Hi Jeffrey, Thanks for posting the link. That document is from member Patrick Elie's site 6juin1944.com which is one of the best dedicated D-Day sites on the web Regards, Pat
Another look at the P-47s... I am now wondering if they might be from the 81st Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group. The tail and upper nose markings are matches for these earlier 'razorbacks' variants in the foreground on La Londe A-6 ALG - (not their home ALG in Normandy): Cannot find any common 'home' airstrip for both Groups however. Regards, Pat
Hello Pat From the listing on the website of Dave Clark http://www3.sympatico.ca/angels_eight/9tac.html 71st Fighter Wing 366th Fighter Group (Lt Col Norm Holt) 389th Squadron, P-47 (Thruxton, A.1 20Jun) A6 390th Squadron, P-47 (Thruxton, A.1 20Jun) B2 391st Squadron, P-47 (Thruxton, A.1 20Jun) A8 84th Fighter Wing 50th Fighter Group (Col William Greenfield) 10th Squadron, P-47 (Lymington, A.10 25Jun) T5 81st Squadron, P-47 (Lymington, A.10 25Jun) 2N 313th Squadron, P-47 (Lymington, A.10 25Jun) W3 A.10 Catz/Carentan - visited by Sean, myself and my daughter Rachel back in 2015 for the Tank Museum now on the site. Regards Allan
Hi Allan, Because the 50th Fighter Group was stationed at A-10 ALG when they first moved to France, the photo of the two 81st Squadron Thunderbolts and the cattle has been cited extensively as having been taken at that ALG. This is incorrect, as work we done a while back places the Spitfire V wreck marked '4G' firmly on the A-6 ALG at La Londe Farm. This aircraft belonged to the American naval VCS-7 Squadron, being part of the 'Air Spotting Pool' directing naval gunfire in the Channel. I'll update the 'ALG A6 - Beuzeville au Plain (La Londe)' thread to show how we came to this conclusion. Regards, Pat
Hello all, While rummaging through E Bay this morning, I noticed the following photo involving a crashed Horsa: Although this looks familiar to me, I couldn't come up with a thread that contains the image. If we have already seen this before, please let me know. It kind of looks like it could be a screen-grab from a video. Thanks, Charles
Hi Charles, Can you post the Ebay link please; PhotoBucket image is blocked in your post. Thanks, Pat
Pat, I think that this should bring you to the ebay page with the subject photo: 8x6 Gloss Photo ww503E World War 2 Pictures Horsa Planeur Glider Crash | eBay Charles
Thanks Charles, Seen it before but not at the size quoted. It could be any number of locations, but I do note the lane falling away on the far side of the tail section. I wonder could it be the lane running along the SW hedge of the Gayley crash field at Holdy? IIRC, there is unexplained smoke rising from that laneway in footage of this crash site and; if I also recall correctly, there is a missing tail section from a Horsa on the other side of that lane. There is no 'street view' of the lane, but the view from this corner seems to suggest its at least rising to higher ground from here. Just a hunch, Pat
I've had the same hunch about that photo for a while. The lane does look similar and I've wondered if the photographer was Capt George Lage. There are one or two similar photographs of his showing a wrecked Horsa blocking a lane in Bando's books.
Thanks for the help Pat, Neil. I'll continue pecking away at this with the info. you have provided. Charles
I'm reviving the thread as back in August I went to visit 1st Lt Andrew Bates from the 79th Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group. He flew a Horsa Glider carrying the 319th GFAB on D-Day. Remarkably, he kept the loading manifest which states he was Chalk #21. At 99 years old I didn't get that much info from him but his son confirmed that he landed fairly close to St Mere Eglise. I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of the La Londe area Horsas.
There is a correction to make on the second sheet. While, Gay and his crew, flying in 42-100523, were in the 79th TCS, the second crew and their aircraft, 42-100547, were from the 81st TCS. Note also than, in the D-Day crew, the RO is Martin Wolfe, author of book "Green Light" Interesting loading manifest Neil. Thanks
Hi Guys, From this first hand account, Lt. Bates's Horsa appears to be resting on top of a hedgerow, badly damaged. Eight men, a jeep and trailer matches reasonably well with the 21st entry in the Serial 32 listing: Organization: 319th FA Bn Glider: Destroyed Personnel No.: 7 Personnel Evacuated: 5 Jeep: Unservicable Trailer: Unservicable Distance from LZ: 1000 yards No mention of one KIA though. Regards, Pat
The young lieutenant from the 319th GFAB that broke his neck during the landing was 2nd Lt Norman Doerges from Colorado. He is buried at the American Cemetery in Normandy (Plot C Row 1 Grave 3).
Hi Neil, A while back I was on the 319th GFAB facebook site, and ran across a post that made reference to the photo of a line-up of 436th TCG / 82nd TCS aircraft at Membury. I have this photo. However, the post also mentioned a second photo, perhaps of these same aircraft at Membury. Below is a copy of the post: Do you know who has the second photo, and how I might obtain a copy? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks, Charles
Hi all, I am trying to get some help with translating Normandy coordinates, reported such as 36.5-97.7 (same as 365977) into latitude / longitude coordinates. Back a few years ago I was able to do such conversions on a website that focused on "French Lambert Zone 1", without any problems. Over time, I stopped doing these calculations and am apparently now starting from scratch. Does anyone have the website that I might have used, or any suggestions how I might find it or a similar one? All suggestions welcome! Charles
Hi Charles, I usually go right to a copy of a GSGS map from that period as it seems to be much faster for me. The location for (365977) is in the field at La Londe just south of the lane in. you can see on the map here...
That's probably this one: http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-translator.php# Tends to be off by 25 meters to the west and 75 to the north in Normandy. You might want to check the deviation using the map John posted.