Climbing abord C47 ´Buzz Bunny’ at the Paris Air show last week.
C-47A-65-DL, serial number 42-100558, built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California was based at Membury in Berkshire, England from 1944 and given the nickname and nose art of ‘Buzz Buggy’. She served with the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group and participated in the airborne assaults on D-Day.
Raising the flag at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, March 21 2023. #welovenormandy #dday #normandy
Bofors Gun
Fun with a Bofors gun at the D-Day Wings Museum.
D-DAY WINGS Museum
VIRTUAL D-DAY | SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE
VIRTUAL D-DAY: SAINTE MERE EGLISE and the US AIRBORNE
A WEBINAR tour of the first town to be liberated by the US Army on D-Day. We will see the mannequin of Private John Steele still hanging from his parachute lines from the church bell tower, the original water pump used by the enemy soldiers and the townsfolk on the night of June 6th 1944, and the bullet holes still visible from the exchange of fire. The medieval church of the Holy Mother is included in the tour, as are the fabulous stained-glass windows that pay homage to the paratroopers of the 505th regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. It's an amazing place and an enthralling story.
VIRTUAL D-DAY | 4-MILE WALK ON OMAHA BEACH
Support NEXT GEN NORMANDY - https://gofund.me/68a46645
Support VIRTUAL D-DAY -
https://www.welovenormandy.com/subscribe
ON-LOCATION | A four-mile hike along Omaha Beach. Follow two Normandy guides on a walk along Omaha Beach from Charlie Sector to Fox Red.
About this event
A unique opportunity to follow TWO Normandy guides on a four-mile hike along Omaha Beach from Strongpoint 73 at the western end of the beach in Charlie Sector all the way to Fox Red Sector at the eastern end.
This event is in aid of NEXT GEN NORMANDY - an educational travel program that is enabling students, teachers and lifelong learners to build the next 'Greatest Generation'. Patrick Hilyer will be accompanying Geert Van den Bogaert to raise funds for the program. This a fund-raiser - Geert will be walking the four miles of sand carrying 44 pounds on his back, and attempting to do it in less than 66 minutes!
As we walk in the footsteps of the heroes of D-Day, we'll point out the sites and talk about the actions that influenced the outcome of 'The Longest Day'. The beach, the bluffs, the bunkers, the monuments and the memories - all will be revealed during our hike along Bloody Omaha.
We hope you can join us!
#instamic
VIRTUAL D-DAY | OMAHA BEACH from Easy Red to the American Cemetery
Watch LIVE, view the extras GALLERY, SUBSCRIBE and CATCH-UP here!
www.welovenormandy.com/live-video
We're coming to the end of another year in Normandy and we'd like to thank all our subscribers and followers for your help and encouragement over the last twelve months.
We've done over 30 scheduled online events this year at 20 different locations on the beaches and battlefields. We've had lots of highs and some lows (mostly technical) and I thought you'd like to look back on some of the not-so-professional 'bloopers' of 2021!!!
Check out the Events page for the forthcoming virtual tours - Omaha Beach and Sainte Mère Eglise - coming up in the New Year.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022.
Best regards,
Patrick.
VIRTUAL D-DAY | PEGASUS BRIDGE and OPERATION DEADSTICK
VIRTUAL D-DAY | PEGASUS BRIDGE and OPERATION DEADSTICK
Click here to donate to the VETERANS CHARITY www.justgiving.com/theveteranscharity
Operation Deadstick was the D-Day offensive to secure the Caen Canal bridge and Orne River bridge east of Caen. Deadstick was part of Operation Tonga – the British 6th Airborne Division’s assault on the left flank of the Invasion Force to hold the Caen bridges, destroy bridges on the River Dives and capture the heavily armed Merville Gun Battery, which was believed to contain 150mm Naval guns capable of shelling the British invasion force on Sword Beach.
The coup de main assault of the bridges was given to the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regiment. D company of the Ox and Bucks, commanded by Major John Howard, were transported in six gliders. 1st Platoon, led by Lieutenant Den Brotheridge in number 1 glider and piloted by Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork, touched down between the marshes and the canal and only 40 yards from the bridge.
Number 3 glider came to a halt behind number 1. Number 2 glider broke in two and Lance-Corporal Fred Greenhalgh was thrown from the aircraft and drowned, becoming the first casualty of the operation.
The bridge was defended by about 50 German troops of the 716th Infantry Division. Brotheridge’s platoon attacked the bridge and he was mortally wounded during the attack and died, making him the first allied serviceman to be killed by enemy fire during the invasion.
The Ox and Bucks defended the bridge until reinforcements from 1st Commando Brigade led by Lord Lovat and his personal piper Bill Millin arrived from Sword Beach at just after 1PM, followed by the troops of the 3rd Infantry Division.
An attack that evening by elements of 21st Panzer Division led by Colonel Hans Von Luck was also repelled.
The museum was opened in June 2000 by HRH The Prince of Wales who is Commander-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment.
This FREE virtual tour is presented live
British Normandy Memorial
The British Normandy Memorial, Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy. The memorial commemorates over 22,000 service men and women who gave their lives fighting with the British armed forces from D-Day until the end of August 1944 in Normandy. The 20,000 French civilians killed during the Battle for Normandy are also commemorated.
The life-size bronze statue is at the centre of the memorial overlooking Gold Beach and the Mulberry Harbour below.
If you haven't visited yet, put it on your list. Stunning place.
VIRTUAL D-DAY | THE MERVILLE BATTERY
VIRTUAL D-DAY | THE MERVILLE BATTERY
