Remembering D-Day On Its 80th Anniversary

[9zero1790]

I can’t imagine being on one of those landing craft when the bow ramp was lowered. Hat’s off to all of them.

I’ll always remember D-Day because it’s also my wedding anniversary - today marks nine wonderful years married to Mrs. DukeCanBuildit. ?

The part you said about landing craft made me think about Munro. wasnt D day but similar situation. He went in under heavy fire on a LC and rescued 500 trapped men from getting mowed down. he had little protection on the LC and almost nothing to fight back with. Most of the Coxswains back then were given a Thompson, stack of magazines, and last rites. After his last trip in and back the boat was swiss cheese and so was he. Dont know if its true but the story goes he bleed to death on the LC and last sentence was, "did they get off, did we get them all, go back."

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Congratulations Duke for nine wonderful years with your lovely bride.?

One question though? How on earth did she manage to stay with you that long ??

Thanks @AzScorpion , @Tracy Bowman , @9zero1790

When I figure out why pizzas are round, are eaten in triangles, and come in a square box, then I’ll understand how I managed to convince her to marry me and how I was able hang on to her for so long.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

The part you said about landing craft made me think about Munro. wasnt D day but similar situation. He went in under heavy fire on a LC and rescued 500 trapped men from getting mowed down. he had little protection on the LC and almost nothing to fight back with. Most of the Coxswains back then were given a Thompson, stack of magazines, and last rites. After his last trip in and back the boat was swiss cheese and so was he. Dont know if its true but the story goes he bleed to death on the LC and last sentence was, "did they get off, did we get them all, go back."

Sounds like it may be a bit embellished but those are usually the best stories. ?

 

[Doc]

i look at that situation and think it out with my past experience on and around the water and limited very limited knowledge of combat and i realize most if not all of these guys knew that it was likely gonna be the last day alive. if had a choice back then to pick, hit the beach, or be the ones dug in to stop invaders - ... but that would have been the wrong side. I am grateful for all of those that took part and allowed me not to be faced with the situation they faced. I hope our children and grandchildren never have to do it either.

Kudos

 

[dtech]

What's a bit ironic is that my dad was born on Dec. 7th, 1923. He turned 18 on Dec 7th, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day, and that day, went right down to join the Army, leading to the Army Air Corps. He had a slight build, and fit right in the ball turret of a B-17.
And me....well, my birthday happens to be....Dec. 7th !!!

that ball turret on the 17s was appropriate named as it took a man with big b*lls to stuff himself into that space, most of the bomber crews were just kids 18 , 19 and 20 yr olds, my father was a waist gunner on b-24s and survived the 2nd bombing raid of the ploesti oil fields in Romania , one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe, was part of the 8th air force flying liberators out of n africa. Of all the things in his life he was proudest of his service in WWII .
Watching stuff like the d day landing in saving private Ryan makes me appreciate the courage and sacrifice of the men who were in the d day landing, Spielberg did an outstanding job putting a degree of realism into what guys faced in the Normandy landings.

 

[LaBalbe]

that ball turret on the 17s was appropriate named as it took a man with big b*lls to stuff himself into that space, most of the bomber crews were just kids 18 , 19 and 20 yr olds, my father was a waist gunner on b-24s and survived the 2nd bombing raid of the ploesti oil fields in Romania , one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe, was part of the 8th air force flying liberators out of n africa. Of all the things in his life he was proudest of his service in WWII .
Watching stuff like the d day landing in saving private Ryan makes me appreciate the courage and sacrifice of the men who were in the d day landing, Spielberg did an outstanding job putting a degree of realism into what guys faced in the Normandy landings.

I agree that Spielberg did a great job, but if you haven't been to the beaches in Normandy, I strongly urge you to go. The difference between high & low tide is ridiculous, and to stand on that beach at low tide is to get a real idea of the courage it must have taken to run into the insanity that was before them. It's one thing to theoretically know the distance that they had to cover before they could get to some semblance of cover, but another thing entirely to see it with your own eyes.

 

[RangerTX]

Grandfather #1 was there. Submarine Service. His sub hit a mine. They were thought to be dead. A month later they limped into port on the east coast above water. He survived.

Grandfather #2 was there - Army Air force. He was a mechanic. During his tour, they had POW's on his base. One of them was an artist that drew a portrait of my grandfather. I have it hanging right above his uniform (with bronze star) on my wall.

 

[Grumpaw]

that ball turret on the 17s was appropriate named as it took a man with big b*lls to stuff himself into that space, most of the bomber crews were just kids 18 , 19 and 20 yr olds, my father was a waist gunner on b-24s and survived the 2nd bombing raid of the ploesti oil fields in Romania , one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe, was part of the 8th air force flying liberators out of n africa. Of all the things in his life he was proudest of his service in WWII .
Watching stuff like the d day landing in saving private Ryan makes me appreciate the courage and sacrifice of the men who were in the d day landing, Spielberg did an outstanding job putting a degree of realism into what guys faced in the Normandy landings.

Yeah, back then dad was only 5'6" and maybe 120 lbs. He fit right in that ball...basically sat in a curled position with your knees up around your chest area. You basically looked thru your legs past your crotch to sight...
And you always hoped the landing gear never got shot out or damaged, or that you didn't get trapped in that ball.

 

[LaBalbe]

Yeah, back then dad was only 5'6" and maybe 120 lbs. He fit right in that ball...basically sat in a curled position with your knees up around your chest area. You basically looked thru your legs past your crotch to sight...
And you always hoped the landing gear never got shot out or damaged, or that you didn't get trapped in that ball.

I've always thought that "Memphis Belle" did a pretty good job of showing what it would be like to serve on a B-17, but I'm curious as to what someone who actually served in them thought of the portrayal; any chance that your dad saw that movie & shared his perspective?

 

[Grumpaw]

I've always thought that "Memphis Belle" did a pretty good job of showing what it would be like to serve on a B-17, but I'm curious as to what someone who actually served in them thought of the portrayal; any chance that your dad saw that movie & shared his perspective?

No, he passed in 1987. All I have are a few photos when he was in, a few with a B-17 and one from later with a B-24.
Lost a lot of pic's and memento's in hurricane Andrew in 1992 when we lost our home.

 

[rang19ca]

My dad was on a landing craft heading for Utah beach when the driver stopped and dropped the ramp. Seems he was a little bit too short and when the soldiers ahead of my dad jumped into the water they sank over their heads. My dad took a deep breath and jumped into the water and bounced off the bottom and kept bouncing forward with each step till his head was above water. He lived to be 92.

 

[LaBalbe]

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum over in Hamilton, ON, has one of two Avro Lancasters in the world which is still airworthy. Caught it in action as it was flying over the region earlier this evening.

Cropped "close-up":

 

[dano42]

My Dad was in a MASH unit, a doctor in Europe- during the Battle of the Bulge, they had put his mobile hospital too far forward (German bombs were going over them) and they had to hurriedly move them back. My mom’s brother was at Iwo Jima, of the initial forces to invade. They never talked about it but they certainly were of the greatest generation. I’m proud to be related to them.

 

[dtech]

I agree that Spielberg did a great job, but if you haven't been to the beaches in Normandy, I strongly urge you to go. The difference between high & low tide is ridiculous, and to stand on that beach at low tide is to get a real idea of the courage it must have taken to run into the insanity that was before them. It's one thing to theoretically know the distance that they had to cover before they could get to some semblance of cover, but another thing entirely to see it with your own eyes.

Didn't the Canadians have a rough go of it on one the beaches, can't remember which one, Omaha got most of the attention.

 

[dtech]

Yeah, back then dad was only 5'6" and maybe 120 lbs. He fit right in that ball...basically sat in a curled position with your knees up around your chest area. You basically looked thru your legs past your crotch to sight...
And you always hoped the landing gear never got shot out or damaged, or that you didn't get trapped in that ball.

Looked up the stats and belly ball turret guys suffered a 60% casualty rate , double that of other bomber crew members, can't imagine being in the ball turret with flak exploding all around, recall seeing a film about a belly ball turret guy trapped in the turret of a shot up b 17 kind of a physiological drama , can't remember how it ended

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