D-Day 80 Year Anniversary
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.
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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
FB
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/maidsto...veteran-18809/
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.
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.
Last edited by WE Branch Fanatic; 23rd May 2024 at 17:11. Reason: Cover and single page considered fair use - and enough to prove the point.
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.
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.
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?
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 Kindle £5.99 - Paperback £14.65 from the river pirates.
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 Kindle £5.99 - Paperback £14.65 from the river pirates.
Last edited by SLXOwft; 23rd May 2024 at 19:15. Reason: adding link
Back to the subject of air drops, 10 days ago:
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.
NATO paratroopers descended over Romania as part of exercise Swift Response 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.
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.
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.
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No - unless the FJ community issue a public statement declaring that they swing both ways.
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?
The maritime part of the Normandy campaign was codenamed Operation Neptune - was there a codename for the RAF/USAAF/RCAF part?
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.
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 acknowledgement
In 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 dealing
Certain 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
Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright
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?
The maritime part of the Normandy campaign was codenamed Operation Neptune - was there a codename for the RAF/USAAF/RCAF part?
The Eightieth Anniversary of the Normandy Landings
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 - Royal Navy
Find out more about CWGC Bayeux War Cemetery - MOD
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 - MOD
Work starts to complete British Normandy Memorial with new visitor centre for D-Day 80 - Royal Navy
The top secret mission before D-Day - BBC News
Naval hero presented with historic D-Day chart to mark 100th birthday - Royal Navy
RBLI invites families of D-Day veterans to 80th anniversary celebrations on June 6 - Kent Online
UNESCO considers D-Day landing beaches as world heritage site - Euronews
D-Day: Woolly soldiers and tanks to mark 80th anniversary - BBC News
Portsmouth to host UK’s national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day - MOD
Naval veterans start 100-day countdown to D-Day commemorations - Royal Navy
D-Day 80: Oxfordshire museum appeals for stories ahead of 80th anniversary - BBC News
D-Day fallen remembered with 1,475 silhouette statues for 80th anniversary - Sky News
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 - Pompey News
D-Day in 80 Objects - The D Day Story - Portsmouth
Falmouth plans 80th anniversary of the D-day landings - Falmouth Packet
Prime Minister and Red Arrows to lead D-Day 80 commemorations - HM Government
Royal Navy’s role in D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations revealed
D-Day 80: 'Stunning' light show plan for Portsmouth commemoration - BBC News
Royal Marines prepare for Normandy landings in honour of their forebears - Royal Navy
New frigate's crew follow the guns of Glasgow on D-Day pilgrimage - Royal Navy
On the shoulders of giants...
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 - Royal Navy
Find out more about CWGC Bayeux War Cemetery - MOD
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 - MOD
Work starts to complete British Normandy Memorial with new visitor centre for D-Day 80 - Royal Navy
The top secret mission before D-Day - BBC News
Naval hero presented with historic D-Day chart to mark 100th birthday - Royal Navy
RBLI invites families of D-Day veterans to 80th anniversary celebrations on June 6 - Kent Online
UNESCO considers D-Day landing beaches as world heritage site - Euronews
D-Day: Woolly soldiers and tanks to mark 80th anniversary - BBC News
Portsmouth to host UK’s national commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day - MOD
Naval veterans start 100-day countdown to D-Day commemorations - Royal Navy
D-Day 80: Oxfordshire museum appeals for stories ahead of 80th anniversary - BBC News
D-Day fallen remembered with 1,475 silhouette statues for 80th anniversary - Sky News
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 - Pompey News
D-Day in 80 Objects - The D Day Story - Portsmouth
Falmouth plans 80th anniversary of the D-day landings - Falmouth Packet
Prime Minister and Red Arrows to lead D-Day 80 commemorations - HM Government
Royal Navy’s role in D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations revealed
D-Day 80: 'Stunning' light show plan for Portsmouth commemoration - BBC News
Royal Marines prepare for Normandy landings in honour of their forebears - Royal Navy
New frigate's crew follow the guns of Glasgow on D-Day pilgrimage - Royal Navy
On the shoulders of giants...
Last edited by WE Branch Fanatic; 23rd May 2024 at 21:12.
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There is now a dedicated website:
D Day 80 - Commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Normandy
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.
D Day 80 - Commemorating the heroes of the Battle of Normandy
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.
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An interesting series of "Then and now" images.
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/20...nd-now/100752/
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/20...nd-now/100752/
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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.
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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).
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).