wednesday.

But around 40 have decided to head back to the beaches in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and Brittany Ferries.

They leave Portsmouth at 8am tomorrow with an escort of serving and veteran warships: World War 2-era Motor Gunboat 81, motor launch HMS Medusa and RAF rescue boat HSL 102 will lead the flotilla escorting the ferry out of Portsmouth Harbour and into the Solent.

Behind those veteran craft, come two Royal Navy fast patrol boats HMS Trumpeter and Dasher, followed by the Sea Cadet training vessel TS Royalist, then minehunter HMS Cattistock ahead of the ferry Mont St Michel.

Bringing up the rear, harbour tugs will shoot jets of water providing a traditional tribute to veterans.

The formation will stay with the ferry until they reach Nab Tower about a dozen miles from Portsmouth Harbour, when they break away from Mont St Michel and go their separate ways.

HMS Cattistock, Trumpeter and Dasher are also heading for Normandy to take part in commemorations marking the capture of Pegasus Bridge on the Caen Canal.

They are due to sail past the iconic bridge at mid-day on Wednesday where the Commanding Officer of the Parachute Regiment and Royal Navy Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns, will take the salute.

After berthing at Quai de Blainville, Cattistock’s sailors will also attend the paratroopers’ midnight vigil at Pegasus Bridge.

For the Portsmouth-based minehunter the 80th anniversary is the perfect opportunity to remember her predecessor.

“Cattistock has a Normandy/D-Day battle honour – the first ship with the name provided close air defence to minesweepers in the days and hours before the landings,” said her Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Jonny Campbell.

The wartime destroyer’s modern-day successor has been conducting UK operations / homeland defence as her crew prepare to deploy on global minewarfare operations in the coming months.

Newly-refitted frigate HMS St Albans will fire a six-gun salute passing the Naval Memorial during the commemorative event on Southsea Common.

She will continue across the Channel to support events on D-Day itself, anchoring off Ver sur Mer as guardship for events ashore at the British Normandy Memorial.

Later on D-Day, she will move along the coast to anchor off Omaha Beach to support US-focused commemorations.

Also crossing the Channel on June 4 will be the 47 Commando personnel, whose landing craft will deliver a piper to the beaches on D-Day, offload a troop of marines to yomp along the Normandy shore to Port-en-Bessin. the village/harbour liberated by the unit’s forebears in 1944.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Also from yesterday: D-Day veterans gather in Portsmouth as 80th anniversary events begin (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/d-day-veterans-gather-in-portsmouth-as-80th-anniversary-events-begin) - MOD

D-Day veterans met for afternoon tea and a formal dinner at the mansion near Portsmouth which served as the allies’ forward headquarters for the D-Day beach landing operations.

The visit is thought to be the largest meeting of surviving D-Day veterans this year, as some are not well enough to make the journey to Normandy for the 80th anniversary.

Many of the veterans will travel to Normandy on Tuesday morning, while others will remain in the UK to attend the national commemorative event in Portsmouth on Wednesday.

Southwick House is a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion house that was the nerve centre of D-Day.

Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower and Commander of the Allied Ground Forces General Bernard Montgomery made the monumental call to launch D-Day from Southwick House.

Veterans gathered in what is now named the Eisenhower Room, where the fateful decision was made.

The veterans will be at the heart of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings this week.

The city of Portsmouth will host the Ministry of Defence’s national commemorative event on Southsea Common on the morning of 5 June.

The event will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and will feature appearances by members of the royal family, military musicians and a flypast by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.

The commemorations will continue in Normandy on Wednesday evening with a moving vigil and light show at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Bayeux War Cemetery.

On Thursday 6 June, the date of the 80th anniversary, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion will host the UK’s national commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, France.

Southwick House is still a working military base and is now home to the Defence School of Policing and Security.

[tdracer]

"That's all Brother" at Cherbourg, with our tour group (photo was yesterday):
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/600x450/1717514468_6ec3779299f66d913fb750afb4ac2f0d0ad1c1cb.jpeg

Spent today at Omaha and Utah beaches and the Omaha US Cemetery. "That's all Brother" and another C-47 flew over while we were at Omaha.

Plan for tomorrow is to visit some of the US Airborne battle sites. Told us we have tickets for the formal June 6 event at Omaha - among others Prez Biden is supposed to talk.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Appropriate to this coming eightieth anniversary of the D Day landings, this film from 1971 caught my eye. It was made for the HMS Belfast Trust and is in the IWM Collections:

Operation Neptune (https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060036700)

Composed of interviews with those involved, interspersed with archive footage taken from British, French and German sources. Aerial views of Southwark Park, the home of HMS Dryad (Naval navigation college and HQ of Operation Neptune) lead into an interview with Vice-Admiral Schofield, Captain of HMS Dryad in 1944. Schofield comments on the selection of HMS Dryad as HQ; later he will comment on the foul weather prior to D Day. An interview with one of Admiral Ramsay's Wrens follows, in which she discusses the pressure to open a second front. Intelligence specialist Commander Stanbury gives details on the planning and reconnaissance phases of the operation, including his recollection of personally swimming ashore at Normandy in order to inspect the defences; he will later give his impression of the landings themselves. A Canadian swimming tank driver gives details of training and the difficulty of operation for his vehicle. Mrs Gene Gordon recalls the amount of administrative support required prior to the invasion; she will later comment on the Wrens taking part in Admiral Ramsay's funeral. The operations room at HMS Dryad is shown, in its preserved state, as it was at "H" Hour on D Day. Aerial shots of Portsmouth Harbour follow. Leading to aerial shots of a lone landing craft, scene of an interview with Able Seaman Johnston who describes his impression of the flotilla before describing the problems of seasickness and disembarkation. This build up is contrasted with the ignorance of the German forces about the invasion, highlighted in an interview with the owner of the chateau in which the Germans had their Normandy HQ, who recalls a dinner and dance for the German officers on the very eve of the invasion. The calm of the night was shattered by the dropping of paratroops and the commencement of the bombing campaign prior to the invasion by Allied Forces. Admiral Parham (then captain of HMS Belfast) relays the part played by HMS Belfast at Normandy. The interview takes place on HMS Belfast's Captain's Bridge; Parham recalls the difficulty he had dodging landing craft while he sailed to the cruiser's bombardment position. He also suggests that HMS Belfast opened the bombardment on D Day. The film closes with contemporary shots of the Normandy coastline, alongside a British WWII sailor's grave, concluding with Admiral Ramsay's stained glass memorial at Portsmouth Cathedral.

[ancientaviator62]

Slight thread drift. Do we still do the Arnhem remembrance drops ?

[WE Branch Fanatic]

D-Day veterans share their stories with commandos ahead of Normandy return (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/04/20240604-d-day-veterans-meet-commandos) - Royal Navy

D-Day veterans shared their experiences with today’s generation of service personnel before returning to France for 80th anniversary commemorations.

Around ten Normandy survivors – the youngest 98 – were invited to recount their stories with serving RN, RM and RAF personnel, plus the general public at the D-Day Museum in Southsea, plus help the Commonwealth War Graves Commission light the first of 14 torches (one for each nationality which fought in Normandy) as part of its ‘light their legacy’ campaign to keep the memory of the 1944 generation alive.

Because 2024 is likely to be the last time we see D-Day veterans gather in any significant number before our greatest generation passes into history.

All those present were frail – walking with sticks or using wheelchairs, many wearing hearing aids – but mentally sharp as a razor… and clearly enjoying their day in the sun.

Like former Royal Marine Keith Whiting, 98 years old, but with a smile from one ear to the other as he found himself among the ranks of 47 Commando.

They are taking a large Landing Craft Utility to Normandy to support 80th anniversary commemorations, culminating in memorial events in Port-en-Bessin, a village liberated by commandos in 1944.

Men running to the beach in 1944 in such craft would have been protected by the umbrella provided by Mr Whiting and his comrades in the bombardment force.

Mr Whiting was one of the Royal Marines in X-Turret on June 6 1944 sending ‘iron greetings’ – 15in shells – to the German defenders.

Two things stick out in particular for the veteran of that momentous day. Firstly, the battleship’s eccentric skipper who wore a Maori ceremonial skirt over his trousers all day for good luck. The second the pipe made by the same skipper to report the record number of shells Ramillies fired.

Indeed, so many rounds left the barrels that they needed replacing when the battleship left the line a few days later.

Called in to support the advance of Allied armour pressing inland, spotter planes directed Ramillies guns towards a wood blocking the tanks’ path. “By the time we’d finished the shooting, there was nothing left of the wood,” Mr Whiting recalled.

Such a hammering took a toll of the marines in the turret. “Health and safety?” Mr Whiting laughed. “We shoved bits of toilet paper up our noses and in our ears. After a while you’d start to bleed, so you left the turret, took a break, replaced the toilet paper, and went back to your post.”

Aged just 19 John Dennett was an ‘old hand’ at amphibious operations: North Africa, Salerno, Anzio. “I saw a bit of the world before bloody Normandy,” he said. On June 1944 he crossed the Channel as an anti-aircraft gunner on Landing Ship Tank 322, charged with deliver 12 tanks in the second wave.

Seeing the armada crossing the Channel on the night of June 5th-6th filled him and his shipmates with confidence. “The sight was unbelievable and I knew there and then we were part of something big, you felt that nothing could happen to us.”

LST 322 lived a charmed life – spending some time on the beach awaiting the tide to refloat her before she could sail back to Portsmouth to pick up fresh troops and equipment...

[WE Branch Fanatic]

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity has released this recording on an interview with the 100 year old Rear Admiral John Roberts who was an Anti Submarine Warfare Officer aboard the destroyer HMS Serapis, supporting the landings on Sword Beach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnMSf234J9g

[Bergerie1]

WE B F,

Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay - one of the very great men of D-Day, and forgotten by so many. His planning, not only of the D-Day naval operations, but also of Dunkirk, N Africa and Sicily, was truly amazing. So often, the men behind the scenes are not sufficiently honoured. We should all remember him when we salute the brave men who landed on those beaches.

[Bergerie1]

Has this been posted before? Piper Bill Millin, what a man!! A very thoughtful tribute:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an-EBtHlnBU

[SLXOwft]

I was pleased to see (virtually) three RAF A400s flying in formation off the landing beaches today - practice for tomorrow?

[Timelord]

Excellent event at Portsmouth but did it finish early or were the Red Arrows late?

[MPN11]

Am I the only member of the Forum to have seen some of D Day?.Only as an embryo, so the view was non-existent. But ... I was caused by D-Day. My father (Captain RA) was scheduled to be in the second wave of landing craft on SWORD. My parents therefore decided it would be a good idea to produce a baby in case my father didn't come back. Somewhat flawed logic, but here I am!

Subsequent reshuffling of plans meant my father went in at D+8 on JUNO, and lasted until 11 July when he was wounded and shipped back to UK. When he had recovered, he was over the age at which personnel were being sent into France, so spent the rest of the war in UK. I was thus largely unnecessary! :uhoh:

[FantomZorbin]

I was thus largely unnecessary!
Courtesy forbids a reply! ;)

[Mogwi]

Diff got it, it’s Colin Bell.


I had the honour and absolute pleasure to dine with Colin, under the wing of the Hendon Lancaster, at the last RAF Gallantry Dinner. A truly remarkable man and sharp as a sharp thing.

Mog

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Remembering with sadness, the British D-Day veterans recall the war they saw and knew (https://apnews.com/article/dday-80th-anniversary-british-veterans-normandy-4ac919c807de280abc1960f94d884c84?utm_campaign=dfn-ebb&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sailthru) - Associated Press

​PORTSMOUTH, England (AP) — The British D-Day veterans who gathered Monday to kick off events marking the 80th anniversary of the landings in Northern France didn’t need a calendar to remember June 6, 1944.

The events of that day remain etched on their minds, unforgettable in their horror, inexplicable in their pain.

The mood was somber as about 40 of those who took part in the operation visited Southwick House, on the south coast of England, the Allied headquarters in the lead up to the Battle of Normandy. The event, sponsored by Britain’s Ministry of Defense, came before many of the veterans travel to France for international ceremonies commemorating D-Day.

Les Underwood, 98, a Royal Navy gunner on a merchant ship that was delivering ammunition to the beaches, kept firing to protect the vessel even as he saw soldiers drown under the weight of their equipment after leaving their landing craft.

“I’ve cried many a time … sat on my own,’’ Underwood said. “I used to get flashbacks. And in those days, there was no treatment. They just said, “Your service days are over. We don’t need you no more.’’’

But the aging veterans still find the strength to speak about their experiences, because they want future generations to remember the sacrifices of those who fought and died. With even the youngest of them now nearing their 100th birthdays, they know they are running out of time.

George Chandler, 99, served aboard a British motor torpedo boat as part of a flotilla that escorted the U.S. Army assault on Omaha and Utah beaches. The history books don’t capture the horror of the battle, he said.

“Let me assure you, what you read in those silly books that have been written about D-Day are absolute crap,” Chandler said. “It’s a load of old rubbish. I was there, how can I forget it?

“It’s a very sad memory because I watched young American Rangers get shot, slaughtered. And they were young. I was 19 at the time. These kids were younger than me.”

[tdracer]

Visited Point Du Hoc this morning. Couldn't get to the "Point" itself - there was a ceremony honoring the US Rangers who assaulted the position 80 years ago. I was far enough away that I couldn't make out much of what was said, but I did hear enough to tell that the 'honored guest' was a Ranger that had been involved - 18 at the time (so obviously 98 now). Didn't hear a name though. Saw four C130s do flybys - although there is something just not right with C130's sporting "Invasion Stripes"...
Apparently there was a large drop of paratroopers near Omaha, but we didn't see it.
Also visited Brecourt Manor, and Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.
Big event tomorrow at the US Cemetery at Omaha, although the logistics of visiting that mean we'll be sitting around waiting most of the day...

[KoenL]

Slight thread drift. Do we still do the Arnhem remembrance drops ?

Not since 2022 when a Hercules C.4 was the last aircraft to take part. Last participation from the BBMF Dakota was in 2015.
There are still remembrance drops of course, but without RAF aircraft.

[Canary Boy]

For the moment, until my senses clear, WOW

[Ninthace]

Indeed, must be dusty in here.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

We are eternally in your debt' King Charles tells D-Day veterans at Portsmouth commemoration (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/05/20240605-d-day-southsea-common) - Royal Navy

D-Day veterans received a standing ovation – led by Their Majesties the King and Queen – as Portsmouth hosted the principal commemoration to D-Day, 80 years on from the landing.

A six-gun salute in tribute fired by frigate HMS St Albans was timed to perfection as a 90-minute ‘show’ – part celebration, part commemoration, part concert – ended on Southsea Common and the Red Arrows and a solitary RAF Typhoon flew directly overhead.

But it was the appearance by those who were there on June 6 1944 which brought an 8,000-strong crowd in a specially-constructed amphitheatre to its feet at the beginning and end of what might be described as an ‘homage to D-Day’, hosted by Dame Helen Mirren.

Veterans Eric Bateman, who served in HMS Erebus off Utah Beach, and former tank crewman Roy Haywood, who lost both legs below the knee three weeks into the battle for Normandy made near identical pleas: honour the legacy of their comrades and ensure their stories and deeds are never forgotten.

Fifty-two sailors volunteered to form the naval element of the Royal Guard for this and other D-Day commemorations this week.

They were drilled into shape over the past two weeks by a team under Warrant Officer Glynn ‘Moffs’ Moffat, the Royal Navy’s State Ceremonial Officer – but the training has focused on more than just military precision.

“We had a pep talk this morning and the analogy I used was… 80 years ago there was probably a warrant officer giving a brief to individuals about going into war,” he explained.

“My brief to them wasn’t so severe but it was absolutely about them recognising those who did do that 80 years ago. It’s all part of that sense of duty.”

With D-Day veterans becoming fewer with the passing of time, the anniversary becomes increasingly poignant.

“It’s not lost on us that this could be one of the last major events. It makes it even more important that we give it everything we have,” WO1 Moffat said.

“That’s to instil in the generation we have now how much was sacrificed for our freedoms and it’s even more important to articulate that now.”

Leading Communications Technician Craig Jackson, a 28-year-old Liverpudlian said all members of the guard had “loved being a part of this – it’s a great experience.

“The veterans are unbelievable, an incredibly humble group. They keep referring to us in uniform as heroes, but really compared with what they went through, we’re not.”

Among those forming the guard, Merlin helicopter Air Engineering Technician Joshua Carter, at 21 two years younger than his great uncle… killed on D-Day during an operation by airborne forces to seize a bridge over the River Dives – and thus prevent German armour reaching the invasion zone.

Henry Matthew Carter, a 23-year-old private in the Parachute Regiment from County Durham, is today at rest in a cemetery Troarn, east of Caen.

The family never really talked about the tragedy, so participation in 80th anniversary events has allowed Henry’s young descendant to appreciate what happened to him.

“I cannot imagine how anyone could put into words what they went through – my family couldn’t. My great uncle is a bit of mystery. I find it impossible to put myself in his place, although it’s obvious whatever he did, it took incredible bravery.

“To be involved in the 80th anniversary event is pretty special. There’s a lot of responsibility resting on us to make this event look spectacular.”

And it did. From the opening DC-3 flypast to a wartime swing numbers, a rendition of We’ll Meet Again which turned the makeshift auditorium into a sea of moving small Union Jack flags and heartbreaking last letters and diary entries of participants brought to life by actors, the event was as much carnival as commemoration.

The King, Prince of Wales and Prime Minister all performed readings with His Majesty calling upon the nation to “always remember, cherish and honour those who served that day and live up to the freedoms which they died for. We are eternally in their debt.”

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key, who is crossing to France in a P2000 patrol craft to take part in tomorrow’s international commemorative events in Normandy on D-Day itself, praised the “skill, endeavour, bravery and ingenuity of hundreds of thousands of people” committed to a single goal: victory over tyranny.

He continued: “The feats were phenomenal, humility and humour are an inspiration. They set an example to us all and we should not take for granted in our times what it took to achieve in their pasts.”

Tonight commemorations continue with a simultaneous light show in Portsmouth and Bayeux (9 and 10pm local time respectively) before the focus shifts to remembrance and thanksgiving in Normandy tomorrow, 80 years to the day of the invasion.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Here is the third (I think) in the series of D Day related videos from the IWM. After videos covering the sea and air aspects of the campaign, this one focusses on the land campaign: It mentions the fact that the Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe had been worn down by mid 1944 - the U boat Wolfpacks had been defeated in May 1943 and the Bomber Offensive wore away at German fighter units and aircraft production - as well as the deception efforts and the adapted tanks used on the Normandy beaches...

The reason Germany failed on D-Day (Ft. Jonathan Ferguson) (youtube.com)

[Canary Boy]

I’ll try very hard to avoid jingoism, but our armed services, national broadcasting company and those wonderful survivors and families did us so proud. The lump in my throat became hard to bear on so many occasions during the broadcast. The Band of the Royal Air Force and the representatives of all branches of the military gave an unrivalled demonstration of our (mostly) younger generation’s ability to continue the ingrained, finest, traditions which we old ‘uns hold so dear. A heartfelt thank you to all. :D

Edited to add that the drone display was astonishing!

[212man]

gave an unrivalled demonstration of our (mostly) younger generation’s ability to continue the ingrained, finest, traditions which we old ‘uns hold so dear. A heartfelt thank you to all. https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies2/eusa_clap.gif

Indeed, and yet we still have to listen to drivel from (never served in any capacity) muppets who talk about a one-off generation. As if we never had Korea/Borneo/Aden/NI/Falklands/Iraq/Afghanistan.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

This is a booklet produced by the Naval Historical Branch ten years ago for D Day 70:

​OPERATION NEPTUNE (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/royal-navy-responsive/documents/events/d-day-70/13_472-nhb-operation-neptune-d_day-book.pdf)

​Contents:

What was Operation NEPTUNE?
Planning for NEPTUNE
Where were the Beaches?
What Forces were involved - Military
Air Forces
Allied Naval Forces
How Many Troops were landed on D-Day?
Main Events of D-Day Beach by Beach
What was the Scale of Enemy Resistance to Allied Naval Activity?
How many Allied Ships were lost during the Normandy Campaign?
How was the Logistics Build-up sustained?
How long did Naval Support for the Invasion Continue?
Which bases were used to Mount & Support Operation NEPTUNE?
Where did the Assault Convoys Load and Assemble?
Where did the Merchant Ships Load and Assemble?
Typical Assault - Sword Beach Area
Typical Close Range Support Diagram
Sword Beach Force S
Juno Beach Force J
Gold Beach Force G
Omaha Beach Force O
Utah Beach Force U
Normandy Naval Chronology
Allied Naval Forces Allocated to Operation NEPTUNE
What were the Mulberry Harbours?
Arromanches Artificial Port
UK Airfields
What was the Contribution of Naval Aviation?
Covering Forces D-1/D-Day (Chart)

[BonnieLass]

Absolutely stunning drone display over Portsmouth and Southsea last night.....

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13499607/D-Day-80th-anniversary-drone-display-Portsmouth-thrills-crowds-giant-Spitfire-battleship-skies-fireworks-veterans-Normandy.html

[DogTailRed2]

Paradrops, bunting, no doubt a lot of people selling merchandise, military vehicle rallies, air shows et al. Are we missing the point? A simple day of remembrance would suffice. It's not about the spectacle. It's about the veterans (be they friend, foe or civilian). The loss.

[BonnieLass]

Paradrops, bunting, no doubt a lot of people selling merchandise, military vehicle rallies, air shows et al. Are we missing the point? A simple day of remembrance would suffice. It's not about the spectacle. It's about the veterans (be they friend, foe or civilian). The loss.



The number of surviving veterans is dwindling fast, once they are all gone, who will be there to tell their stories?

Younger generations have little or, sadly, no grasp of WW2 or the millions of families who lost loved ones. It isn't taught in schools, least not in the depth that I was taught back in the 70's. Yesterday a journalist walked through Birmingham city center asking teens what D-Day was and meant, hardly any of them gave the right answer, many assumed that it was the start of the Cold War.

If it means drone and firework displays, airshows, merchandising etc to keep D-Day firmly into memories, that is what you have to do. It that is what it takes to ensure that younger generations do not forget the sacrifices made for everyone's freedom from tyranny, then so be it.

The stories of those no longer here must be told, they must be remembered and technology can ensure that those stories are heard and that those who died fighting for freedoms that we still have now are never ever forgotten or ignored.

[wowzz]

Indeed, and yet we still have to listen to drivel from (never served in any capacity) muppets who talk about a one-off generation. As if we never had Korea/Borneo/Aden/NI/Falklands/Iraq/Afghanistan.
But, in later conflicts (Korea apart) those who bravely served their country were professional soldiers. The generation who fought in WW2 (and WW1) were civilians who prior to the war, would never have believed that they might suffer a military death. That, in my view, makes them a one-off generstion.

[Diff Tail Shim]

But, in later conflicts (Korea apart) those who bravely served their country were professional soldiers. The generation who fought in WW2 (and WW1) were civilians who prior to the war, would never have believed that they might suffer a military death. That, in my view, makes them a one-off generstion.
All the professional servicemen that died since end of conscription were are civilians before they joined. Lots joined because it was a job as well at times where unemployment was high. Anyone whom has been killed in service at anytime deserves same recognition. That is my take as a 25 year time served veteran, I joined to work on dynamic machines. However we remember those today whom gave their lives in the liberation of countries from the Nazis.

[Asturias56]

"Yesterday a journalist walked through Birmingham city center asking teens what D-Day was and meant, hardly any of them gave the right answer, many assumed that it was the start of the Cold War."

I'm always a little suspicious of such reports - if he'd offered them £ 5 for the right answer i'll bet the numbers would be quite different

[BonnieLass]

"Yesterday a journalist walked through Birmingham city center asking teens what D-Day was and meant, hardly any of them gave the right answer, many assumed that it was the start of the Cold War."

I'm always a little suspicious of such reports - if he'd offered them £ 5 for the right answer i'll bet the numbers would be quite different

They were caught on film, perhaps they were encouraged, who knows, but seeing as several of the UK's large cities were done in this way and very few actually know the answer, I tend to think no bribery was required, they simply didn't know or understand.

[DogTailRed2]

The number of surviving veterans is dwindling fast, once they are all gone, who will be there to tell their stories?

Younger generations have little or, sadly, no grasp of WW2 or the millions of families who lost loved ones. It isn't taught in schools, least not in the depth that I was taught back in the 70's. Yesterday a journalist walked through Birmingham city center asking teens what D-Day was and meant, hardly any of them gave the right answer, many assumed that it was the start of the Cold War.

If it means drone and firework displays, airshows, merchandising etc to keep D-Day firmly into memories, that is what you have to do. It that is what it takes to ensure that younger generations do not forget the sacrifices made for everyone's freedom from tyranny, then so be it.

The stories of those no longer here must be told, they must be remembered and technology can ensure that those stories are heard and that those who died fighting for freedoms that we still have now are never ever forgotten or ignored.
Maybe it should be forgotten at some point. No one seems to care about all the wars since, or before.

[mole man]

Hundreds of troops parachute into historic Normandy drop zone for D-Day 80
https://youtu.be/SpaaaVddp7k

[Biggus]

I see that today, of all days, all the main political party leaders are trying to score electioneering points by making promises about what they will do for veterans if they form the next government...

Opinions may vary, but personally I consider it in extremely bad taste.

[Biggus]

With regard to the parachute drop in commemoration of D-Day, I note that after landing the British paratroopers had to queue up to show their passports....

[BonnieLass]

Maybe it should be forgotten at some point. No one seems to care about all the wars since, or before.

I don't think it is down to people not caring but more to do with people simply cannot relate to wartime situations like, for example, WW2. As much as there have been war situations since WW2 and, of course, currently, none have really been "on the doorstep", so many people feel detached from it "it is happening xyz thousand miles away, it isn't anything to do with us" thing.

Vietnam, Korea and others were, in the eyes of many, too far away, within the specific country's boundaries. Whereas WW1 and WW2 were very close to home, involved many more countries and touched more lives in that families lost loved ones, not only at home but abroad fighting for freedoms and against common enemies - Germany and Japan. In WW1 and WW2 you would not be able to walk down a street anywhere without knowing this or that family had lost someone, homes bombed out or killed on the battlefields or in the air or at sea.

Attitudes have changed...those born during the WW2 years and who grew up through rationing and shortages understood how hard life could be, how painful war is to those left behind, they can relate to it, they saw the aftermath with their own eyes. Subsequent generations have a much more difficult time relating to what happened 80 years ago cos many don't have grandparents who can impart stories to them about the days of darkness and fear that they experienced in the Blitz or Pearl Harbour or as a PoW in Europe, North Africa and Far East. Which is why it is vital to keep those experiences and stories alive, not just so that the souls lost are never forgotten but that the experiences as a whole during wartime are not forgotten.

You need to learn from lessons of the past.....and in order to learn, you need to discuss, debate, visit places like Point du Hoc, Arromanches, Pearl Harbour. And you should also visit the darker side of wartime, Mauthausen, Dacau, Auschwitz, Treblinka....Dacau was opened in 1933, Mauthausen was an asylum for the physically and mentally disabled long before it became a death camp. It wasn't "just" 6 million who didn't go home from the camps it was more than 12 million, from all walks of life, all nationalities, all faiths, physically and mentally disabled. Not forgetting the camps throughout Burma, Thailand, Indochina, Singapore, Philippines and others which also must never be forgotten.

If you fail to remember then history will inevitably repeat....such as the Balkans, Ukraine.

We, as older generations, have a duty to ensure that the younger generations and those generations still to come never forget every sacrifice, every war, every hardship and every single soul who lost their life for the good and safety of others.

[BonnieLass]

With regard to the parachute drop in commemoration of D-Day, I note that after landing the British paratroopers had to queue up to show their passports....

I read about that too.

Not sure what the protocol would be for anyone who forgot to take their passport with them. Bureaucracy at its pettiest

[Ninthace]

The French set up a table to check them in. The Americans avoided the passport check by taking off from French soil, the Belgians are in Schengen, so exempt.

[son of brommers]

I see that today, of all days, all the main political party leaders are trying to score electioneering points by making promises about what they will do for veterans if they form the next government...

Opinions may vary, but personally I consider it in extremely bad taste.
I am not a veteran but come from a military family. If I were a veteran however, irrespective of the day, I think that I'd be rather peeved that the politicians are only offering enticements to me because of an election when they should have been providing these things as a matter of course.

[BonnieLass]

During the TV coverage I had noticed a few shots of Ambassador Cruises ships Ambition and Ambience, especially during the drone display over Portsmouth last night and off the Normandy coast today. They are both still off the coast of Normandy now according to AIS, Ambition is off Cherbourg and Ambience is off Barfleur. They have been sailing in tandem since sunrise approximately 5 miles off the Normany coast tween Cherbourg and Le Havre and back.

They are both supporting Help For Heroes, both ships have several members of the HFH charity on board along with families of D-Day Veterans and other members of the public, HFH personnel and former servicemen and women are giving insight talks and various other events during the cruises to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by former service personnel and to fundraise.

https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/give-support/d-day-80/ambassador-cruise-line-d-day-80-cruises/

[Geriaviator]

We turned on TV news to see our Paras queuing up to have their passports inspected by il Douane. I thought the pettiness of the French knew no bounds, but clearly I was wrong.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Royal Marines follow in the footsteps of D-Day heroes (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/06/060624-royal-marines-mark-dday-80) - Royal Navy

Royal Marines emerged from landing craft on to the beaches of Normandy as they followed in the footsteps of their forebears 80 years ago.

Led ashore by Commanding Officer, Colonel Will Norcott and Regimental Sergeant Major Matt Hill, 50 marines of 47 Commando waded ashore through waist-deep waters on to Gold Beach, where their predecessors faced down German occupiers on D-Day as part of the largest amphibious landings ever undertaken.

The Plymouth-based unit make an annual pilgrimage to the landing grounds and, while the world’s leaders and figureheads, including His Majesty King Charles and US President Joe Biden, gathered at 80th anniversary commemorative events across Normandy, the marines carried out their own unique tributes.

They laid wreathes on the beaches and held a brief ceremony, before yomping (marching) 15 kilometres to Port-en-Bessin, a crucial port which the unit wrested from the Germans in the days following June 6.

For the Royal Marines – who remain the UK’s specialist in amphibious operations – June 6 1944 and the subsequent campaign in Normandy remain one of the proudest chapters in the Corps’ 360-year history.

More than 17,600 Royal Marines were assigned to D-Day and one in 40 marines – more than 430 men – made the ultimate sacrifice as the allies sought to liberate north-western Europe from Nazi tyranny.

Col Norcott said: “It’s really important to remember what those people did for us 80 years ago.

“We want to commemorate what they did and respect the sacrifices that were made for not only this part of France but Europe.

“It’s also really important we educate our younger people coming through about what happened.”

The modern day 47 Commando are responsible for small boat raiding operations and continually take inspiration from their forebears of the Second World War.

The kit has moved on but the mindset is exactly the same.

“As we take the Commando Force forward, we want to get back to our commando roots and retain the mindset that those people had 80 years ago when commandos first started,” Col Norcott said.

“We’re learning lessons from the past as we develop into the future as the Royal Navy’s special operations fighting force and one of the UK’s very high readiness forces of choice.

“We’re trying to adapt for the future but also keeping that original mindset.”

Members of the public got the opportunity to go onto one of the unit’s modern landing craft and meet the marines, while a little further west from Asnelles, at Arromanches, the unit landed Major Trevor Macey-Lillie, piper with the Scottish gunners, who enacted a time-honoured tradition of playing a Scottish lament.

The tradition recreates the exact moment thousands of British troops disembarked onto French beaches.

Major Macey-Lillie performed Highland Laddie, also known as Hielan' Laddie, in a Landing Craft Utility before being driven up the beach in a DUKW amphibious vehicle.

Leading Hand Kai Misters, a landing craft engineer (stoker) with 47 Commando, has been in Normandy with the unit.

He said: “This kind of thing will happen once in my lifetime. I could have been on deployment in Singapore but I wanted to be here. I wanted to meet some D-Day veterans.

“If I was a stoker 80 years ago, coming towards this beach, we’d have had bullets hitting the front ramp. And you know if that ramp comes down you’ve got to run towards the beach.

“I wouldn’t have been doing that as an engineer but just seeing and hearing that is unimaginable.

“But it’s made me realise what stokers would have gone through on that day. That’s not spoken about. Perhaps I’ll meet one here today.”

[NRU74]

I'd not seen the RAF Shoulder Flashes saying RAF MUSIC before yesterday and today.
How long have they had the flashes. I'd googled it but couldn't get the date.
(perhaps I should get out more !)

[MPN11]

So terribly sad ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlle8dljnno


A World War Two US Navy veteran travelling to France for an event marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings has died, a veteran organisation has confirmed.

Robert "Al" Persichitti from Rochester, New York, was airlifted to a hospital in Germany on 30 May after suffering a medical emergency aboard a ship heading to Europe.

He died the following day,aged 102.

[SLXOwft]

Having read some of the above, I asked my daughters (16 & 13) what they knew, the 13 year-old gave a fairly coherent answer about what D-day was and why. She said she had been taught about it recently. My 16-year old is studying Germany from unification to reunification as part of her history A-level so any answer from her is likely to be atypical. I then asked why their grandfather (whose service took him to five continents) was in the Indian Ocean in '44-45, they seemed to think the war against Japan was only in the Pacific - interestingly the 13 year old commented the Americans only dropped the A-bombs to impress the Russians. India, Burma, Singapore and the Japanese PoW camps appeared to be unknown to them. I remember them both studying a lot about WW2 in primary school, my daughter was able to give a presentation on evacuation drawing on the direct experiences of my mother and her sister. When it came to celebrating the anniversary of VE Day there was no mention of that the War wasn't over - I managed to avoid saying something to her teachers I might have later regretted. I have previously told my daughters of my uncle whose reactions saved him from a Chinese bayonet in Korea, the day before he was due to return home.

To be honest we have dragged them round a lot of Great War sites and visited the graves of my great uncle and a number of his cousins around Vimy and the Somme. Our local secondary school does an annual trip to Flanders. There is another cousin a 'D-Day dodger' buried in Italy - I would imagine that campaign would stretch my daughters' knowledge. We holiday a lot in Normandy, when younger they have played among the remains of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches, and walked past the Commando Kiefer monument in Ouisterham, they have visited Pointe du Hoc and last year we visited the new memorial, it was early morning and the car park was empty so we were able to wander around in peace. We have also visited German cemeteries as I feel that it is important that they remember war is a tragedy for individuals on both sides irrespective of the justice of their cause. So I feel I have done my bit to keep the memory alive in my children, if I haven't harped on about the details it was because i didn't want them to reject the experience as being bored by dad..

I do think it is right to give special prominence to commemoration of the Two World Wars, they were (with Operation Banner) the ones in which civilians were killed by enemy action in the UK; in the case of WWII there was an active existential threat to the UK and Western Civilization in general.

I do also agree that schools have a duty to teach about the sacrifice since. I suspect it would be extremely difficult to find a schoolchild who knows that: 'since 1945; 1968 and 2016 were the only years where no UK armed forces personnel have lost their lives as a result of a medal earning operation.' (As at February 2021 - UK armed forces Deaths: Operational deaths post World War II - 3 September 1945 to 28 February 2021: Ministry of Defence). I still remember being shocked when told about 1968 in the 1980s.

Without wanting to diminish the remembrance of those who fought in Overlord (Nearly four times as many British and Canadians died in the Battle of Normandy than there have been UK death casualties since VJ day) here is the MODs table from the document quoted above. The Malayan Emergency figure was a real eye opener.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/824x688/service_deaths_61d1e5b1f2e04934a4497acd772162ad6d1eef08.jpg

[sycamore]

Some misleading figures there,of note,especially `Borneo`,during `Confrontation`,or perhaps it was just another `SMO`...Looking at the figures given by MOD,total deaths as 140..nothing under `hostile action or other causes,NOTE 8 AND 9 would be useful...If one now goes to the NMBVA` website,it lists everybody who died,by date,but not how,and burial details,cremations,repatriations,or `no known place`.The total number is 451,but it does include 106 Gurkhas,45 Australians and New Zealanders,and 1 Sarawak Ranger,giving a total UK loss of 405...!

NMBVA-National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association.

[SLXOwft]

Sycamore, below are the Borneo definition (Indonesian Confrontation not Malayan Emergency) and the notes. I understand that the casualties are grouped according to the medal/clasp awarded.

A newer version of the document for 2023, sadly with two further Op Shader deaths, can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6421a4ad2fdbff000fb023eb/20230330_UK_armed_forces_Operational_deaths_post_World_War_I I-O.pdf
The 2021 version I quoted is still available online here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6059cefa8fa8f545d995f161/20210325_UK_armed_forces_Operational_deaths_post_World_War_I I-O.pdf

Borneo (GSM) 24 Dec 1962 to 11 Aug 1966
The Indonesian–Malaysian confrontation erupted into a violent conflict which stemmed from Indonesia's opposition to the creation of Malaysia. Initial Indonesian attacks into East Malaysia relied heavily on local volunteers who had been trained by the Indonesian Army. However, when the infiltration forces became more organised, the British responded in 1964 by launching their own operations.

Notes
Source: Defence Statistics Health
1. Includes: Korea Medal 2 July 1950 – 27 July 1953 and Korea medal (UN) 27 June 1950 – 27 July 1954
2. As at 31 December 2020 as sourced from the Armed Forces Memorial database received at the end of each calendar year.
3. Amended from previous releases of information prior to 2013 in UK Defence Statistics, Parliamentary questions and Freedom of Information requests due to Defence Statistics Health validation exercise on all Northern Ireland deaths.
4. Includes deaths to personnel targeted outside of Northern Ireland as a result of the troubles (see Data Coverage for further information).
5. As at 28 February 2021. As part of an ongoing commitment to report deaths for all medium scale and contingent Operations, deaths as a result of these operations are published biannually in: UK armed forces and UK civilian operational casualty and fatality statistics.
6. Includes: the Former Yugoslavia (NATO FRY) 1 July 1992 – 31 December 2002; Sarajevo Airlift (UN) 3 July 1992 – 12 January 1996;Georgia (UNOMIG) 23 August 1993 to present; Kosovo (NATO) 13 October 1998 – 31 December 2002; Kosovo (UMNIK) 10 June
1999 to present; Macedonia (NATO) 1 June 2001 – 31 December 2002 and Balkans (NATO) 1 January 2003 to present. To identify which deaths occurred on specific Operations relating to activities in the Balkans, individual Service records would need to be examined, as such MOD presents the information under the overarching category ‘Balkans’.
7. Includes deaths on Operation VERITAS, Operation HERRICK and Operation TORAL.
8. Hostile action is a battle casualty who is killed outright or dies of wounds received in action.
9. Other causes are deaths due to: accidents; natural causes; assaults; coroner confirmed suicides; and cause not known

[WE Branch Fanatic]

In an earlier post, I made the point that Operation Neptune/Overlord should not be seen in isolation from previous campaigns, such as the wearing down of the German surface fleet in Norway, the evacuation from Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the struggle in the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Bomber Offensive, and the Battle of the Atlantic. But as well as proceeding actions, there were concurrent actions which not only kept our forces busy but kept German forces tied up and unable to reinforce the Western Front.

As the Normandy landings were taking place, British and Commonwealth forces were also active in the Far East, and in the European theatre the convoys in the Atlantic and Arctic continued. The Home Fleet and elements of RAF Coastal Command still had to be alert to the possibility of the Tirpitz or other major Kriegsmarine surface units putting to sea - possibly intending to sail for the English Channel, as noted here (https://defenceindepth.co/2017/09/29/absent-friends-british-naval-aviation-and-d-day/) by Tim Benbow.

The three escort carriers involved in screening against U boats were:

HMS Emperor (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/EMPEROR.htm)

​EMPEROR was to spend the next few weeks providing air cover for anti-submarine forces and convoys operating in the western approaches. Air coverage was provided for the Gibraltar/Freetown bound convoys OS78/KMS52, which departed Liverpool on May 22nd and the Liverpool bound SL158/MKS49 which departed Gibraltar on May 29th. On handing off her charges on June 1st EMPEROR joined the CVEs PURSUER and TRACKER for operations in the western approaches as part of the cover forces for operation NEPTUNE. The carriers were employed in a position 150 miles west of Lands' End to carry out anti-submarine patrols to intercept U-Boat attempting to enter the English Channel for attacks on invasion traffic. The 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and 15th Escort Groups were also deployed in this area to provide additional support.

HMS Pursuer (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/PURSUER.htm)

HMS PURSUER put to sea on June 2nd 1944 embarking both her squadrons from RNAS Burscough (http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Burscough.htm) to prepare for operations in the western approaches as part of the cover forces for NEPTUNE operations. PURSUER was employed with TRACKER (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/TRACKER.htm) and EMPEROR (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/EMPEROR.htm) in a position 150 miles west of Lands' End to carry out anti-submarine patrols to intercept U-Boat attempting to enter the English Channel for attacks on invasion traffic. The 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and 15th Escort Groups were also deployed in this area to provide additional support.

On June 5th all available hands were employed to paint the aircraft with the black and white "Bumble Bee" recognition stripes that all allied aircraft were to wear for the invasion. On June 8th 896 (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/S896.htm) squadron lost another pilot; Sub-Lt. J. M. Barber was killed when his aircraft, JV541 crashed into the sea after an accelerated take off.

There were few contacts to investigate during this operation but one enemy aircraft was intercepted and destroyed; at 18:35 on June 9th Lt A. C. Martin, RNZNVR and Sub-Lt. D. Symons, RNVR of 896 (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/S896.htm) squadron attacked and shot down a Ju88 at 49°4'N, 7°58'W. PURSUER was released from NEPTUNE operations on June 11th and on arriving back on the Clyde on the 12th was allocated for operations with the Mediterranean fleet.

HMS Tracker (https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/TRACKER.htm)

​TRACKER left the Tail O' the Bank on June 3rd carrying the 12 Avenger of 846 Squadron and 8 Wildcat fighters; 'L' Flight of 1832 (http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/SQUADRONS/1832_Squadron.htm) Squadron had been attached on May 13th 1944 at RNAS Machrihanish (http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Machrihanish.htm) doubling the fighter contingent (these were absorbed into 846 shortly after this as 1832 disbanded on June 1st). On June 5th all available hands were employed to paint all the aircraft with the black and white "Bumble Bee" recognition stripes that all allied aircraft were to wear for the invasion.

TRACKER, joined the CVEs PURSUER (http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/PURSUER.htm) and EMPEROR (http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/EMPEROR.htm) for operations in the western approaches as part of the cover forces for operation NEPTUNE. The carriers were employed in a position 150 miles west of Lands' End to carry out anti-submarine patrols to intercept U-Boat attempting to enter the English Channel for attacks on invasion traffic. The 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and 15th Escort Groups were also deployed in this area to provide additional support.

The screening role of the escort carriers and the escort groups is often forgotten.

[ancientaviator62]

I seem to recall a story about a D Day veteran visiting France a few years after WW2, When he was asked for his passport he replied that the last time he was here he did not need a passport. The official demanded to know when this was 'June 6 1944' was the reply.

[Captivep]

We turned on TV news to see our Paras queuing up to have their passports inspected by il Douane. I thought the pettiness of the French knew no bounds, but clearly I was wrong.
A result of Brexit, obviously, but spectacularly bad judgement by the French on that day, of all days...

On the plus side, though, it does give us a chance to continue our love/hate relationship with our neighbours across the Channel. To parphrase Bob Monkhouse: "if only they'd decided to check the passports of all those Germans in 1940".

[BonnieLass]

So terribly sad ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlle8dljnno

In the early/mid 2000's there was a TV series that followed the Essex police, mainly traffic related.

One episode, a report of an elderly gentleman had broken down on the motorway and was in a distressed state. The police went to find him, realised that his car was too badly damaged by a blown tyre and went to arrange recovery. The elderly gentleman then stated that he was on his way to the D-Day commemorations and that he was meant to be meeting old comrades at Arnhem Bridge. The police arranged for his car to be recovered, then took him to a car hire garage to see if there was a car that he could take, they understood the importance of the journey and with the help of the car hire firm, the gentleman was able to attend his reunion. The last you saw of him was driving away from the hire firm.

At the end of the programme, the end credits showed a photo of the gentleman, with his comrades at the bridge. It stated underneath the photo of them all together that although he had made it to his reunion he had passed away that night in his hotel with his comrades by his side.

The determination to attend is extremely strong for these Veterans, you have to admire their strength to make such a journey, many of whom travel thousands of miles to be there, this year it will almost certainly be the last time that most can say their "goodbyes" to their brothers in arms.

[Asturias56]

I see the PM beetled off early - says it all really.................... :(

[minigundiplomat]

I see the PM beetled off early - says it all really.................... https://www.pprune.org/images/smilies/sowee.gif

I can't say leaving early is a bad thing - given warfare is a failure of politics, I'd have rather not seen any of the lying bar stewards there yesterday. Starmer making a big thing about this morning because of the election, but I'd rather they'd all disappeared for the day, like the cockroaches they are.

[dixi188]

Excellent event at Portsmouth but did it finish early or were the Red Arrows late?
I believe the Reds were late due to an ATC delay at Bournemouth. Apparently the controller prioritised 4 commercial movements before letting the Reda take off.

[Mil-26Man]

The first casualty of British commemorative parachute drops into the EU is the truth, it seems...

SallyB (McGlone) on X: "This was requested by the USA so that those landing in the DZ could have a France 🇫🇷 Normandy stamp on their passport dated 6 June 2024 (80th Anniversary), so actually very cool !" / X (twitter.com)

[langleybaston]

I see the PM beetled off early - says it all really.................... :(

Most PMs or Leaders of Opposition are remembered for one thing, good, bad or weird.

Lloyd George: in and out of bed
Chamberlain: Peace in our time
Churchill: We will fight them on the beaches .......... [or a dozen alternatives]
MacMillan: Events, dear boy, events
Wilson: Pound in your pocket
Eden: Suez debacle
Blair: Bliar
Brown: waiting for ever
Thatcher: Rejoice [or never never never, or the handbag]
Foot: that greenish coat at the Cenotaph
Teresa May: who?
BoJo: Partygate
Truss: 40 days and 40 nights

and now I think
Sunak: The D Day runner.

There's crass and there's CRASS. Who advises this smug idiot?

[Some of the quotations may be approximations]

[212man]

The first casualty of British commemorative parachute drops into the EU is the truth, it seems...

SallyB (McGlone) on X: "This was requested by the USA so that those landing in the DZ could have a France 🇫🇷 Normandy stamp on their passport dated 6 June 2024 (80th Anniversary), so actually very cool !" / X (twitter.com) (https://twitter.com/sallyacb275/status/1799021932022763635)

Yes they clearly arrived earlier and this is nonsense. Do they seriously think they flew to the DZ from the US in a C130?

Maybe the Brits could have repositioned in advance too, to avoid this. But the fact that the French set up an immigration centre in a field, rather than insisting on a port of entry, is a huge concession and the opposite of pettiness.

[212man]

Most PMs or Leaders of Opposition are remembered for one thing, good, bad or weird.

Lloyd George: in and out of bed
Chamberlain: Peace in our time
Churchill: We will fight them on the beaches .......... [or a dozen alternatives]
MacMillan: Events, dear boy, events
Wilson: Pound in your pocket
Eden: Suez debacle
Blair: Bliar
Brown: waiting for ever
Thatcher: Rejoice [or never never never, or the handbag]
Foot: that greenish coat at the Cenotaph
Teresa May: who?
BoJo: Partygate
Truss: 40 days and 40 nights

and now I think
Sunak: The D Day runner.

There's crass and there's CRASS. Who advises this smug idiot?

[Some of the quotations may be approximations]
Crass is the word I’ve been using too. The action and the response!

[tdracer]

Attended the commemoration ceremony yesterday - made for a horribly long day - buses left at 5am for what normally would have been a one hour ride to Omaha. With all the delays and :mad:, we sat down minutes for the event started at ~1:30 pm (:eek:), the event lasted a little over an hour, then we were able to re-board our buses a little after 8pm, arriving back at our hotel in Cherbourg about 9:30 pm. I won't go into the gory details but I'm not impressed with the overall organization of the event...
That being said, while the time related return on investment was pretty poor, I'm glad I was there...
Today was overall far better - went to the far east of Normandy to the Pegasus Bridge site - and (totally unplanned) met the daughter of the first British fatal casualty on June 6 1944 - father's name was brotherhood (the tour is by Ambrose historical tours - she saw one of our name tags an approached us as Steven Ambrose had interviewed her when writing his book on the Pegasus Bridge).
We then went to the area of the 82nd Airborne drop - saw the site of the battle for the la Fiere bridge, then went to Ste Mare Eglise and went through the Airborne Museum there. Very interesting stuff.

[212man]

Attended the commemoration ceremony yesterday - made for a horribly long day - buses left at 5am for what normally would have been a one hour ride to Omaha. With all the delays and :mad:, we sat down minutes for the event started at ~1:30 pm (:eek:), the event lasted a little over an hour, then we were able to re-board our buses a little after 8pm, arriving back at our hotel in Cherbourg about 9:30 pm. I won't go into the gory details but I'm not impressed with the overall organization of the event...
That being said, while the time related return on investment was pretty poor, I'm glad I was there...
Today was overall far better - went to the far east of Normandy to the Pegasus Bridge site - and (totally unplanned) met the daughter of the first British fatal casualty on June 6 1944 - father's name was brotherhood (the tour is by Ambrose historical tours - she saw one of our name tags an approached us as Steven Ambrose had interviewed her when writing his book on the Pegasus Bridge).
We then went to the area of the 82nd Airborne drop - saw the site of the battle for the la Fiere bridge, then went to Ste Mare Eglise and went through the Airborne Museum there. Very interesting stuff.
Sorry you had such a horrible day with an early start and delays. At least you weren’t actually in D-Day! Sorry for my grumpiness, but…. Really?!

[SLXOwft]

Crass is the word I’ve been using too. The action and the response!

This from a man with Catterick Garrison his constituency. (He lost RAF Leeming under the new constituency boundaries.)

[Easy Street]

But the fact that the French set up an immigration centre in a field, rather than insisting on a port of entry, is a huge concession and the opposite of pettiness.

This must be a joke? A perfectly normal concession between NATO members is to waive immigration checks, require forces to be 100% accountable for their troops at all times, and to pass nominal rolls and details of any absentees to host nation authorities. For instance I have never seen an immigration officer attend upon British arrivals or departures from US military airfields, and whenever I have subsequently exited from a US civilian airport, military papers have always been readily accepted as explanation for the absence of an entry stamp. Even the famously bureaucratic Gulf states have been known to allow arriving western military personnel more freedom of movement than we saw in Normandy here. At the very least, the border checks could have been done more discreetly, away from the public eye, perhaps upon mustering for onwards transport. I found the optics displeasing considering the occasion, and even those media outlets which normally seize upon any disbenefit to remind us what a mistake Brexit was have reported it with a distinctly bemused tone.

[Asturias56]

election coming in France - immigration control will be a major issue so probably some French jobsworth decided to show they were on the ball..............

[Flap Track 6]

went to the far east of Normandy to the Pegasus Bridge site - and (totally unplanned) met the daughter of the first British fatal casualty on June 6 1944 - father's name was brotherhood

Den Brotheridge

[Geriaviator]

Sunak's was not the only insulting behaviour of the commemorations. To show his importance, the petty little Macron and his wife kept our King and Queen waiting for 20 minutes at the opening ceremony.

[57mm]

Forgive my ignorance, but our King wore the uniform of a Field Marshal. Granted he is honorary Colonel in Chief of various regiments, but Field Marshal seems a little too far over the top.

[Ninthace]

How could he be a lower rank? He is the ultimate boss of the Armed Forces.

[Tartiflette Fan]

.
Today was overall far better - went to the far east of Normandy to the Pegasus Bridge site - and (totally unplanned) met the daughter of the first British fatal casualty on June 6 1944 - father's name was brotherhood (the tour is by Ambrose historical tours - she saw one of our name tags an approached us as Steven Ambrose had interviewed her when writing his book on the Pegasus Bridge).
We then went to the area of the 82nd Airborne drop - saw the site of the battle for the la Fiere bridge, then went to Ste Mare Eglise and went through the Airborne Museum there. Very interesting stuff.

When at Pegasus Bridge, did you view the landing spot for the gliders ? As an aerospace professional, what was your opinion ? To me as an ordinary person, I found it astonishing that three gliders could land there.

[SLXOwft]

Forgive my ignorance, but our King wore the uniform of a Field Marshal. Granted he is honorary Colonel in Chief of various regiments, but Field Marshal seems a little too far over the top.

Her late Majesty promoted him Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Air Force in 2012. exercising her right ot appoint an officer 'in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to'.

[BonnieLass]

Hopefully this lovely man will get his medals back that he lost at Ranville....

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/nick-ferrari-offers-500-reward-for-return-of-a-raf-veterans-medals-lost-yesterda/

[tdracer]

When at Pegasus Bridge, did you view the landing spot for the gliders ? As an aerospace professional, what was your opinion ? To me as an ordinary person, I found it astonishing that three gliders could land there.
Quite frankly I was aghast that they could put gliders down there - actually asked our historical expert if what I saw was representative of what it was like 80 years ago. He said it was a bit more overgrown, but not dramatically so.
Supposedly, the Germans hadn't bothered to put the infamous 'Rommel's Asparagus' poles in that small field because they thought it was unsuitable for gliders...
BTW, I'm not sure our historian on the tour would be happy with me spreading his name all over the internet, but he was good, really, really good. A retired US Army General, he literally "carried the football" (the nuclear codes) for Ronald Regan for a few years back in the 1980's.

Tour ended today - we did a couple air museums - one in Caen, the other at La Burget (supposedly the best aviation museum in the world, although personally I'd rank the two Smithsonian museums and the USAF Museum at Wright Patterson higher).

Den Brotheridge
Thanks - I'm really crappy at names, so I asked one of the other tour members what his name was...
At least I got close :O

[BonnieLass]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13510313/D-Day-veteran-sailed-Arctic-convoys-WWII-reveals-tried-send-Russian-medal-bravery-Moscow-disgust-Putins-invasion-Ukraine.html

The decorated war veteran, who is now blind, was one of the thousands of sailors who made journeys to the Soviet Union's northern ports to deliver essential supplies while it fought Hitler's invasion.

Mr Penstone served on board HMS Campania, an escort aircraft carrier, and his service earned him the Russian Medal of Ushakov for bravery, which was even signed by Putin.

He said he tried to give the medal back in February 2022 after the invasion was launched but explained his friends stopped him from doing it.

[megan]

Watched a D-Day doco last night that had a short clip of para troopers boarding a C-47, it seemed that the belly of the aircraft had packs externally mounted on the centre line, any one any information?

[dagenham]

Watched a D-Day doco last night that had a short clip of para troopers boarding a C-47, it seemed that the belly of the aircraft had packs externally mounted on the centre line, any one any information?

for equipment canisters. Could carry larger ones than could be pushed through doors. Big cylinder jobs packed with 0.50 calls, ammo etc.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Two stories from Friday:

Beacons light up across the UK to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day landings (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/07/20240607-beacons-light-up-across-the-uk-to-mark-the-80th-anniversary-of-dday-landings) - Royal Navy

On the evening of 6th June, over one thousand beacons were lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and UK Overseas Territories to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, and to pay tribute to those who contributed to the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation.

The Principal Beacon lighting took place at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth, leading the nation in the initiative with a commemorative ceremony.

Members of the Royal Marines Band Service opened the ceremony with a marching display and musical entertainment for the guests, before the beacon lighting event in Starboard Arena.

Tributes were led by the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE, and Royal Navy Chaplain Ralph Barber. The event began with a prayer and the blessing of the ceremonial torch and beacon from the Chaplain, both of which hold samples of sand collected from the five beaches in Normandy. The beacon was then ignited by 99-year-old D-Day veteran, Vera Brett.

Vera lived in Kent at the outbreak of the war, and applied to support the war effort through the Royal Navy as soon as she was able. After training, she was initially employed on a radar station, protecting Falmouth, as part of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS).

At the time of D-Day, Vera was just 19 years old and was stationed in Portsmouth, at the radar-controlled gunnery based there. Living in WRNS’ quarters in Southsea, she recalls leaving work for the day on 5th June 1944 and seeing the Royal Navy vessels docked in Portsmouth Harbour, but when she woke up the next morning they had all left.

The ceremony concluded with a sunset performance by the Royal Marines Band.

Naval Base Commander of HMNB Portsmouth, Commodore John Voyce OBE ADC said “It’s been a historic event tonight here at Portsmouth Naval Base, the home of the Royal Navy, and an honour to witness the lighting of the principal D-Day 80 Beacon. It is important to hold commemorative events, such as tonight, to remember the courage, service and sacrifice of those who served and supported the 6th of June D-Day landings and ensure their stories live on.”

The lighting of the beacons was accompanied by hundreds of Lamp Lights of Peace, their flames representing the ‘light of peace’ that emerges from the dreadful darkness of war.

This event, and those similar across the country, marked the climax of special commemoration events throughout the week in tribute to the many thousands of men and women that sacrificed their lives fighting for the freedom we all enjoy today.

More information around the Beacon Lighting initiative can be found on the D-Day 80 Beacon website: www.d-day80beacons.co.uk

Of course D Day was just the start of liberating Western Europe:

Royal Marines mark heroic battle shortly after the Normandy landings (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/07/240607-port-en-bessin-memorial-as-part-of-dday-80) - Royal Navy

Royal Marines visited the scene of one of their most heroic battles of World War 2 which took place in the days following the Normandy landings.

47 Commando have been at the heart of commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day and have remained in France to pay homage to those who fought and won at Port-en-Bessin.

Serving marines, veterans and members of the local community yomped (marched) from Gold Beach, where the Plymouth-based unit landed on D-Day near Asnelles, to the Normandy fishing village – the same journey the men of 1944 made on that fateful day.

After spending D-Day night about two miles outside Port-en-Bessin, the 420 men of 47 Commando safely penetrated the outer defences on the morning of June 7 1944 before two German flak ships in the harbour opened fire, killing eleven and wounding a further 17.

The evening of June 7 was desperate: the commandos were outnumbered and outgunned, but heroic actions saw Port-en-Bessin captured. It cost the lives of 46 men, while another 70 were wounded – a casualty rate of 25 per cent.

The village played a pivotal role in the liberation of western Europe, allowing the allies to pump huge amounts of fuel as a key terminal for the PipeLine Under The Ocean (PLUTO), which ran under the Channel to France.

Eighty years on from this action, members of modern-day 47 Commando – who are the small boat raiding specialists of the UK’s Commando Force – members of the public and veterans’ organisations gathered at the memorial on the high ground to the west of the town.

A service was conducted that included a song performed by local children thanking the commandos for their liberation from the occupying German forces.

Guest of honour was Lieutenant General Charlie Stickland, Chief of Joint Operations at the MOD and also a Royal Marine. He, alongside local dignitaries, praised the courage and bravery of the men of 47 Commando.

[tdracer]

Watched a D-Day doco last night that had a short clip of para troopers boarding a C-47, it seemed that the belly of the aircraft had packs externally mounted on the centre line, any one any information?
Dagenham is likely correct, although there is another possibility - some of the 'early' pathfinder drops were on specially equipped C-47s with some super-secret radar mounted in a pod under the wing.
According to what we were told when we visited "That's All Brother", it was originally so equipped ('a $100,000 airplane with $750,000 of special pathfinding equipment'), however its radar pod was subsequently removed after the war.

[dagenham]

Dagenham is likely correct, although there is another possibility - some of the 'early' pathfinder drops were on specially equipped C-47s with some super-secret radar mounted in a pod under the wing.
According to what we were told when we visited "That's All Brother", it was originally so equipped ('a $100,000 airplane with $750,000 of special pathfinding equipment'), however its radar pod was subsequently removed after the war.

The trick was to drop the before you unloaded the stick but not to much before. Idea being that you followed the stick your stores.not too popular if you dropped them during or after stock as they whistled down and could cause a few alarming moments. The glider tow was in place of the tail cone so not under neath before anyone asks

[Tartiflette Fan]

Quite frankly I was aghast that they could put gliders down there - actually asked our historical expert if what I saw was representative of what it was like 80 years ago. He said it was a bit more overgrown, but not dramatically so.
Supposedly, the Germans hadn't bothered to put the infamous 'Rommel's Asparagus' poles in that small field because they thought it was unsuitable for gliders...
BTW, I'm not sure our historian on the tour would be happy with me spreading his name all over the internet, but he was good, really, really good. A retired US Army General, he literally "carried the football" (the nuclear codes) for Ronald Regan for a few years back in the 1980's.
.

Just happened across this photo of the field and gliders in situ. Hope you can see it as these do not always transfer.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=421495830871748&set=a.117558847932116

[Treble one]

This must be a joke? A perfectly normal concession between NATO members is to waive immigration checks, require forces to be 100% accountable for their troops at all times, and to pass nominal rolls and details of any absentees to host nation authorities. For instance I have never seen an immigration officer attend upon British arrivals or departures from US military airfields, and whenever I have subsequently exited from a US civilian airport, military papers have always been readily accepted as explanation for the absence of an entry stamp. Even the famously bureaucratic Gulf states have been known to allow arriving western military personnel more freedom of movement than we saw in Normandy here. At the very least, the border checks could have been done more discreetly, away from the public eye, perhaps upon mustering for onwards transport. I found the optics displeasing considering the occasion, and even those media outlets which normally seize upon any disbenefit to remind us what a mistake Brexit was have reported it with a distinctly bemused tone.

Hi Easy-not picking on you, as a few others have made the same point, but I am told that 'passport control' was actually REQUESTED because the parachutists wanted a Normandy 6 June stamp in their passports.

[tdracer]

Hi Easy-not picking on you, as a few others have made the same point, but I am told that 'passport control' was actually REQUESTED because the parachutists wanted a Normandy 6 June stamp in their passports.
When we arrived in Cherbourg, we were advised that it was critically important that we get a passport stamp, because when it came time to leave the EU, immigration would become very alarmed if we didn't have an appropriate arrival stamp.
Not sure "I parachuted into Normandy on June 6 " would be automatically accepted as a valid excuse...

[Geriaviator]

My late friend Bill Eames told me that the notorious takeoff swing of the Stirling -- pilots needed to open starboard throttles first until rudders became effective -- was negated when glider towing. The Horsa kept it running straight as a die. It proved a rather good glider tug.

[Expatrick]

Not sure "I parachuted into Normandy on June 6 " would be automatically accepted as a valid excuse...

Not at your age, no!

[Tartiflette Fan]

Not at your age, no!

Hey, no hitting on his age. He's got a big, big corporation to get back on the rails when he returns from vacation ;)

[tdracer]

Not at your age, no!
I don't know if it actually happened, but several people around my age were scheduled to participate in the D-Day parachute drops.
Me? I've never had a strong desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, so my age is immaterial...

[GlobalNav]

I don't know if it actually happened, but several people around my age were scheduled to participate in the D-Day parachute drops.
Me? I've never had a strong desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, so my age is immaterial...

Plus, when I was in the Air Force, flight pay was double that of jump pay. We’d say it was because we did a whole flight, not half. Not sure what flight pay and jump pay was during WWII.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Dagenham is likely correct, although there is another possibility - some of the 'early' pathfinder drops were on specially equipped C-47s with some super-secret radar mounted in a pod under the wing.
According to what we were told when we visited "That's All Brother", it was originally so equipped ('a $100,000 airplane with $750,000 of special pathfinding equipment'), however its radar pod was subsequently removed after the war.

Can you tell us any more about that - or perhaps where to look? Their were wartime radio navigation aids for bombers so fitting them to transport aircraft for special missions would have made sense.

[tdracer]

Can you tell us any more about that - or perhaps where to look? Their were wartime radio navigation aids for bombers so fitting them to transport aircraft for special missions would have made sense.
Afraid not - we were told that by a Commemorative Air Force rep when we visited "That's All Brother" in Cherbourg. CAF had teamed with Stephen Ambrose Tours for the specific tour I was on, and a chunk of the tour cost ($800 IIRC) was basically a contribution to the CAF to help pay the costs of sending "That's All Brother" to the 80th Anniversary event.
Perhaps Googling something like "D-Day C-47 Pathfinders" might come up with more specifics?

[WE Branch Fanatic]

As if to underline the point that forces from many nations landed in Normandy in June 1944:

Commando fliers step in to ensure Czech veterans reach international D-Day event (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/10/20240610-czech-veterans) - Royal Navy

Naval aviators stepped in to ensure two D-Day veterans attended events in Normandy when they were stranded in the Channel Islands.

Commando Merlins from 845 Naval Air Squadron flew Czech veterans Charles Strasser and Jirí Pavel Kafka when the pair and their entourage became stuck in Jersey.

The two WW2 survivors were due to attend the international commemorations at Omaha Beach. But the civilian aircraft which landed in Jersey carrying the party to pick up 97-year-old Mr Strasser, who settled in the Channel Islands after the war, suffered a minor technical issue and was stuck on the tarmac.

Enter the two Merlins (Navy 750 and 751) of Commando Helicopter Force, which were using Jersey as a ‘forward base’ while supporting 80th anniversary events just a few miles away.

The question the Czechs posed: “Could you take our VIPs to Caen for us to get them there in time for their commemoration event at Omaha Beach?”

The message was passed on by one of the Merlin crew to Lieutenant Commander Bob Powell, aircraft commander of Navy 751, who said: “Our thinking was: Can we do it? Yes – and morally we must do!”

Normally, beyond some quickly-arranged UK and diplomatic clearances, the 80-mile flight from Jersey airport to Caen would be a relatively simple affair.

But with world leaders converging on Normandy, security was at its highest possible level and the airspace over the region was declared a restricted zone.

Thanks to the efforts of both crews, in particular Lieutenant Commander Edwin Adams and Lieutenant Charlie George especially, their higher staffs, and all those controlling the activity in France, the Merlins received permission for the special flight.

The flight itself was uneventful – until the helicopters arrived at Caen, where they found the normally-quiet provincial airport a buzz of activity: the German Chancellor’s aircraft was landing, while Air Force One, the Royal Flight and Ukrainian president’s jet were already on the ground.

Mr Strasser served as a dispatch rider with the Czech Independent Armoured Brigade which went on to liberate his homeland in 1945.

Fellow veteran Mr Kafka, aged 100, was one of 669 children rescued from occupied Czechoslovakia by Sir Nicholas Winton and others on the eve of World War 2.

As a Jew he would almost certainly have perished in the Holocaust had he not left Prague. He joined up aged 18 and become a radio operator/gunner with the RAF.

Assigned to 311 (Czech) Squadron, he flew in Liberator bombers providing cover against U-boats and German surface craft to protect the invasion fleet...

[SLXOwft]

Positive story about rapid entry arrangements to allow two Junglie Merlins to help stranded Czech Veterans (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/10/20240610-czech-veterans) from Jersey to Omaha Beach via Caen, (I assume these are the same two Merlin HC4s I saw from my office window on their way over there from Bucks.)

Naval aviators stepped in to ensure two D-Day veterans attended events in Normandy when they were stranded in the Channel Islands.
Commando Merlins from 845 Naval Air Squadron flew Czech veterans Charles Strasser and Jirí Pavel Kafka when the pair and their entourage became stuck in Jersey.The two WW2 survivors were due to attend the international commemorations at Omaha Beach. But the civilian aircraft which landed in Jersey carrying the party to pick up 97-year-old Mr Strasser, who settled in the Channel Islands after the war, suffered a minor technical issue and was stuck on the tarmac.

Enter the two Merlins (Navy 750 and 751) of Commando Helicopter Force, which were using Jersey as a ‘forward base’ while supporting 80th anniversary events just a few miles away.

The question the Czechs posed: “Could you take our VIPs to Caen for us to get them there in time for their commemoration event at Omaha Beach?”

The message was passed on by one of the Merlin crew to Lieutenant Commander Bob Powell, aircraft commander of Navy 751, who said: “Our thinking was: Can we do it? Yes – and morally we must do!”

Normally, beyond some quickly-arranged UK and diplomatic clearances, the 80-mile flight from Jersey airport to Caen would be a relatively simple affair.

But with world leaders converging on Normandy, security was at its highest possible level and the airspace over the region was declared a restricted zone.

Thanks to the efforts of both crews, in particular Lieutenant Commander Edwin Adams and Lieutenant Charlie George especially,their higher staffs, and all those controlling the activity in France, the Merlins received permission for the special flight.

[Tartiflette Fan]

In contemporary footage of WW2 parachute drops, the troops all go throughthe door very quickly, but they are only ever wearing a parachute and I have never seen any carrying a large duffle-bag/sack which was , apparently. often used for their general kit. Where were these large bits with their munitions, food, spare clothing etc ? The second question is that I believe these sacks were dropped on a rope six or eight feet below the parachutist to lessen the impact. How did they drop/lower a weight of 30-40 lbs in the turmoil of baling out without it tearing their leg off ?

[melmothtw]

I don't know if it actually happened, but several people around my age were scheduled to participate in the D-Day parachute drops.
Me? I've never had a strong desire to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, so my age is immaterial...

Around your age? You were born 11 years after D-Day!

[SLXOwft]

In contemporary footage of WW2 parachute drops, the troops all go throughthe door very quickly, but they are only ever wearing a parachute and I have never seen any carrying a large duffle-bag/sack which was , apparently. often used for their general kit. Where were these large bits with their munitions, food, spare clothing etc ? The second question is that I believe these sacks were dropped on a rope six or eight feet below the parachutist to lessen the impact. How did they drop/lower a weight of 30-40 lbs in the turmoil of baling out without it tearing their leg off ?

The leg bag was (as the name suggests) attached to a harness wrapped around the jumper's leg, one strap around the knee and another around the ankle, and also attached to the parachute harness by a rope most of which was stowed in a pouch until he released the bag from the harness once his parachute was open and he was in a stable descent.

[golfbananajam]

In contemporary footage of WW2 parachute drops, the troops all go throughthe door very quickly, but they are only ever wearing a parachute and I have never seen any carrying a large duffle-bag/sack which was , apparently. often used for their general kit. Where were these large bits with their munitions, food, spare clothing etc ? The second question is that I believe these sacks were dropped on a rope six or eight feet below the parachutist to lessen the impact. How did they drop/lower a weight of 30-40 lbs in the turmoil of baling out without it tearing their leg off ?

Based on a demo given at (what was RAF) Saltby airfield at the weekend, the UK para's spare kit was carried in a belly bag, hidden under the para smock to prevent it tangling. Canisters were used, mounted under the belly etc. of the aircraft packed with heavier weapons, ammo food etc. Jump height was often only 800 feet. UK paras in '44, unlike their US cousins, also had no reserve chute. The C47, or DC3 Dakota in UK, made several sorties during the Normandy campaign, dropping para's (UK, USA and, if memory serves, Polish) and supplies. Many of these crews were also involved in Arnhem drops later.

[tdracer]

Around your age? You were born 11 years after D-Day!
I didn't say they were D-Day veterans (the youngest of which are in their late 90's), I said people around my age which is what I meant. I think I saw Dale Dye (the guy that played Col Sink in BoB) was planning to jump as part of the event (again, don't know if that actually happened).

[WE Branch Fanatic]

On 7 June the RN website featured a story about commemorating the recapture of a key village (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/07/240607-port-en-bessin-memorial-as-part-of-dday-80) on 7 June 1944 by 47 Cdo Royal Marines, which makes me wonder if anyone knows when and where did allied forces capture and airfield and put it to use, either for transport or as a base to support the forces pushing the Nazi occupiers back?

[Ninthace]

DuckDuckGo is your friend
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Pierre-du-Mont_Airfield
Other search engines are avaialble

[WE Branch Fanatic]

On 7 June the RN website featured a story about commemorating the recapture of a key village (https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2024/june/07/240607-port-en-bessin-memorial-as-part-of-dday-80) on 7 June 1944 by 47 Cdo Royal Marines, which makes me wonder if anyone knows when and where did allied forces capture and airfield and put it to use, either for transport or as a base to support the forces pushing the Nazi occupiers back?


This only adds to my question, but is certainly noteworthy in context of the long fight from the Normandy coast to the heartland of Nazi Germany. It is another aspect of the war that is little known.

Pioneering Nurses, The Flying Nightingales, Remembered 80 Years On (https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/pioneering-nurses-the-flying-nightingales-remembered-80-years-on/)- Royal Air Force

An event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the first British women on active service to be officially flown by His Majesty's Government into a war zone has taken place in a quiet nature reserve in Wiltshire.On 13th June 1944, one week after D-Day, three Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) nursing orderlies flew from what was then RAF Blakehill Farm to an airstrip in Normandy to undertake the first casualty evacuation flights. Corporal Lydia Alford, Leading Aircraft Women (LACW) Myra Roberts and LACW Edna Birkbeck treated the wounded as they were being flown back to Britain.

The moment of their return was recorded by the waiting press who dubbed these pioneering nurses ‘The Flying Nightingales’...

[Ninthace]

Further to my link, (my bold)
Construction of the airfield began on 7 June, the day after the initial invasion, and was completed on 8 June at 1800 hrs The airfield was completed only 2 days after the D-Day landings in France. It was pressed into service as Emergency Landing Strip 1 (ELS A-1) with a 1,000 m × 35 m (3,281 ft × 115 ft)untracked (grass/dirt) runway. It served only small observation aircraft at that time. Just over 24 hours later (18:45) it had been upgraded from a Refuelling and Rearming Strip (RRS A-1) to an Advanced Landing Ground (ALG A-1), able to handle aircraft up to the C-47 transport.

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Sorry - I must have missed your post:

DuckDuckGo is your friend
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Pierre-du-Mont_Airfield
Other search engines are avaialble

[WE Branch Fanatic]

Also see these threads from elsewhere:

D Day 80 - 2024 (https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/d-day-80-2024.316088/) - Military History and Militaria forum

D Day 80 - Royal Navy forum (https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/d-day-80.315994/)

[WE Branch Fanatic]

I stumbled upon this story from BBC News: 'Biggest day since 1066': Army officer on D-Day (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqq55yg551o)

A diary from an army officer involved in D-Day described the World War Two Normandy landings as the "biggest day since 1066".

Jack Parham, who grew up on a farm in rural Wiltshire, kept a meticulous, tiny pocket diary, along with sketches of his involvement in the conflict.

He landed on the afternoon of D-Day, in 1944, co-ordinating and leading troops.

His diary is new kept by the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre. Ruth Butler, from the centre, called him an "artist, an inventor, also a consummate soldier".

Jack Parham was a brigadier at the time of D-Day after starting in the army in World War One. He was promoted in the interwar years and by the end of the Second World War, had become a Major General.

He loved to record things, even if the diary was "very small, it's a pocket diary, he's cramming a lot of information in."

Ms Butler explained to BBC Wiltshire (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0j2tllp) that the entries are "very, very real".

"The fact you see this small pocket diary...its well-worn, its well scribbled in and he's got all sorts of information in the front covers," she added.

The mention of HMS Impulsive led me to a Google search for the war record of HMS Impulsive (https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-29I-HMS_Impulsive.htm), which includes these entries for 1944:

May

Deployed with Flotilla in preparation for assault.

2nd Final Joint exercise with Forces S, G and J in Channel (Exercise FABIUS).

4th Took part in landings exercises west of Littlehampton.

18th Took part in Defence exercise with Force S off Brighton.

Nominated for duty with in support of Normandy landings with the 23rd Destroyer Flotilla.

Joined Force S in Solent with Flotilla.

(Note: For details of Normandy landings see Naval Staff History LANDINGS IN

NORMANDY, June 1944 and OPERATION NEPTUNE by K. Edwards).

June

Assembled at Portsmouth with Force S ships and craft.

6th Provided naval gunfire support on SWORD Beaches during landings.

Subsequently deployed in Eastern Task Force area on convoy escort and patrol as required by Eastern Task Fore Commander.

27th Remained in Channel area after termination of NEPTUNE

I must admit that I had never heard of Exercise Fabius before, but a Google search found very interesting details, such as this:

D-Day Rehearsal on Hayling Beach for the British landing on Gold Beach in Normandy on 6 June 1944 Exercise Fabius 2, 4 May 1944 and The Construction of Phoenix Breakwaters (https://thespring.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/103-d-day-rehearsal-on-hayling-beach.pdf)

So much of our history is just out there...