Hi All, Following a good response on our FB page, this thread is being opened in order to facilitate discussion on a possible meet up of Forum members in Normandy next year. Below is a provisional Schedule of Events for the proposed meet, which is subject to change and/or revision - please note this table will be updated as per discussions and decisions made in the latest posts of this thread: <table width="825" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr bgcolor="#0000FF"> <td height="32" colspan="7"><div align="center"> <p><font color="#FFFF66" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong> Whitebeam Forum Meet in Normandy</strong></font> <font color="#FFFF66" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>June 2018</strong></font></p> <p><font color="#FFFF66" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Schedule of Events (Revision 1.00)</strong></font>(</p> </div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#0033FF"> <td width="134" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Event/Tour</font></div></td> <td width="59" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Date</font></div></td> <td width="110" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Departs From </font></div></td> <td colspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Guided Tour ? </font></div></td> <td width="349" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Visiting Sites/Locations </font></div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#0033FF"> <td width="56"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes</font></div></td> <td width="50" bgcolor="#0033FF"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">No</font></div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">US Airborne (North)</font> </td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">09 June </font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Le Houlland</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF">✓</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Sainte Mere Eglise, La Londe A-6 ALG, Neuville-au-Plain, Le Ham, Montebourg Station </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">US Airborne (East)</font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">09 June </font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">lunch location </font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF">✓</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Beuzeville-au-Plain, Ravenoville, Les Mezieres, Marion Farm, Brecourt Manor & Glider Fields </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">US Airborne (West) </font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10 June </font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Le Houlland</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF">✓</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">La Fiere, Cauquigny, Falley Ambush, Orglandes, St Sauveur-le-Vicomte & Glider Fields </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">US Airborne (South) </font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10 June </font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">lunch location</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><div align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF">✓</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#999999"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Blosville, Angoville-au-Plain, Hiesville, St. Marie-du-Mont, Carentan & Glider Fields </font></td> </tr> </table> More events to be added... Please feel free to suggest changes and/or additions. Thanks, Pat
I had not yet responded to your FB post, but I tink it's a great idea (been considering it myself for some time as well). To get this thread going, here are some of my thoughts on the matter. Personally I'd have a preference for mid-April to May. (That being said, work will dictate whether or not I'll be able to join.) That raises the question how much time such a meetup requires. I'd say at least a few days, perhaps even a week. (Might be a bit much to some) As for a format, visiting sites has my preference. It would be nice if there would be a balance between learning from someone and carrying out an on spot investigation (depending on each location). I can imagine reserving a day or so for a convention type meeting, but that may well require a more official approach. Personally I think it would be very interesting if we could arrange access to locations not open to the general public. For those of use not fortunte enough to live in Normandy or able to visit each year this might be another incentive to come over.
Hi Niels, Agree with your outlook on the event. I think the 'convention' part might be best served by an indoor and/or outdoor Bar-B-Que on one of the evenings - I don't fancy sitting in a hotel meeting room for any period of time Here is another possibility for those wishing to keep the cost of the trip down - what about asking perhaps some local re-enactment group if they could provide us with some tented accommodation? Having a shower in a hedgerow would help enormously with my mid-life crisis Regards, Pat
I'm in. Not sure on the dates suggested though. What about the week following the 6th of June. Our areas of interest are off the beaten track for the usual visitors so the lanes would be quiet. At least then I can merge my usual visit to Normandy for the D-Day commemorations with the Whitebeam visit plus I'll have my jeep with me. The gite I stay at in St. Come du Mont has a number of bedrooms plus it was the location for 3/506 pathfinders. Neil.
Niels, Yes, a unique opportunity which we should not miss out on. Could I be so bold as to ask for a local volunteer(s) to act as liaison with the landowners at this point? Help from any members in this regard would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Pat
Hi All, I always thought that mid May or mid June were the best times to go. I am hoping for good enjoyable weather. I also think September weather is nice as well, but I never been there. I am going to let Sean, Patrick Elie, and Neil and others decide on the best dates to go because they are most experienced with everything that goes on. As for the format, I am likely to come over for a week to 10 days at a minimum. I don't expect anyone else to, but a longer trip just makes sense to me (airline expenses). I think it would be best to tour locations during the day, maybe also some locations not available to the general public, and then in the evening or at dinner have discussions etc. We may not even all be together during the day, but we can gather in the evening and recap our days if doing different things. I am not even worried if discussions are indoors or outdoors. All I need is a good lawn chair I don't need a good hotel, or fancy dinners and I would be fine living off fast food or our own BBQ. I think skipping museums is fine too, (I can see them on my own) unless we get free admission, or even a conference room for use. John
Hello there Happy to help in any capacity. I think between those of us that live in Normandy we could arrange access to some of the "usually closed" sites. I've said to Pat and John already, I'd be willing to offer guiding services for free as I think it would be more of a two (or more) way conversation than a regular tour, given the knowledge of the members, and also I've got out of this site way more than I've put into it, so anything I can offer in return I will do. May or June, either side of the anniversary period (it gets a little busy) would I think be best in terms of "ambience". It might also allow those who wish to combine it with being here during the days around the §th, as Neil has suggested. I hope this can be made to happen as I think it will be fun, informative and extremely beneficial for all concerned. We have a year to plan it so should be OK..... Cheers Sean
Sean and Neil, With this years D-Day anniversary on Tuesday, do most events in Normandy lead up to the D-Day anniversary or run after? I'm wondering when we might expect a little smaller crowd. Just looking forward to what we might expect planning 2018 with D-Day on a Wednesday. Will that weekend afterwards (8, 9, 10) be too soon? Will we be looking mid week the following week or the following weekend? Or even later or before? By the way, I used Pat's little calendar on the top of the page to find the dates John
It might be a good idea to avoid travel during the Muslim holy season. May 15-June 14, 2018. There is a fully restored Martin B-26 Marauder at the museum on Utah Beach. I might be able to arrange some kind of special tour if there is any interest.
Guys, Can we look at the week commencing Monday 11th June? Is there anyone interested in attending but definately cannot go that week? Thanks, Pat
Hi Pat, I would be in regardless of the date, but starting on June 11th, a Monday, when many people may be departing Normandy sounds like a good starting point. John
Hi John, Depening on the Irish Ferries sailing schedule, I can be in Cherbourg at 11:00 on either a Monday or a Tuesday. If its a Tuesday, you guys can start without me...I have a few sites clalked up already In any event, lets see how the two guides are fixed before we decide on the 11th. Regards, Pat
HI all, This really sounds interesting to me! I've never been to the Normandy area, and think it would be an enjoyable and informative trip. I'd love to see some of the glider landing sites that we have analyzed in so much detail over time. And, getting into some sites not regularly open to the public would be great. As for the dates, I'm open to virtually any time frame. Hopefully, over time, this thread will present some ideas on accommodations, means of transportation, where to fly into from the U.S., etc. Glad to have ample planning time. Charles
Charles, I have never been there either, so any tips are helpful to me as well. The La Londe area would be fun to walk around. John
Morning All, Glad to hear you are coming Charles and La Londe is an excellent site suggestion. At John's suggestion, I issued a mass mail to all members just now via email in case some are unaware of this thread. Regards, Pat