Research on the C-47 crash sites during the missions flown by the Troop Carrier on June 6 and June 7, 1944, conducted jointly with Philippe Nekrassoff, led us to ask questions. The receipt of new documents and photographs allows us to question misconceptions and incorrect locations regarding Lieutenant William Roycraft's C-47 (313th TCG) and Lieutenant Marvin Muir's C-47 (439th TCG). The result of this research is visible on the site. D-Day : Normandy 1944 - U.S. Airborne in Cotentin Peninsula and the IX Troop Carrier Command
Fantastic work Patrick!!! I always thought the Muir crash looked a lot like the crash below Sainte-mere-Eglise, but I assumed history had it correct. I always wondered why people could not see the Muir location in aerials before. You took the time along with Philippe, to piece the clues together and correct some long understood errors. I hope this more accurate history will be corrected among scholars. Muir Well Done!!! John
Thanks John Like I explained in our report, we have always heard that Roycraft's aircraft crashed outside SME.... But we are always suspicious and we requested the IDPFs.. Bingo, bodies were washed ashore from the channel. With this simple sentence we were sure that it was not Roycraft's aircraft.. The location was free and we needed to find a candidate. With all the research we are doing, and among 42 C-47s which were missing on june 6 and june 7, we have 4 of them for which we don't know the exact location of the crash..when I say exact it's the field, not the general area. we requested the IDPFs for 3 of them (no one was killed in the 4th)...For the last request it took 1 year and half to get them... The big help was also with NCAP.. I can tell you that I spend hours and hours to check the area Chef du pont beuzeville la bastille pont l'abbé picauville... With in mind the first photograph known of muir crash site.. Nothing Until philippe gave me the photograph with the wing.. Now, if we have detractors, I am just waiting that they show us the proofs of their research to say that Muir crashed at L'Isle Marie
Patrick, I don't think you will have any doubters with this type of evidence, It is all very clear and I am 100% convinced. The treeline beyond the tail of Muir's C-47 matches identically the new right wing photo and the treeline beyond it, so we know the photos are related. You can even see that it appears that two perpendicular hedgerows of two different styles of trees are coming together in the distance. Maybe we can validate it with even more proof of a matching treeline in an aerial photo or video of some type. John
Great work Patrick! I have NCAP cover of the field at SME flown on the 24th May 1944 with good shadows from the pines on the south eastern hedgerow. Working to see if these shadows can be matched to your ground photo treeline. Regards, Pat
Hum.. how we call that?? An Hawkeye?? Many Many thanks Pat. It confirm more and more.. PS: I have checked also f000157...... and not seen the green line I must change my lenses.. or make another job! I want also apologize to Pat for my answers in this post you made 5 years ago http://normandy.whitebeamimages.ie/forum/threads/knotts-photo-brown-album-15-41-c-47-crash-site.58/ At this time you were right about the association of the two photographs.. I was right about the identification of the aircraft on the first photograph but not on the aerial Many documents and photographs were received after that
No apology necessary Patrick It was only a hunch on my part at the time. Can you send me highest possible resolution copies of photos #1 and #2 above please; I want to see if there is indication of a 3D dimension to the row of pine trees i.e. if they are growing on more that one hedgerow. Thanks Patrick, Pat
Another thought... Is there not a photo in a book of one of the Renaud brothers excavating the rudder in the field? I presume during construction of the hotel. IIRC, it looked intact with the aluminium skin still in place. Is the rudder in the ground photos intact? Regards, Pat
images sent on your whithebeamimages.ie account. Yes, I have the photograph of Henri Jean excavating the wing tip (not the rudder) with the green position light still intact. It was in 1980. On the tail, the fabric on horizontal and vertical stabilizers is non existent. probably burned by the fire.
Thanks Patrick, Working on them tonight... I also see the Captain Nation footage is in play here at this wreck: The red arrow indicates the top of the vertical stabiliser. Regards, Pat