RAF bomb aimer, 218 Squadron.
‘In April 1944 we attacked three targets in France and then began training to use a new type of G called GH. This would enable the navigator to direct the pilot to fly to within a few yards of a position on the ground to allow bombs to be dropped blind. We practised during May using Lincoln cathedral as our target and taking photographs to record the results. This work continued in the first week of June and then on 5 June we took part in Operation Glimmer to simulate a naval attack on the Pas-de-Calais area in order to deceive the Germans into believing that the D-Day landings were there and not Normandy. This was achieved by flying a progressive square search pattern between Newhaven and Boulogne, dropping Window continuously. The plan was successful and we shared the task with 617 Dam Busters Squadron with additional crew members to ensure that a continual dropping of the packets of Window was maintained. I understood that no aircraft were lost during this risky operation. We returned to Woolfox Lodge after five hours 15 minutes of demanding flying. After the usual breakfast we slept for a few hours and awoke to find out on the 1 p.m. news that today, 6 June, was D-Day and the landings in Normandy had begun. In my diary I noted that it was cold and miserable at home.’
Flight Lieutenant Eric ‘Phil’ Phillips DFC MiD
214 Squadron Gunnery Leader, 100 Group, 22:50 5 June.
‘We were cruising on course at 30,000 feet, a brilliant moonlit night with 10/10ths cloud 5,000ft below, the vapour trails from each wing tip standing out for all to see. Inside the Fortress aircraft “N” with its crew of ten fully trained airmen all is silent; just the steady hum of the four engines can be heard. There was a click as the wireless operator Flight Lieutenant Bill Doy switched on his intercom and spoke. “Rear gunner, there is a U/I aircraft approaching very fast from the rear, I confirm that I have it in sight some 2,000 feet astern and approximately 800 feet below.” I brought it in by commentary – 1,200 feet, 1,000 feet – at 800 feet it started to disappear under the Fortress. I handed the commentary back to the W/O, who gave the skipper the order, “Corkscrew, starboard go!” On the word go, I fired one short burst blindly with both .5s fully depressed. The next second with the Fortress in a deep dive to starboard the attacking aircraft I now recognized as an Me 410. It was on my port quarter for a second. It appeared to just hang there with the glow of two cannons being fired. I fired two short bursts and also observed an accurate burst from the mid-upper turret. There was no doubt that the Me 410 was hit as I did see smoke. He then disappeared from my view and I did not see the aircraft again. The Me 410 was claimed destroyed.’
‘We practised during May using Lincoln cathedral as our target . . . and then on 5 June we took part in Operation Glimmer to simulate a naval attack on the Pas-de-Calais area in order to deceive the Germans into believing that the D-Day landings were there. . .’
Author title page
Countdown
0415, 5 June 1944
With no basic changes to the weather pattern described the previous day, Eisenhower turns to General Montgomery and asks whether he could see any reason for not going on Tuesday, to which Montgomery replies, ‘I would say – Go!’ The other commanders agree. ‘OK’ says Eisenhower; ‘We’ll go.’ A coded wireless message sent out by the BBC instructs the French Resistance to cut railway lines throughout France. German intelligence, which had partially broken the code, warns Rommel’s HQ but in his absence it seems to have been ignored. Of 1,050 planned breaches of rail lines by the Resistance, 950 are carried out.
The Allied Commanders. Back Row L-R: Lt General Omar N. Bradley; Admiral Sir Bertram H. Ramsay, Allied Naval Commander; Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford L. Leigh-Mallory, C-in-C AEAF; Major General Walter Bedell Smith, Chief of Staff SHAEF. Seated L-R: Air Chief Sir Marshal A. W. Tedder, Deputy Supreme Commander; General Dwight D. Eisenhower Supreme Commander, and General Sir Bernard L. Montgomery. C-in-C Land Forces, CO 21st Army Group.
U.S Army
Five Fortresses of 214 Squadron operated in support of the D-Day operation in an ABC (Airborne Cigar) jamming role. A protective patrol lasting over five hours was flown at 27,000 feet starting just north and east of Dieppe and running almost perpendicular to the coastline carrying out jamming and Window dropping in conjunction with 24 Lancasters of 101 Squadron of 1 Group. One Lancaster was shot down. The patrol was outstandingly successful and earned a personal congratulation to all concerned by Arthur Harris to whom he pointed out that ‘the work carried out was of paramount importance in connection with the Invasion Forces’.
Flight Sergeant Roland ‘Ginger’ A. Hammersley DFM
Lancaster air gunner, 57 Squadron, which bombed heavy gun positions at La Pemelle.
‘It was at 01:40 hours in JB318/‘O’ with a bomb load of 11 1,000-lb AN-M and four 500-lb GP bombs that we took off with the other 15 crews for the attack. As we were crossing the English Channel it was apparent that there was either a huge flock of birds, thousands of aircraft or a vast fleet on the sea immediately below our Lancaster – my “fishpond” was swamped with blips. Banking the aircraft to port and starboard, we could see a huge fleet of vessels heading towards the French coast. The expected “D-Day” had arrived and I was there to the fore.’
Sergeant Johnny Cook, 19
(later Flying Officer DFM), Halifax III rear gunner, 578 Squadron at Burn.
‘June 5th – INVASION. Target Montfleury–Cherbourg – gun battery. Early morning take off. Almost a daylight operation. Heavy cloud and severe icing over Channel to target. We opened the “Second Front” – D-Day – at about five in the morning. Saw the massive convoy formations in the Channel.’
Franklin L. Betz
B-17 navigator, 379th BG, Kimbolton.
‘To be awakened about 04:00 for a mission was pretty much routine but to be hauled out of the sack at about 01:30 to report to briefing – well something unusual must be up, I thought as I groped sleepily for my clothes. The atmosphere at briefing was invariably sombre. Sitting quietly on benches dozing or languidly puffing on cigarettes that glowed eerily in the soft light of the starkly furnished rooms, there was very little talk while the fliers, officers and enlisted men waited for the CO, Colonel Preston, to arrive.
‘“Tenshun!” someone up front bawled when the CO strode in. Everyone arose standing erect, eyes straight ahead. “At ease,” the Colonel said. The men sat down quietly, tensely awaiting roll call and the removal of the cover from the huge map of Europe on which the course to and from the target had been traced. If it showed a deep penetration of Germany that meant dangerous fighter attacks and flak encounters throughout the flight; a groan arose from the dry throats of the airmen that trailed off into excited whispers as briefing continued. But at 02:30, when the briefing officer announced, “This is it – this is D-Day!” it was different; a lusty cheer shattered the quiet of a moment before. Whoops, whispers and yells echoed from the grey walls. It was an unprecedented and ecstatic vocal demonstration by the fliers who had doggedly been carrying the war to Germany for many months with considerable losses of men and planes. It was the day they had awaited to share with the ground forces and together they would assault the Nazi war machine, hopefully gaining a foothold on the mainland with the ultimate goal of driving the Wehrmacht back to the Fatherland and crushing it.’