Two recon flights of interest might be US30-4042 on 31 May 1944 to look for your barn before fighting, and US30-4108 on 8 June 1944 after the landings but still in German hands. The 508th DZ was to be just north of Chateau Bernaville just a mile north of Picauville. Pont l'Abbe was the objective for the 508th to seize and blow up the bridges.
Thanks Dale, I was looking at a NCAP frame the other night for this quest and found what might be a crash site visible through a hole in the heavy cloud cover. As per our operating procedures, I will post it in the closed 'Green Room' when I get the time. This often happens when searching reconnaissance cover - you look for something, then find that your efforts turn up something else of interest but not related to the original quest. Regards, Pat
Pat If you want some additional info on Hemevez you can check my website http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/aeropus/en_hemevez.php
Hi Patrick, Thanks for sharing the link. Do you happen to have any information on Service Co.of the 508th, their jump, or anything that might help Al locate the farm his father Sgt Harry Gerheim and others who were hidden for 3 days? John
Thanks Patrick, I had found your page a few nights back while Googling the incident. I have been wondering about the pencil markings on Sgt Gerheim's map south west of Etienville/Pont l'Abbe. Below is an extract showing the markings leading, it would appear, down to the Douve River: I wonder have these markings anything to do with the 508th crossing of the river on the 13th June? Below is an extract from the 508th AAR for that date: Does anyone know where the 508th crossed the Douve on the 13th June? Thanks, Pat
As recorded above Co. F crossed basically unopposed surprising the Germans and capturing the east end of the bridge the rest of 2nd Battalion crossed immediately after and held the bridgehead while 1st Battalion swept southwest to Cretteville and the 3rd Battalion went south and east. 2nd Battalion after letting the rest of the regiment pass through then advanced south through 3rd Battalion attack Baupt which was the central position of the 100th Panzer Replacement and Security Battalion. [IMG=900x760]http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x446/sirjahn/13%20June%20508th%20Attack_zpsclu2hv3f.jpg[/IMG] Edited by Pat to reduce image size to 900x760 pixels
Thanks Dale, I recall reading somewhere that Col. Lindquist sent a reconnaissance patrol across the night before the attack, but the attempt failed when the single boat floundered. Regards, Pat
That is correct. The patrol had to swim back to Allied lines. The crossing was done under cover of darkness and the planned artillery preparation never arrived. On D-Day several of the 508th had landed in the Douve, went to the east shore and crossed the bridge to come back into Allied positions. The blew up two of the 100th Pzr Bn H-38 light tanks in Beuzeville.