Just spent 2 days in Normandy travelling around the various D Day sights. As next week will be 61 years after the event, I hope you don’t mine me posting a few photos from my travels. Some are better than others, but I hope that they act as something of a reminder of those events.
First stop was Ste Mere Eglise. Shots are of the representation of John Steel hanging from the Church Tower over looking the town square. John spent the best part 4 hours hanging from his parachute feigning dead.
The others are from the Museum, C47 and Waco Glider, also parts from Lancaster lll PB265 UL V2 of 576 Sqn, found in Normandy and a mysterious drop tank.
By: Moggy C - 6th June 2005 at 07:19
Well bumped.
All those sights are so familiar from my pilgrimage this time last year. I feel quite sad that I didn’t do it again.
Thanks for posting them.
Moggy
By: EN830 - 6th June 2005 at 00:20
A slight bump, as a tribute to the Guys who would not return 61 years ago today.
By: kev35 - 30th May 2005 at 23:16
Looks like a fantastic trip and must have been great to meet the Veterans. It’s on my list of ‘I’ll go there one day@ and I sincerely hope I manage it.
thanks for sharing the trip with us.
Regards,
kev35
By: Quinny - 30th May 2005 at 12:05
Outstanding!!!
I’m off to Brittany in August for my holidays,sailing into Roscoff,but on my return journey,I’m sailing from Caen,and as I’ll have about 8 hours to spare before I sail,I’ll be visiting the area,so your pics have given me a taster.
Ken.
By: EN830 - 30th May 2005 at 10:41
Bayeux
Our final stop was at Bayeux and the CWGC Cemetery. Not only does the cemetery contain the remains of 4,144 Commonwealth Servicemen killed during the Battle for Normandy, it has 400 German graves.
Unlike the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, each grave marker has the age of the serviceman buried there. Something which we found had more of an impact and stirred the emotions.
By: EN830 - 30th May 2005 at 10:19
Pegasus Bridge
Pegasus Bridge was special, when we arrived there were 5 D Day veterans at the Bridge. We had a short chat in which they joked that their mission orders on the day were to capture a suitable venue immediately on landing to have a brew. Obeying these orders the first building to be liberated was the now famous Cafe Gondree. I was quite cut up after having a chat with these gentlemen, especially when one remarked that he was now living on borrowed time at the ripe old age of 88. Many of his friends didn’t have the chance !!!!
The old Pegasus Bridge is now located outside the Museum along with a replica Horsa. Across the bridge, across the road from the Cafe a Cromwell tank is on display.
By: EN830 - 30th May 2005 at 09:43
Arromanche
Saturday morning was spent at Arromanche, after a few bottles of wine and the odd glass of Calvados the night before, I had problems sleeping, so I took a early morning trip down to the beach, to take a few shots.
Later we visited the museum at Arromanche, where there are a number of aviation relics on display, most notably a Napier Sabre from a Typhoon and also a small display commemorating the escape by two local Frenchmen to England in OW’s Bucher Jungmann.
The streets had also been decorated with flags in anticipation of next weeks anniversary.
By: BlueNoser352 - 30th May 2005 at 03:45
Ian… very good photos of Normandy!
Ian:
Had the pleasure of being in Normandy last June 6th for two weeks, your photos bring back many memories and emotions. Meet so many great veterans from the USA, Britain , Canada and the wonderful people of Normandy and France who welcomed us with open arms. Great set of photo’s, have a great interest in the Channel Island occupations and have several DVD documentries on this topic. Enjoyed the latest DVD on this subject in “Island at War”. Hope to visit the Channel Island on my next trip to Normandy. Also have a copy of “In Toni’s Footsteps” about a German in Guernsey during the war. Thanks for posting those, do you have any on German fortifications in the Channel Island? Hope to make it over to Normandy this October..some place & the emotions are stirred with a visit to that place.
Thanks !
BlueNoser352
By: EN830 - 29th May 2005 at 23:59
Omaha Beach
Approx 9000 graves are in the imposing US cemetery above Omaha beach. Unlike CWGC Grave markers the markers in the cemetery do not have the victims age inscribed on them.
Every time we visit this memorial I am struck by the shear size of the place and the fact that no matter in which direction you face the grave makers are in a perfect straight line.
By: EN830 - 29th May 2005 at 23:42
Point du Hocq
By the time we reached Point du Hocq, the tempreture had reached 35c. I didn’t notice that I had set the exposure compensation, and over exposed many of my shots.
Hopefully you can get an idea of the area where the US Rangers stormed the cliffs commanding the southern flank of Utah beach and Northern Flank of Omaha beach.
The area had been bombed and shelled prior to their attack, and the area is still well cratered even after all this time.
Unfortunately the Germans had moved the guns further inland, they were finally found and put out of action by a small band of Rangers.
By: EN830 - 29th May 2005 at 23:28
UTAH Beach
The second batch are from UTAH Beach, including a memorial to Eisenhower.
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May 29, 2005 at 11:18 pm