Topic: Normandy beaches (Read 4951 times)

Paul1 · « **on:** April 25, 2012, 01:31:59 AM »

On a recent trip over the channel, very wet 5 days but well worth it.

American Military Cemetery at Omaha Beach. The French government gave this land ( I think well over 100 acres ) to the US, I think one of the best maintained cemeteries I've seen.

Skillet · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2012, 01:34:38 AM »

Thanks for posting the pictures Paul. Lot of history there.

Paul1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2012, 01:41:01 AM »

Omaha beach

Fallen soldier Battlecross

Outside museum at Pegasus Bridge

Canadian War Memorial. This was pretty much in the middle of the countryside, surrounded by fields, again a very moving place.

Point du hoc

This is the big gun at point du hoc that covered both Utah & Omaha beaches that turned out to be a 6" telegraph pole !

Paul1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2012, 01:57:00 AM »

More to follow, go to go to work now & yes it's raining again ! Have to say though was a very moving road trip & makes you realize how lucky we are & never forget the sacrifices those guys made.

Whilst at the museum at Pegasus Bridge we were given a presentation by a French lady who told us about the story of when the British Airbourne Gliders arrived to take the bridge in the early hours of 6th June, the 2 German sentries that were on the bridge hid in a manhole for 24hrs, one of the sentries came back to Pegasus Bridge 2 years ago & met the 1st glider pilot who landed there & they both stood on the bridge & shook hands. Amazing after all that time, but also re-iterates the fact that these guys were just following orders, whichever side they were fighting for.

dereck · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:28:13 AM »

Wow, that's one of the items on my bucklist. Someday, someday. Thanks for sharing.

Paul1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2012, 03:27:24 AM »

Saint-mere Eglise

Statue on the church roof of American Para, sorry not a great pic from the iPhone !

US Airbourne Museum at Saint-mere Eglise

This plane was shipped over from the states to Cherbourg then lifted by helicopter to the museum site

Paul1 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2012, 03:36:55 AM »

Hopefully a better shot of the church roof !

Looking out from point du hoc, US rangers had the job of scaling these cliffs to take out the big guns.

Another wet one !

Paul1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 25, 2012, 04:00:47 AM »

Although the French roads are pretty quiet compared to the Uk, to get to a lot of the WW2 sites you are riding on small country roads & the mixture of rain & mud on the road from it being quite a rural agricultural area, ain't much fun on 2 wheels !

Lunch time at Honfleur

Ferry trip home

Got me thinking what must have been going through those guys minds on the morning of 6th June 1944, particularly being so far away from home !

"They fought together as brothers-in-arms.
They died together and now they sleep side by side.
To them we have a solid obligation."

Skillet · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2012, 05:07:29 AM »

Paul, thanks again for putting this together. Man that ferry ride pic looked a little eerie.

porthole · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2012, 07:44:26 AM »

Nice

My last trip to England I tried making arrangements to get over there but ended up not having enough time. Hopefully the next trip will get me across the channel.

9 1/2 Beers · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:08:09 AM »

Thank you so very much, I will be looking at these pictures over and over again.

Marty

mwg · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:28:23 AM »

Awesome pictures.. thank you!

amigo Jorge · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2012, 09:51:06 AM »

Great pictures mi amigo...thanks for sharing!!

Buy early · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2012, 10:40:57 AM »

Awesome report and photos! Thanks for sharing! A true "Bucket List" trip.

aclass · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:11:47 PM »

Humbling. I enjoy my freedom, Thanks Vets!! and to all that continue to serve.
Thanks for sharing.

Hugh Janis · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:15:03 PM »

I'd need a dry hanky to visit there for sure. Thanks for posting.

WestCoastRuss · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2012, 01:16:25 PM »

VERY special.....thank you...

darth davidson · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:47:43 PM »

Really awesome. Great pix. I have to take the kids to see that. WWII for them is surreal, the need to se it.

LovemyCVOgirl · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:48:07 PM »

May they rest in peace ~ "our brothers, our fathers, our husbands and our sons".
Thank you for sharing your trip and photos.

GregKhougaz · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:58:24 PM »

Lest we not forget the high price of our freedom. Thanks for sharing, Paul!

Porschestan · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2012, 03:11:06 PM »

Visiting Normandy was the highlight of my recent trip to France. Thanks for sharing this moving experience.

Grizzly · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2012, 03:32:32 PM »

Wonderful post Paul. Thanks so much for it.

DOOFUS · « **Reply #22 on:** April 25, 2012, 06:10:47 PM »

Probably the best thread ever - thnk u --

spada84 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:09:44 PM »

Thanks for sharing. Having trouble seeing the keyboard now.

Jock · « **Reply #24 on:** April 25, 2012, 08:22:17 PM »

Thanks for taking the time to share an experience that many of us will never have and thank those that did as we live under the banner of freedom.

1sharprdkg · « **Reply #25 on:** April 25, 2012, 09:24:24 PM »

Thanks for the pics. Would like to see it in person.

Big Dog · « **Reply #26 on:** April 26, 2012, 12:49:54 AM »

Thank-you very much for sharing your photos. My dad's uncle was killed during that time while in service for the Canadian military in France and rests there, thanks again.

DDavidson · « **Reply #27 on:** April 26, 2012, 04:55:58 AM »

Paul,

Great posting! Thanks.

cvobiker · « **Reply #28 on:** April 26, 2012, 08:13:40 AM »

Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy. This figure includes over 209,000 Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces. Of the Allied casualties, 83,045 were from 21st Army Group (British, Canadian and Polish ground forces), 125,847 from the US ground forces. The losses of the German forces during the Battle of Normandy can only be estimated. Roughly 200,000 German troops were killed or wounded. The Allies also captured 200,000 prisoners of war (not included in the 425,000 total, above). During the fighting around the Falaise Pocket (August 1944) alone, the Germans suffered losses of around 90,000, including prisoners.

Today, twenty-seven war cemeteries hold the remains of over 110,000 dead from both sides: 77,866 German, 9386 American, 17,769 British, 5002 Canadian and 650 Poles.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 French civilians were killed, mainly as a result of Allied bombing. Thousands more fled their homes to escape the fighting.

Paul1 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:13:01 AM »

Thanks for all your comments, a truly inspirational road trip.

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #30 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:33:44 AM »

Phenomenal Post, thank you for sharing.

One day I will get to Normandy. I find WWII history fascinating. I had two Uncles serve in it, one Navy on Army.

I served 20 in the USN.

napalm · « **Reply #31 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:46:52 AM »

Was there at Normandy about 7 years ago....sacrede site...very emotional visit.....thanks for the pictures and reminders....took the train from Paris to Normandy....highlight of our trip to France...

napalm

aclass · « **Reply #32 on:** April 26, 2012, 12:14:38 PM »

Quote from: FLSTFI Dave on April 26, 2012, 09:33:44 AM

Phenomenal Post, thank you for sharing.

One day I will get to Normandy. I find WWII history fascinating. I had two Uncles serve in it, one Navy on Army.

I served 20 in the USN.

A big salute Dave. And the History of WWII has always fascinated me too. My grandmother, who is still going strong at 90 today, was married, a mother, and a widow all in the same year. Hard to fathom what humanity endured during those times.

FLSTFI Dave · « **Reply #33 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:00:06 AM »

Quote from: aclass on April 26, 2012, 12:14:38 PM

A big salute Dave. And the History of WWII has always fascinated me too. My grandmother, who is still going strong at 90 today, was married, a mother, and a widow all in the same year. Hard to fathom what humanity endured during those times.

My moms mother Escaped Nazi Germany to the USA with her brother. Her brother was my Uncle who joined the US army and went back to fight against the Germans.

That had to be hard all in one year.

skreminegul07 · « **Reply #34 on:** April 27, 2012, 09:20:31 AM »

On my bucket list also. Thanks for sharing. I'd also like to see some of the bases in England that housed the bombers. My dad was pilot in the pre Air force Army Air Corp.

Laconia · « **Reply #35 on:** April 27, 2012, 06:36:57 PM »

Thank you for your posting - it's appreciated..............

DDavidson · « **Reply #36 on:** April 27, 2012, 10:03:04 PM »

Quote

Hopefully a better shot of the church roof !

At first I didn't realize that it's a parachutist snagged on the roof in this photo.

catsnhogs · « **Reply #37 on:** April 27, 2012, 10:38:43 PM »

Great Photos

Bubba · « **Reply #38 on:** April 27, 2012, 10:53:04 PM »

Paul thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Like you said it really get you thinking.

Bubba

MadCVORG · « **Reply #39 on:** April 28, 2012, 09:01:36 AM »

Great photos, Paul. Glad you enjoyed the trip!

The US cemeteries are managed by the America Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), which oversees WW1 and WW2 sites in France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, and Tunisia and the Pacific -- 24 in all. All are immaculately maintained, and are open year-round, except for a few holidays. Most were created shortly after their respective war, with the various nations granting the land in perpetuity.

http://www.abmc.gov

Of all the cemeteries I've visited, other than Normandy, the Meuse-Argonne (France) and Hamm (Luxembourg City) cemeteries are frquently visited by US troops on Memorial Day. Also, a group of predominently US military and civilian riders, who make up the Rough Riders MC at Ramstein Air Base, head out to Hamm every Memorial Day to lay roses and plant US and Lux flags at every one of the 5,076 gravesites; they've been doing this for the past six years. And many of the citizens of Luxembourg, to this day, have not forgotten what the US did to restore their freedom. Same in Belgium.

Definitely take the opportunity to visit at least one cemetery, talk to the Superintendent, and learn more about the sacrifices our forefathers made to defend freedom. Very moving.

Author Topic: Normandy beaches (Read 4951 times)

DOOFUS