Bazenville as per http://www3.sympatico.ca/angels_eight/127mems.html - if that is how it is spelt on the Spitfire wing memorial outside the church, and the other two memorial plaques, that is good enough for me. I visited Bazenville churchyard, and the local CWGC cemetery about 10 years ago. Allan
There's a link here to some forgotten airfields in Europe - I've linked this just to Bazenville (B2) - but there are a good few others that are find-able on there: http://www.forgottenairfields.com/france/lower-normandy/calvados/bazenville-b-2-s1096.html (Lots of even more forgotten ones aren't yet mentioned there though ;-) )
I have seen this website some time back, it has been updated, but is not 100% accurate on all ALG's, although he has done a pretty good job and, IIRC, it was me who supplied the B.2 map to Ronald from "La bataille aérienne de Normandie 1944" at least on B.11 http://www.forgottenairfields.com/france/lower-normandy/calvados/longues-sur-mer-b-11-s1109.html he acknowledges the map is from me, but doesn't quote the book source! In Belgium he writes about Schaffen, and only shows the damage there in May 1940, but in 1944 it was called B.64 Diest (which was the nearest big town) and was occupied by 125 Wing from late October/early November 1944 (dependent on whether you count the squadron date or the ground echelon date) until 31 December 1944. I visited the place in November 2004. B.18 Cristot map passed to Pat for adding to the Forum. Allan
Hi Allan, Is there a map of Martragny (B7): http://www3.sympatico.ca/angels_eight/normalg.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Landing_Ground#Royal_Air_Force_ALGs B-7 Martragny, France 49°15′11″N 000°36′58″W & Memorial @ http://www.aerosteles.net/stelefr-martragny-b7-stele also Allan ;-) Interesting detail there, says in service 19 Juil au 3 Sept 1944. (Doesn't look much like a wide open field from this angle now though!) I looked here - but not sadly no joy ;-( http://www.forgottenairfields.com/calvados/ Rm.
Hello Rob Post 25 Falaise - I have maps of B.2 to B.21 (no B.13 or B.20) and some US ones as well. Will try to get Martragny done this weekend. On my tablet at present as MotoGP qualifying on! regards Allan
Hello Rob Looks like you won't need my map now that Pat has produced an original - and you can also read my comments about Eric Sommer - with B.7 Martragny fitting the bill as holding Typhoon tank busters on Pat's link. regards Allan
Sherman Tanks of the British Army and Royal Marines: Normandy Campaign 1944 By Dennis Oliver https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QYkTDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT117&lpg=PT117&dq=24th+Lancers+Firefly&source=bl&ots=7OhQQQTpwW&sig=q0SUocdbU59cR7JU1nu_R5S1BZw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixwpiA16bSAhXLAMAKHaG9DAY4ChDoAQgqMAQ#v=onepage&q=24th%20Lancers%20Firefly&f=false Has some detail on the 24th L Firefly troops - and the nice point that they weren't all numbered as the same troop in each squadron - which I learnt first a few years ago - but still a fascinating incidental point few would perhaps now know (and done maybe to confuse German ears etc. not to immediately know the Firefly troop from the radio patter etc.) but then spoils it a bit by saying the battering the 24th L got at Rauray caused them to be disbanded.
Not for the first time..... I've been a bit put off buying Dennis Oliver's books since the Panzers in the Bocage one.... an interesting "review" can be found here. Thanks for the heads up, though... hopefully things have improved over the years Cheers Sean
Completey share Sean's feelings regarding his books. (Also see my post here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/thread/1256800063/ Scroll down. And yes, I actually kept it friendly) I've been told though that Dennis Oliver generally does know his commonwealth stuff. Not something I'd be able to judge myself unfortunately. Niels
Looking for some more possible pics of 24th Lancer tanks...I noticed the other week that this IWM pic: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205205964 Infantry of 49th Division digging in beside Sherman tanks near Rauray, 30 June 1944. Has a tank with the number T263137 - so I googled that, in case it was mentioned elsewhere, to get (on a post put there in 2004) : http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1075650847/Help+me+finish+this+Firefly...+22+ARM+Brigade,+East+Riding+Yeomanry "All this is from photos in "Yeomanry of the East Riding" by Ian Sumner and Roy Wilson, published by The Hutton Press Ltd in Beverley, East Yorkshire in 1993 ISBN 1 872167 47 0 Did you know that a ERY tank with number 56 on the hull was T263137, credited as C Squadron it was a Sherman I Hybrid and maybe a Firefly as well but the gun cannot be seen. Photo taken at Boxtel in Holland 1944. It has a name in small letters above the hull-side applique armour plate but printed photo is not clear enough to read" Strange coincidence perhaps? but I did ponder if this might have been an ex-24th L tank that was later acquired by the ERY. I then looked at this one: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205202121 Which currently says: "Sherman tanks of 1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, 8th Armoured Brigade in an orchard near Rauray, 30 June 1944." Albeit this same pic is actually in "None Had Lances - the Story of the 24th Lancers" - on p166 where it says "H.Q. Tanks harboured in orchard near Rauray, 29th June 1944" And as in the http://normandy.whitebeamimages.ie/forum/thread-346-post-3235.html#pid3235 ...and "..and what Photoshop thinks they should look like in B&W footage:" These look less like SRY to me and far more like 24th L. i.e. see also the IWM 24th L Firefly nr. St.Leger on the 11th June 1944 - with the yellow to white b&w triangle there that looks more like the lighter HQ "lozenge shape" on the tank in: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205202121
Hi All, I need to get my head around the markings used on British, Canadian and Polish armour vehicles in Normandy. Below are five stills from the BP Film 'Invasion Scenes Europe 1944' (Film ID: 2000.01) with various markings and I would be grateful for any help in either correcting or confirming my present understanding of the units they refer to vis-à-vis the diagrams on the Flames of War page here. Still #115: Am I correct in taking this vehicle as belonging to a Brigade HQ unit of an Infantry Brigade attached to an Armoured Division? If so, am I correct in thinking this could be any Armoured Division, not just the example given as the Guards Armoured Division? Still #127: The marking on the right fender of this half track appears to read '195'. I don't see this marking referenced on the Flames of War page, nor do I see the white shield with cross...anyone any thoughts? Still #167: Have the TAC signs been removed from this Sherman? I take this vehicle to be a command tank due to additional aerials. Note the white two digit number on the left front of the hull - does this equate to the two digit numbering seen on the right rear fenders? Still #179 The '53' signifies this is a vehicle of one of the three Armoured Regiments of an Armoured Brigade...again is it correct to say that this could be any armoured brigade, not just the example given as being an armoured brigade of The Guards Armoured Division? Still #205 Does the marking on the left rear fender here signify the Armoured Division to which this Sherman belongs? If such be the case, then of the five divisional insignia shown on the Flames of War page, the closest match seems to be the 11th Armoured Division. Anyone able to confirm that the divisional insignia is always on the left rear fender (if shown at all)? Lastly, is there any vehicle markings in the entire film which would indicate that the description of the film is correct? Thanks, Pat
Pat, if you want to do more research online, I'd add AOS to your search terms. To get you started, try this: http://www.fireandfury.com/britinfo/divmarkings.pdf and http://www.petergh.f2s.com/flashes.html Or if these don't work you might want to post your question here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208 They should be able to provide an answer without too much trouble. British commonwealth markings are notoriously confusing. Always considered it too much work to learn them, but that is also very much related to my interest in different formations. ;-) But with this topic it very much is "you go all the way, are you don't even try at all" I do have a comprehensive guide to them that was compiled by an expert, but I don't know where I put it.... I do agree on the last image showing the bull of the 11th Armoured Division though. For the shield with the cross you might want to check the British Second Army.
Thanks Niels, There is good information in the links you posted, especially the 'British Formation Badges 1939-1945' page. Therein, I see the British 2nd Army crusader shield should have a sword centred on the cross but perhaps that detail was omitted when the sign was being mass produced for Normandy. I may have missed it, but I see no marking in the footage which would link any scene to the Canadians. Regards, Pat
But fun...... Especially in black and white images of dirty vehicles Yes, I think so. Yes, you need to see the divisional badge to be certain of which one (as with German), unless something like time/date/location can be used as 100% certain clue. Maybe something to do with one of the AGRAs? Would fit with the 2nd Army badge, I think. Yes, the tertiary (in terms of "seniority") regiment, and yes, any brigade within an armoured division, ie not (usually) an independent brigade. The exception was 27th Armoured Brigade, within which East Riding Yeomanry had a 53 flash. Me too. Hope this is all clear...... Cheers Sean [hr] In addition, this book has charts with most of what one would require.... Ignore the ridiculous price. This is the second of two volumes (I think there may be a "condensed/combined" version???). There's also this. Cheers Sean
Much obliged Sean, Do you see anything in the markings to link the footage to a Canadian unit or units? Thanks, Pat
Pat, No, not at all. There is also the small issue (with the captioning) of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division being still in England during Operation Epsom... Cheers Sean
OK, I think I'm getting to grips here, So, for a 24th Lancers vehicle, there should be a red fox on the left rear and front fender (for 8th Armoured Brigade) and '995' on the right rear and front. Anyone able to confirm? Thanks, Pat
Just looking at that half track in still #127 again, Does anyone think the TAC sign is damaged on the outside edge and is there a red fox above it. Could it read '995' if it is damaged? Thanks, Pat