WN84 (Maisy) Battery WW2 Radio Photos

Hi All,

I believe I may have found the location of two more photos from the WW2 Radio 'Photos Normandie - Juin 1944' collection. They are:

• Photo 41 of 47
• Photo 47 of 47

If I am correct, both photos show the casemates at Widerstandsnest 83 approximately 1.3Kms south west of Maisy. Three of the four appear quite clearly on present day Google Maps satellite cover here.

OK, here are my ties; first an extract from frame 1108 of sortie US30/4045 flown on the 31st May 1944 showing the position:

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Note casemates 1-3, which appear complete and what I take to be an incomplete or foundation pit for casemate 4. Also note field corner 'C', bomb crater 'B'. Now compare the same ties for the two WW2 Radio photos:

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Note that what I have marked on frame 1108 as the water tower appears on the wrong side of the hedgerow when viewed in the first WW2 Radio photo, but I may have selected a wooden hut in error - its unlikely to have been moved between the 31st May and D-Day. In any case, I remain convinced this is the correct location.

The church spire on the sky line is, I believe, the church in Maisy. The present day spire here appears to be a somewhat poor post war reconstruction of the original and excellent match as shown in this old pre-war postcard:

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The small spire is (I hope) in line of sight with the main spire as viewed from WN 83 and so does not show on the sky line in the first WW2 Radio photo.

Note the small works locomotive in the same position in both WW2 Radio photos and the highly detailed view of the incomplete casemate 4 in the second photo. No sign of this casemate appears above ground on the present day satellite view of the position:

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So guys, am I correct with the location for these two photos?

Thanks,

Pat

 

RE: WN83 (Maisy) Battery WW2 Radio Photos

Hi John,

Thanks for the positive feedback

Here is your dummy position photo from the same WW2 Radio FB collection (photo 37 of 47), with ties field corner 'D' and positions 1-4:

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...and the same ties clearly showing on another extract from ACIU US30/4045, frame 1108:

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Position 4 appears to be under a camouflage net when it was photographed on the 31st of May by the reconnaissance F4 aircraft of the 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Photographic Group, Ninth Air Force.

Regards,

Pat

 

RE: WN83 (Maisy) Battery WW2 Radio Photos

John,

For those readers who may not have seen this reconnaissance photo, the NCAP link to frame S_0028 of sortie US7/1730 is here.

From the table titled 'Artillery Defenses in the Vicinity of D-Day Beaches June 6, 1944' on page 29 of 'D-Day Fortifications in Normandy' by Steven J. Zaloga:

Unit / Strongpoint / Location / Weapons / Fortification

8/AR.1716 / WN84 / Maisy-la-Martinere / 4x 100mm IFH 14/19(t) / H669

9/AR.1716 / WN83 / Maisy-la-Perruque / 6x 155mm sFH414 (f) / Open Platform

If that table is correct, then I have the wrong WN number for the four concrete casemates as seen in the two WW2 Radio photos - that position should be designated WN 84, not WN 83.

Anyone able to confirm this correction?

Thanks,

Pat

 

Thanks John,

You answered my query; WN 84 it is

I have changed the title of this thread to read accordingly.

Pat

 

RE: WN83 (Maisy) Battery WW2 Radio Photos

For the sake of clarity...

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Note the village of Maisy at upper right.

Regards,

Pat

 

Also for the sake of clarity and our reputation...

Access to WN 83 would appear to be on a commercial basis as indicated here, but access to WN 84 is most certainly not public, and permission should be sought from the relevant land owner if a reader wants to visit that position.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Hi All,

I have received an email from Gary Sterne, owner of the Maisy Batteries land:

I am awaiting Gary's permission to post the photos and maps to which he refers above.

Anyone see the gun in the open on the aerials already posted?

Regards,

Pat

 

Here are Gary's images and maps reproduced here with his consent.

First, the two photos of the gun in the open:

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...and the position of the Fouchers' Farm Battery circled in green below:

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...the map of the extended site dated 6th March 1944:

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...an extract from the German minefield map:

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The full map at full resolution which Gary sent me is here (1.3MBs).

...and finally a copy of one of the radio reports:

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My thanks to Gary Sterne for these images and maps!

Much appreciated Gary

Regards,

Pat

 

Thanks Sean,

I see it now.

All of Gary's attachments to his email are now up. I sent you his email address via a PM if you want to contact him directly.

Regards,

Pat