D-day anniversary thread

I have really enjoyed your report Elliott, you covered ground activity as well which is also of interest to me as an almost Jeep owner( I was 2 years too late when i went looking and an approaching earlier D Day event pushed the prices way up )

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/08/11/d-day-70-pt-27-the-normandy-trail-commemorations-06-080614/

I thought the attached article may be of interest to some here – it’s an account of my visit to Normandy over the weekend of 6-8 June 2014, one of the most important trips I’ll ever make. My friends and I took an overnight ferry from Portsmouth on 5 June, arriving at Sword Beach at 0630 on the 6th, just as the British forces would have done 70 years earlier. We spent the weekend in the American sector, and the words/images linked above reflect on our travels around Utah and several French towns, as well as numerous parachute drops and a flight in the Breitling DC-3 Dakota.

Please do have a read!

Bernard Jordan again

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-28343712

to be honest, I don,t blame him…

It was Sian Williams the vet took a fancy to.

I was watching I think BBC coverage, and the lady interviewer ( used to be on breakfast time till they moved to Manchester,) was talking to a vet, and I,ll give her, her due she was interested in what he was saying, and listening not just nodding her head, and also more importentley let him carry on talking till he had said all he wanted. She seemed quite pleased when the vet. said “I,m open for adoption”.

Happy Birthday Bernard Jordan!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/10903371/D-Day-veteran-Bernard-Jordan-overwhelmed-after-receiving-2500-birthday-cards.html?fb

I was at Merville Battery on the 7th June (in a jeep) in a very moving ceremony the daughters of the original pilot of their restored C-47 – The Snafu Special – received the Legion D’Honneur on behalf of their dad – was finished off by a 5 Dak Flypast and 4 Hercs from the 440th – SNAFU’s original unit – I hope someone covered it for Flypast! http://www.the-snafu-special.com/actu/index.php

The blooming care home should’ve taken him,not imprison him–ironic really fight for freedom and get stopped.

That story appealed to me. I like the fact that a family who were attending in memory of the lady’s father took care of him. Fair [lay to him for his determination.

I mentioned in an earlier comment that some of my colleagues were going to interview a local veteran, well here’s the video! He was a paratrooper

Sadly for many veterans there will not be a “next year” and so it was important that as many as possible managed the journey this year.

Love the story of the 89 year old veteran whose care home said he couldn’t go.

Where is he now?

Ouisterham!

Fan-bloody-tastic!

Moggy

Ha Ha the guy that escaped ! brilliant , and his mates will get him home .. 🙂

The blooming care home should’ve taken him,not imprison him–ironic really fight for freedom and get stopped.

I could just imagine him whistling the Great Escape theme while walking out. 😀

To be fair to the nursing home:
1. he had only been there a few months, and waited until not long before the day to tell them he wanted to go.
2. they tried to get him onto an accredited tour with the Royal British Legion, but that was already full.
3. in their concern for his well-being, they didn’t want him to go unless he had persons with him who could render proper medical aid in case of emergency (current certifications).
4. as they didn’t have staff they could spare to escort him, they told him he’d have to wait for next year.

Regarding TV coverage, I watched a lot on Euronews. I found a couple of the BBC presenters rather annoying.

Lovely!

Great video of the BBMF flypast
http://youtu.be/jBFNmZMYywY

My Grandad flew 2 operations on D-Day, got hit by anti-aircraft fire coming back from Argentan and had to land at RAF Woodbridge which resulted in them ground looping, his captain got the DFC during the tour, would think it was for this operation.

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Love the story of the 89 year old veteran whose care home said he couldn’t go.

Where is he now?

Ouisterham!

I could just imagine him whistling the Great Escape theme while walking out. 😀

Now there’s some history 😎

The log book entry of my Uncle Jack.

Love the story of the 89 year old veteran whose care home said he couldn’t go.

Where is he now?

Ouisterham!

Fan-bloody-tastic!

Moggy

The blooming care home should’ve taken him,not imprison him–ironic really fight for freedom and get stopped.