Normandy | D-Day | 6 June 1944 | Utah Beach Tweet D-Day and Utah Beach We are visiting the landing beaches and battlefields of the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. We started by flying to Brussels, renting a car and driving to Sainte-Mère-Église and finding a place to stay. So far we have been exploring the town of Sainte-Mère-Église and its immediate surroundings, including some German bunkers and artillery batteries covering the coastline designated Utah Beach by the Allies. Now we will go to that beach. The Allies had convinced the Germans that they would land at the Pas de Calais or "Step of Calais", near the city of Calais. That's the narrowest part of the English Channel or La Manche as it's known on its southern side. Meanwhile, Operation Overlord was planned for the beaches of Normandy, well to the west of Calais and across a much wider channel of water. Details of a U.S. military map of the D-Day plans. Full resolution version at Wikipedia .

Looking back at the scale of the invasion, there might not have been enough room to maneuver the huge invasion fleet in the relatively narrow area between Calais and Dover! The landings would take place on the beaches between Cherbourg and Le Havre, well between either of those large and fortified cities. The beaches were assigned code names: UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, and SWORD, from west to east. The names were fairly arbitrary, beyond Utah and Omaha being American place names and U.S. forces were to take the first two, while British and Canadian forces would take the other three. Utah Beach was on the roughly north-south coast of the Cotentin Peninsula. The Douve River empties into a fairly large estuary in the "southwest corner" of the Norman coastline, just northeast of Carentan as seen on the above map. Just to the estuary's west are high cliffs around Pointe du Hoc, then it's back to beaches and the other four landing areas continuing to the east toward Caen. The map above is just a detail from an overall map of the plans, showing just Normandy itself. Below is a map showing Utah Beach, and the action of the U.S.

4th Infantry Division through the evening of 6 June 1944. Notice the many German fortifications along the beach, shown as solid black circles. Not included on this map are the significant German artillery positions well inland but well within range of the beach, including Azeville , shown in detail on the Sainte-Mère-Église page , and many entrenched mobile guns including those at Brécourt Manor . U.S. military map of Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église. Indicated on the map above, and more clearly on the map below, the terrain at Utah Beach started at the water line with a very shallow sandy beach. Coupled with the large tides in this area, the water line at Utah Beach moves by a kilometer or more. We saw this large variation, and it shows up in my pictures below. Then there are grass-stabilized dunes varying around 10 to 15 meters in height. Immediately behind this largely linear ridge-shaped dune was a low-lying area intentionally flooded by the Germans for defensive purposes. It would be crucial to find the exits, marked on the map above, to move inland along roads and get beyond the flooded areas.

The map below shows the planned landings, along about 2 kilometers of beach starting slightly to the north of the village of la Madeleine. However, unexpected tidal currents shifted the landing force entirely to the south of la Madeleine, requiring some quick reconnaissance and adjustment of plans to find appropriate causeways to move beyond the initial 500-1000 meters from the high-water line and across the flooded areas. The whole landing front shifted to the south — to the left as seen in this map — with landing sectors designated Uncle Red and Tare Green shifted to the left but remaining in order. This error ended up as a good thing — the road known as Exit 2 was used much more heavily than planned, and it was less heavily fortified than the other exits. Brigadier General T.R. Roosevelt Jr was the highest ranking officer and oldest soldier in the landing forces. He was the assistant commander of the 4th Infantry Division.

He is famous for moving inland off the beach to do his own reconnaissance, and then announcing "We'll start the war from here!" Roosevelt stayed on the beach to personally greet and direct every regiment to their new objectives, inspiring them with his calmness, confidence, and humor, despite the German artillery rounds landing nearby, He was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his action on D-Day. The maps above and below show the intentionally flooded areas with dashed lines. Some roads are on slightly raised berms and served as exit routes. Those areas are flat and relatively low, but they are above sea level. Without Germans pumping water into them, they're just low flat fields. U.S. military map of the 8th Infantry Division landing plan on Utah Beach on D-Day. Full resolution available at Wikipedia . Below is a map showing the beach obstacles known before the landings. Notice the classification marking — TOP SECRET — BIGOT. "BIGOT" was a code word used for information about Operation Overlord. To be cleared for access to this information was inevitably referred to among those in the know as "being BIGOTed". The map below shows the original countryside, including fence lines and hedge rows.

Some of that area was flooded, as indicated on the landing plan above. U.S. military map of obstacles for the D-Day landing on Utah Beach. Full resolution available at Wikipedia . Landing 06:17 H-Hour + 00:17 Mostly detachments of the 237th and 299th Engineer Combat Battalions, to clear the obstacles between the low-water and high-water lines. By early afternoon, elements of the 4th Infantry Division had moved inland and linked up with elements of the 101st Airborne Division. By the end of D-Day, 23,250 troops and 1,700 vehicles had been safely landed on Utah Beach. Casualties were relatively light on Utah Beach. However, this was due in part to the inland actions of the 13,000 Airborne troops who suffered heavy losses. The 101st Airborne Division lost about 40% of its forces on D-Day. Pictures From Our Visit We went to Utah Beach a number of times, as it was a short drive from where we were staying in Sainte-Mère-Église.

Yes, you need your own car and the freedom of very little advance planning to really enjoy and get a lot out of this area. Seriously. Check out Europcar. Then just drive to Normandy, wander into town, and start asking about rooms. It's not as if this were terribly difficult or, once you get there, expensive. Once you've found a place to stay, drive over to Utah Beach. Everything is wide open and publicly accessible from the waterline back through the main initial dune line. German fortifications lie all along the beach. You might want to have some background information from web sites like bunkertours.co.uk, atlantikwall.org.uk, atlantikwall.co.uk, and atlantikwall.net, where you can find as many details as I can imagine anyone wanting about precisely what type of fortification a given ruin is, and whether it is a standard representative of that type or somehow just a little bit unusual. View from a bunker overlooking Utah Beach. German machine gun post. Inside that machine gun post. Those detailed web sites describe things down the scale of individual machine gun posts like the above — its precise location and an indication of which of the many varieties of designs it is.

Erwin Rommel was known as "The Desert Fox", the famous German armored commander in North Africa earlier in the war. He had then been assigned the command of this part of Germany's "Atlantic Wall", the fortifications of the coastlines in anticipation of Allied invasion. in France Rommel really had a thing for reinforced concrete. The small post shown above is of reinforced concrete. There would have been a steel ring around the opening, a track for traversing the gun. Otherwise, like most of the ruins, this is pretty much the way it was in 1944. Large bunkers, like the one shown below, can appear on the IGN maps as a structure just above the high-water line. The picture at left is a view out the gun port. That opening is the large square one at the center of the bunker as seen at right. The guns traversed on an arc of rails toward the rear of that wedge-shaped room. The result was that the muzzle of the gun did not move much at all while the breech swung around to sweep an angle of almost ninety degrees. Each bunker was responsible for some wedge-shaped area of fire, and the many bunkers and their overlapping fields of fire provided more than complete coverage of the beach.

View from a larger bunker overlooking Utah Beach. That larger bunker. Another view of the bunker interior. Above is another view from further back in the bunker, almost out the opposite side. Just past the last rectangular support columns you can see some of the steel traversing rails through the sand that blows through these ruins. A heavy steel frame held the door leading further into the bunker. The Germans spent a few years fortifying this part of France, pouring lots of concrete. Rommel's reinforced concrete and steel. He loved the stuff. Below are a couple of pictures showing how wide the beach can be at low tide. You can see from the shadows in the picture at left that this visit was just before sunset. Tidal bulges follow the sun and moon. Each is a pair of bulges, one on the side of Earth closest to that body (that is, where the sun or moon appears to be directly overhead), and one on the opposite side. Those solar and lunar bulges combine in complicated ways, made far more complicated yet by the submarine topology, currents, and so on, and vary on top of that with weather patterns.

Low barometric pressure, most extreme within storms, literally sucks the ocean into that area and can make high tides unusually higher. The tidal bulge caused by the sun will lead to high tides at noon and midnight, low tides at sunrise and sunset. The tidal bulge caused by the moon does the same thing, except that now the extremes happen when the moon rises and sets. Twice a month the Sun and Moon are either roughly together in the sky (the New Moon) or roughly opposite (the Full Moon). That causes what's called a spring tide, a name that refers to the water "springing" or jumping unusually high and not to the season following winter. We happened to be there around the Full Moon, making it a spring tide and thus about as much variation as you ever see. This was accidentally appropriate, as D-Day was timed to take advantage of a full Moon spring tide. The criteria were: Full Moon for good illumination all night, for the parachute landings and for navigation of the fleet. Extreme low tide at Sun rise (and simultaneous Moon set) to fully expose German obstacles on the beaches as the landing began. Swiftly rising extreme high tide to assist moving the landing forward. Acceptable weather.

The first three criteria would be met roughly monthly with two to three day periods, but the requirement for acceptable weather limited the choices to just a few of those per year. The landings were planned for June. If they could not go then, the next chances were in July and August, and then they would have to wait until the next year. Concrete fortifications. Looking across Utah Beach, about a kilometer wide at low tide. As it was, the landing was scheduled for the 5th of June. Weather in May was good, but it deteriorated in early June. The weather on the 4th included low clouds that would hide targets from aircraft and high winds and seas that would prevent landing. The fleet had already taken to sea in the Channel, but it had to either weather out the storm or seek shelter on the south coast of Britain overnight on the 4th/5th. The weather on the 5th looked marginal, but Eisenhower's chief meteorologist forecast at least a brief improvement on the 6th. Eisenhower decided to launch. The BBC's nightly French service broadcast of apparently nonsensical messages, coded messages to the French Resistance, included ones telling the Resistance to begin their sabotage operations.

"Les carottes sont cuites" (The carrots are cooked), "Les dés sont jetés" (The dice have been thrown), and so on. Meanwhile, the weather happened to be worse in France than over the Channel, lulling the Germans into complacency. Because of English Channel currents and the underwater topology and who knows what else, the tides along the coast of Normandy and northern Brittany are unusually large. Utah Beach slopes very gently. The result is a large distance between the low-water and high-water lines, typically a kilometer or more. We walked down the beach toward where we saw a large excavator working on something out at the water line. Some sort of low structure, hard to see at a distance. German obstacles still being cleared out? We walked out to have a look. What is this excavator doing down by the water line? Turn the oyster bags once a month! Oyster bags are shock-corded to metal frames in the oyster farm. It was a parc á huîtres, an oyster farm. There are a number of these along Utah Beach, they only become visible during unusually low tides. The oysters are grown in mesh bags fastened to steel frames with rubber shock cords.

Once a month, workers quickly unfasten the bags, flip them over, and fasten them back down. The excavator is there to re-seat any frames that have started to come loose. They have to work quickly to turn (or later, to collect) the oysters. They are only exposed for a short time during the most extreme low tides. Most of the month they aren't visible above water at all. Jeff at the low-water line. Bob wades in between the oyster racks as the tide comes in. Looking in across Utah Beach from the low-water line as the tide comes in. The above picture shows how wide the beach is, and how far it is from the low-water line to the top of the beach and the dunes (and the German fortifications). It's about a kilometer along the part of the beach. The oyster frames are home to all sorts of "volunteer" sealife, including mussels or moules. Yes, mussels also grow very well here, and they are also farmed, as seen below. Unused oyster frames.

We will return to Utah Beach to hike along the beach and then turn inland to Sainte-Mère-Église along the path followed by some of the American forces . Meanwhile, we reviewed our maps for what we had done this day. See the small detail below from the IGN map # 1312 E. The light blue dotted region is the area underwater at high tide and exposed at low tide. The low-water line, the edge of the darker blue always submerged area, is marked "[0]". The blue lines are a 1-kilometer grid. The waterline changes by at least a kilometer in this part of Utah Beach. Small detail from IGN map # 1312 E, Ste-Mère-Église / Utah Beach, 1:25,000 scale. ISBN 3 282111 311245.

Visiting Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword - Nation - NorthJersey.com © 2017 North Jersey Media Group June 8, 2014 Last updated: Monday, June 9, 2014, 12:16 AM Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword Suburban Trends These were the code names the Allies used for the French beaches that became their landing sites on June 6, 1944 — popularly known as D-Day — as they looked to establish a foothold on mainland Europe and take the first step toward defeating the Nazi war machine. It was a risky attack, Homeric in its scale, and "Operation Overlord" had more riding on its success than we can now imagine. There's a good reason that even though there have been a lot of D-Days throughout history, the word has become synonymous with the Normandy Invasion. When looking back, there's the temptation to assess everything with the clarity that comes with hindsight.

In this instance we cannot do that, and to appreciate the risk that our troops, along with their British, Canadian, and French counterparts, were willing to take, we must look on that day through the "fog of war." After all, successful invasions across the English Channel were the exception, not the rule. Julius Caesar did it in 54 B.C., as did William the Conqueror in 1066, but neither had to contend with the airpower, artillery, or anti-ship mines that faced the Allies. Spain tried unsuccessfully in 1588, and the Channel's waters dissuaded the likes of both Napoleon and Hitler from even trying to invade mainland Britain. So when the proposal for the 1944 invasion was made, it was dicey at best. Everything the troops ate, shot, or wore — all that they needed to retain whatever toehold they gained on June 6 — would have to be brought into Normandy, not counting the fact that it had to be shipped to England from America first before being loaded onto transports for France. It was quite a logistical feat, nearly as impressive as the fighting itself. Then, of course, there was the battle.

Leading the way for the Americans were two divisions of paratroopers, the 82nd and the 101st, and three divisions of infantry, the First, 29th, and Fourth, plus the hundreds of thousands of airmen, naval personnel, and coast guardsman who participated. The fact that so many young men were willing to risk their lives to liberate Europe from Fascism (about as many Americans lost their lives on Omaha beach as they did on 9/11) is a key reason why they were given the sobriquet of "The Greatest Generation." But D-Day only kicked off the Normandy campaign. By 70 years ago today (June 8) Americans were beginning the seven-week-long slugfest to break out of the bocage country of Normandy, which contained centuries-old hedgerows that, during more peaceful times, were used as field dividers. The Germans would use each of the thick walls of roots and dirt as mini-fortresses.

Not only did infantry troops have to learn the small unit tactics to win the larger battles being waged in the bocage, but they were up against the clock as well: The allies had to break out of the Normandy region before the Germans could shift other troops there and ensure a stalemate. In the end, however, the Allies prevailed, and their ability to do so was a testament to this country's ability to overcome seemingly intractable problems. Besides our gratitude to this generation, we also owe it them to overcome our current infighting and get this country back on track. Traveling Boy: John Clayton: Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah Omaha and Utah The 5 Most Intriguing Names in French History Words and Photos by John Clayton hen you hear or see the name "Normandy," what thoughts - or visual images - leap into your mind? Even though I've been to this extraordinary piece of French real estate three times, I'd go there again in a nano second because there is so much to see and do that's spectacular. Every time I do go there, there's one fact that's harder and harder to "see" as reality.

When you gaze at the now peaceful countryside, and look around at the surrounding areas of the five main invasion beaches in the title of this article, and as your eyes take in all the vibrant greenery, flowers and mini sort of forests (especially those by the large American cemetery by Omaha beach) it's almost impossible to visualize the ravages of war that took place here on June 6th, 1944. The contrast between the peace, beauty and serenity of today, is beyond the human experience to relate to what took place here all those many years ago. Proud to show their friendship! One of the wonderful aspects of staying in some of the great B&B's and hotels near the beaches, is that many are very proud to show their direct connection to D-Day - and have "photo memorabilia" of US, British and Canadian servicemen who fought in the battle, and then returned to visit - and who are proudly displayed in the various lobbies and hallways of said establishments. Yes, a German one too! One of the many "sobering sights" in Normandy is the profusion of cemeteries that are stark reminders of the price paid for war.

Nowhere is that more evident than the huge German cemetery of La Cambe. The large, somber, black stone crosses are in vivid contrast to the all white, marble looking crosses in allied cemeteries. La Cambe is the burial ground for 21,222 German soldiers, including the famous tank Ace Michael Wittman. There is also a very interesting Information center. Silent Tribute I've visited many US military cemeteries around the world, and one of the most memorable is the 172 acre one in Normandy in Colleville-sur-Mer. Elegant in its simplicity, grand in design, and yes, stunning in its beauty, it is a fine tribute to our service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in WW2 - 9,387 of whom, are buried here. It is fitting that it's located on a bluff over looking Omaha Beach (to the left in this photo) - a place that suffered more US casualties than anywhere in Normandy that day. It is a Must See place to visit if you're in this part of France.

Each time I go there, but especially when I go to Omaha Beach, my vivid imagination takes me back to June 6th, 1944 when the Allies began the invasion that liberated Europe from the Nazi yoke. I close my eyes and hear the thunderous explosions, the constant rattatat of bullets whizzing every which way, the mind numbing sound of machine gun fire, the whistling sound of huge shells that, when they hit the ground, meant death rendering clouds of dust and shell fragments that flew in every direction. This was, quite simply, battle at it most ferocious and destruction that was - seemingly - everywhere. The reality of it all stuns the senses - especially when the realization hits home that it was fact and not fiction. May is always the month each year in which we (in the USA) pay tribute to our military, and the sacrifices they've made in the name of freedom, and every June 6th (that epic day in 1944 and world history) is celebrated both here in America and in Normandy. To recognize that sacrifice, and take note yet again of a human attribute called Courage, it seemed appropriate to me to salute all this with these words and photos.

If you've never been to Normandy, I urge you - in the strongest way possible - to make definite plans to go there on your next vacation. For a wide variety of intriguing information, click on Google and type in "Normandy, France," and be sure to also check out the French Tourist Office website at . Recreating "How It Was." When I was invited by the French Government to attend the 60th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, 2004, this was one of the most surreal, and unusual sights I saw. Yes, they're the US military but, as I approached them I heard loud British accents!!! I could not believe what I was hearing, but it turned out that they were a large group of British "Re-Enactors" who loved dressing up in US military uniforms of that era - and so when the French government learned of their existence, they were invited to bring all of their trucks (some seen in the background) and their masses of D-Day outfits and memorabilia to Normandy.

For "Ride With John Aboard Europe's Most Dazzling and Luxurious Train": You and your trains and boats and planes, you always make me want to get off my more-than-ample behind and travel! Thank you again for yet another vicarious adventure. Richard F., Saugerties, NY Yes, Richard, THANK you for your kind words, so delighted you (with all YOUR worldly travels) enjoyed it. Travel journalism has given me the opportunity to be aboard and relish, some of the best and finest in train travel. The Orient Express was THE thrill, THE total enjoyment, of the best of the best. So good to hear from you. From "Always training John." For "Harry Potter's 'Hogwarts Express'": Loved the Hogwarts Express article. Nancy  Hawaii For "Tantalizing Takeoffs, Trains, Trips and Tennis": Dear John, Lovely story as always, and your photos are superb. You do have a way with words. Corinna  Washington DC * * * * John, That is indeed an interesting and enlightening article. I will remember how to get away from the airport and to London proper.

Wimbledon looks spectacular; I suppose they're going to use some of it for the Olympics? Mary J. Purcell  London John - excellent as usual and full of interesting details and anecdotes. Masterful writing! Agnes Huff  London For "Exciting Adventures in London  By Way of San Diego": Hello John, I enjoyed reading your article on London by way of San Diego, it was a fun and informative read. You flew past Carlsbad on your way to San Diego. Have you visited Carlsbad lately? When you have a couple of days available I would like to invite you to visit Carlsbad. You can get to Carlsbad by train as well. I look forward to part 2 of the article. Frankie Laney  Carlsbad, CA * * * * Thank you very much for your story to me and Old Town Trolley Tours. I am happy you had a nice tour and that we were referred to you! I enjoyed reading your story and can't wait until I forward this email to my Manager and the General Manager tomorrow, Yoli  San Diego, CA * * * * John, That is wonderful! I really enjoyed Part one of five....awesome writing skills you have!!

A true gift!! Best regards, Agnes Huff, PhD  Los Angeles, CA * * * * Great stuff, thanks for sending this through and the other emails  great read Val Austin, Senior Visit Britain International Press Visits officer, London, UK As a subscriber to Traveling Boy, I love reading your stories John. I send them through to my Mum as she appreciates them too! Lisa, Australia For "Must See Attraction" in Northern Spain: Hi John! Loved your article and Castro de Santa Tegra is added to my "want to see" list. Would love to visit Portugal and Spain and this added to the desire.You are a marvelous source of information and I'm sure Travel Boy will appreciate your experience and information. I look forward to reading more of your articles. Nel Stingley, Hermosa Beach * * * * Mr. Clayton, Thank you for your intriguing article on Castro de Santa Tegra. Quite literally, I have never even heard of the place, but it it is now officially on my 'bucker list.' Brock Alston, Boulder, CO John, I saw that! That was so cool!

I wasn't expecting it, so when I started reading it I was thinking, "Wow, another person wrote something similar to what I was saying to John!" Hahahaha! I didn't recognize it at first. :) That was really nice - thank you for answering me regarding the UK. I'm going to buy a travel book and check out the places you were talking about. Your experience about Normandy got me appreciating visiting battle "destinations," if you will, so I'd like to check out a couple of those that you mentioned. Always a pleasure, Museum Educator, The Banning Museum My dear Cristina, If you go to the current Traveling Boy website, and click on my current story about crazy signs around the world, at the end of the piece youll see your question and my answer/suggestions about your travels. John * * * * John, your ardent love of travel and discovery, seem to be the grist for your excellent writing skills.

Having just returned from a visit to France, to visit old friends, and enjoy that lovely country, it is not hard to comprehend how travel truly spawns, witin all of us, inspiration out the "gazoo." Terry Hare My dear Terry, Thank you so much for your wonderful and very, very encouraging words. They made my day - hey, it made my month!!! Hugs, John (The letter below was sent in response by a reader to the article A Most Unusual Tourist Attraction ) Did you ever serve in the army? Were you in a combat zone? This affinity/hobby of war for the sake of the competitive and challenge is beyond me. I served 3 years (mandatory) in the Israeli army and was only involved in it while I had to be there (even that seems like too much). This article is inspiring to me because of the answer of the cemetery official and the figures of dead on both sides. I can not understand saluting to a person who did his best to kill as many people as possible. If you live out of fear or brainwash you will never stop killing and harming. Does that deserve a salutation or pity?

On Behalf Of Etan, USA Etan, Greetings: Many thanks for your thoughtful email with regard to my Traveling Boy story about my visit to the German cemetery in Normandy. To answer your first question, yes I did serve in the Army although NOT in combat. Iï¿½ve been in this great country, the USA, for 48 years and was born in London, so when I was 18 I had to spend time in the Army doing (what was then called) National Service. I was in North Africa and Malta. Although I wished Iï¿½d been in combat, I never was. As a travel journalist I was, obviously, very happy that you found what I wrote inspiring, based on the comments of the French manager of the cemetery, and of the tragedy of how many young lives were lost on all sides due to that dreadful conflict. He, the old, guy, was a fascinating individual, and I really enjoyed chatting to him. Iï¿½ve always had a (and letï¿½s call it what it is) fascination with war, and the military, and have watched (almost!) every show on the Military channel, the History Channel and the Discovery Channel, countless times.

Iï¿½ve also been to many WW2 sites around the world. Yes, I agree with your view that war is terrible, but what if we ï¿½ the Allies - had not done anything about Hitler? Could we, or should we have allowed him to run amok around Europe and the rest of the world? I think not. As terrible as war is, it seems human beings cannot find another way to settle certain problems ï¿½ although Iï¿½m hugely encouraged by the approach of the EU and how so many people now realize that fighting is NOT the answer. So I live in hope war might be a thing of the past, but I doubt it. My saluting M. Wittmanï¿½s grave. As I stood there I was, to be totally honest, in awe of the fact that I was standing above the grave of this incredible Nazi tank Ace who was the top, or among the top scoring tank commanders in the Panzers. I saluted not who he was, nor ï¿½ certainly ï¿½ what he stood for ï¿½ but for his talents as a tank tactician.

Most British and American historians of that war, and who are really interested in such things, will confirm to you that whatever else one might think about Wittman, he was a brilliant tank commander. That, and only that, was what I was recognizing. For 16 successful years ï¿½ 1992 to 2007 ï¿½ I was on three top LA radio stations (KABC, KKGO/KMZT and the KNX) with my show ï¿½John Claytonï¿½s Travel with A Differenceï¿½ and I always enjoyed hearing from my listeners - even though at times what they sent me might not have been what I was expecting. In other words, I found it fascinating to hear both the upbeat, offbeat and down beat. When I wrote what did I knew that it would generate some responses like yours. While I do not (NOT!!) advocate TBoy's writers' doing stories that are provocative, the fact remains that human beings (whether they admit it or not) like controversy - witness Glenn Beck, O'Reilly etc and of course R. Limbaugh.

What I am saying is that if you, as the writer, feel strongly about something, you MUST put those thoughts down in your story. While I abhor all things that guys like Wittman did as a Nazi, the fact is he was a brilliant tactician. I must share with you yet again how delighted I was ï¿½ and still am ï¿½ by your words, and Iï¿½m so glad you wrote and said what you did, and that you took the time to share your feelings. I do hope you can ï¿½ at the very least ï¿½ accept my thoughts and ideas that Iï¿½ve laid out in this email on this very sensitive subject. Perhaps even more so, for someone from Israel. With best regards,. John John, Your refection on how young those can be who die in war reminded me of the A.E. Houseman poem at the entrance to the Fighter Command museum in London (beside the photo and engine of the RAF fighter pilot who died in the Battle of Britain): "Here dead lie we because we did not choose to live and shame the land from which we sprung.

Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose; But young men think it is, and we were young." Eric, San Diego, CA Ringo and Deb can have their Oasis - this to me smacks of heavenly travel - thanks for the article and photos. Brenda - Richland, WA Hi John, I have read a few articles about R for Robert, but yours by far is the best. My grandfather was co-pilot John Slatter (my Dad's dad). It is so neat to hear about ancestry. There is actually a book published called R for Robert. Another interesting detail.... I live in NH, and in 1985 a lawyer with many interests from Concord,NH and a sonar exploration company from Salem, NH were the ones who started the project to pull the Wellington out of the Loch. I am always trying to find information about that side of our family, and love to read articles such as yours. Thanks for the piece.....

Cyndi - Raymond, NH * * * * Greetings my dear Cyndi I was born in Kensington in London, and although I've been in this great place called the USA for 48 amazing years, if it is still true that Brits ARE noted for understatement, let me tell you that your email not only made my day, but gave me a huge, huge thrill. I am a WW2 aficionado, and had one of the biggest "thrill sensations" of my life, when the French government invited me to the 60th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6th, 2004. In fact, I sat 50 feet from world leaders like Bush, Putin, and Queen Elizabeth. When I went to Loch Ness and heard (and saw!) that a wonderful Wellington had crashed there, and that it also pin pointed WHERE it had happened, I was in nirvana. I stood on the side of the road and, as I gazed out at the cold and forbidding waters that day, I was instantly transported back to the time and day when it happened - and in my imagination I saw and heard it all.

So to get your amazing and (to me) riveting letter, was and is totally amazing - and wonderful. John Hello John, Ed Boitano (who I met on a Star Clipper cruise in the Mediterranean last July) has sent me a link to your above article on the 'Little Steam Trains of North Wales' which I read with interest. One of the photo captions mentions a sign above the train in Welsh, which says: FFORD ALLAN GOFYNN'R DEITHWYR DDEFNYDDIO'R BONT I GROESI'R LEIN. Rougly translated it is a Notice to travellers to use the bridge to cross the line. In Welsh bont is a bridge or archway, Groesi is a crossing, Lein a line, (in this case a rail line or alternative it could mean a line-out (as in Rugby football - but that's another game!) Although born in Wales as Ed may tell you my Welsh is very limited, but trust this answers your question and it amuses! Kind regards, John Dann - Hove, East Sussex, England * * * * Hi How wonderful to know that people in Hove (for heavens sakes!) are reading Traveling Boy.

I remember -- with much fondness --- visiting Hove during my early years in the UK - charming and very British, so I hope it is still that way and that it has NOT been over run with neon signs and crass commercialism. Thanks too for your comment about the Welsh wording on the bridge. There were so many wonderful things that intrigued me about Wales, and one of them was - and is! - the language. I mean you'd see this long series of words in Welsh, and then underneath it would give the British translation, and it'd very often be only one or two words. I attach a photo I took of a road sign to illustrate my point. In any event, thanks for your kind words and interesting feedback. MOST appreciated. John Dear John, Your website is fantastic. I am building a Messerschmitt BF109E Model in Balsa Wood and I have a problem in finding the numbers of its original colour (BF 109E-3 with a Donald Duck painted at rear of Romania.)I've been looking around and tried to see through the internet but can't find any help.

Please if you have this information and can help me, I would appreciate it very much and I thank you in advance I send you my best regards, Philip Vella - St. Julians, Malta * * * * Hi Philip, Very nice to get your email and I'm so glad you like what you've seen and read on Traveling boy. Sadly, I do not have the answer to your question either. I do, however, have one suggestion and idea. Among all my aviation books form that period, I have one called "Aircraft of World War 2." It is published by Chartwell Books, 114 Northfield Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08837, USA. The editorial and design was done by Amber Books at Bradley Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF, England. Their website is . As the above book is jam packed with fascinating facts about all the aircraft from WW2, I feel that if you write to both of them with your question, they might be able to help you. The book is written by Robert Jackson and he seems to be a mountain of information. Google his name and see what comes up.

John Hello John, I don't know if you remember me or not but my name is Cliff Pleggenkuhle, Jr. I flew for Cal from 1964 to 2003. I got the article you did on Wes Coss from the Cal Chief Pilots office. The communications people forwarded the article to them. Anyway, I sent the article to the Golden Contrails editor and he is going to include the article in our next edition. The contrails is the publication of our retired group the Golden Eagles. I have read the book and it was great. It would make a good movie. I also sent your article to my old banker, who is a airplane and WWII nut and I think he is sending you an article about the underground in WWII. He writes articles of interest in a weekly local paper in Liberty County, TX. I will quit rambling and just wanted to let you know your fine article on Wes will be appreciated by many. Regards, Cliff Pleggenkuhle, Jr., Huffman, TX * * * * Sir...A good friend, a captain with Continental Airlines, Cliff Pleggenkuhle sent me your website.

Indeed, your story about the great escape (albeit brief) was one that should be shared. Chuck Yeager also made his way to Spain and his story was somewhat similar. But it takes a real writer to set the plan in motion (and I really mean...motion) as you have done. I'm taking the liberty to send you a copy of my newspaper column about another hero that I have known. Ironically, your mention of the escape of Wes being true can set aside the Great Escape of Stalag whatever. The untrue part that it was led by an American pilot when actually it was a Dutch pilot named Bob Vanderstock and others. When I went to Belgium with my friend Pieter Cramerus, a Dutch ace who flew Spitfires during WWII for the RAF, he told me about his friend Vanderstock's escape. Then, he introduced to me this fantastic former agent of the Belgium Underground who married his cousin. The rest is in the article. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks again for your expertise in writing the word. Bob Jamison, Dayton, TX * * * * You're getting some serious journalism on your site! Literary indeed. Award-winning potential, and I'm not just talking about YOUR stuff!!

Terry Cassel * * * * Greetings.... Of all the stories I've written in my lifetime, I cannot think of any one that gave me as much pleasure and joy, in writing the piece about Wes. It required all my best "creative juices," and also - truly thrilling for me - gave me a marvelous opportunity to put words together about battle, about flying and about military history. Knowing how important editing is to any story, and to a reader's enjoyment of same (in other words it has to flow freely and be very concise) I wrote the article in one sitting, and then re-wrote it six times. I have no idea who this Terry Cassel is, but I cannot tell you how thrilled and how, yes overwhelmed I am, by his brief (editing again proving that less is more) comments about my story. Thank you Ed for giving me this opportunity to put THIS story on the amazing Traveling Boy website. And Wes, thank you for allowing me to chat with you and glean from you (and then your book!) all the fascinating stuff that came together as my article.

Thanks must also go to my wife and my two daughters who have always believed in me, and who (as Father's Day has just passed) gave me the most wonderful and heart wrenching Father's Day cards imaginable. I have always told them that anything is achievable and possible, and that one should NEVER give up. Keep on knocking on doors and even if 20 are closed in your face, if you find yourself knocking on the 21st one, that'll very probably will be THE one that opens up for you - and demonstrates that your determination to never take NO as any sort of answer is a key part of success. Finally, all of this has only been made reality, by my living and working in this place called the United States of America. Thank you all for everything. John Thanks so much for sharing this great story - I am going to copy it to VB who runs the Travel Journalism awards. Fiona Stewart, Edinburgh Nice piece. I adore Scotland, wish I could live there someday... Chris, Pawling, NY I enjoyed reading your piece on France; it was very informative. Unfortunately, I've spent very little time in France; it's more to the favor of my oldest brother. But your words painted a good picture.

Danny Simon Hi John, I am a friend of your daughter Heidi and she sent me your link so I could read your articles. I have heard so many things about you from her but reading your article I can see why she is so proud to call you her Dad. Your writing transported me to Chewton Glen, I hope to one day be lucky enough to stay there! Frances Crymble, Auckland, NZ You describe a city on wheels - er, wings - and an absolutely perfect way to travel. SHOWERS & FLOWERS! Amazing! I love that your passion for all-things-aviation comes through in this story about an almost unbelievable airplane. Thanks for breaking the news in such an engaging way! Richard Frisbie, Saugerties, New York Good article on the biggest commercial airplane in the world. Very interesting. Love your easy personal writing style. Can't wait to get inside one of these sky monsters. I wonder how they will ever recoup their expenses. But then again, with the Arab nations overflowing with cash I shed no tear of sympathy. If anyone has to beta test these babies, it should be them. Peter Paul, South Pasadena Dear John Clayton: Thank you very much for your enthusiastic report on the Zeppelin Museum.

I am very pleased you like it as we -- the people working there -- do. We try to collect everything on Zeppelins and to make it available to visitors. Only the number of visitors I would like to correct: since the opening in 1996 we hosted more than 3,600,000 people. So we are among the most visited museums in Germany.Thank you very much again -- and kindest regards, Ursula ZellerDirector Hi John, I know the places you describe in your aticle, and I usually feel exactly the same as you did, when I wander in the countryside - I live in this region. How could this places, so peaceful today, be such a hell for some men? But if you're attentive to many details in the ground and the scenary, finding shell shrapnels and tumb stones for example, then you begin to understand Thank you John. City: France John, It's as if I was there with you. I grew up with Sgt York comic books. To see the real place where a real person so heroically saved the day is something I never expected to experience. Thanks for the historical detail and great photos.

Richard Frisbie City: Saugerties John, As a history and Churchill buff, I found your article to be chilling. I hope someday to make it to the museum. Is the CWR at all part of the Imperial War Museum? I don't know how I missed it in my only trip to London back in 2000. Thanks again, * * * * Hey Gary.... Yes it is. If you go online and click on the IWM website, you'll find out even more information about this intriguing museum. Thanks for your times and words. John John, Very excited to see your appearance in the Boitano Blog. I don't know who the hell all those Boitanos are, but I know who John Clayton is! Hey, I wrote a note on your column on the Cabinet War Rooms. I'll be a regular reader. I certainly hope all are well and happy on the Peninsula and that all your travels are still terrific. Ed P John, I urge anyone traveling to London to put the Cabinet War Rooms high on their "must see" list. All who've taken my advice have thanked me, just like I thanked you, and do so again, for recommending the museum to me years ago.

But then, it's just one of many suggestions of yours, every one brilliant! Ed Normandy Landing beaches and memorial cemeteries Normandy landing beaches tourism & sightseeing Visit Normandy landing beaches (Normandy, France) MAP & PLACES TO VISIT Operation Overlord The Normandy Landings began on the 6th June 1944, when 130,000 troops set off from the south coast of England (including some from the port at Bucklers Hard where Nelson's ships had launched 150 years earlier) and landed on the beaches of Normandy. Operation Overlord had begun. First an air-based landing took place very early in the morning, with both British and American troops being parachuted in to occupied France, followed by a sea-based invasion at 6.30 in the morning. In just that one day 130,000 troops were landed on the Normandy coast at Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah beaches. The map show the principal landing points along the Normandy coast Despite a great deal of lives lost (50,000 in Calvados alone), these battles represented the turning point of the Second World War in western Europe.

Visiting the beaches For many people a visit to the beaches of the Normandy Landings is a pilgrimage rather than a holiday destination. Many still have memories of that time while others have memories of relations lost in the battles on those beaches. The memorial on Omaha Beach is a simple yet very beautiful tribute to the Normandy Landings As you walk along the beaches or through the cemeteries, the sense of history and importance of the places is inescapable. It is an extremely moving event to walk on the Normandy Landings beaches, and also to visit the cemeteries containing thousands of graves in well tended lines, and to reflect on what the world might be like today without the bravery and victory of those landings. If you plan to visit the Normandy Landing beaches, the coast road can be followed to Sword, Juno, Gold and Omaha beaches - and Utah beach is just a little further. At Gold Beach this defensive gun position still points out to sea as a reminder...

West of Omaha Beach you can also visit Pointe de Hoc and see the cliffs that the US troops needed to climb as part of the landings in the face of strong defence from the Germans - the various bunkers and craters left by the bombs remind us how severe the battle was at this point. Several important cemeteries are also passed along this route, while just off Gold Beach at Arromanches you can see the remains of the floating harbour (the Mulberry Harbour) built hurriedly by the allies and used during the landings. The remains of Mulberry Harbour, just off Gold beach at the town of Arromanches Many visitors to the landing beaches also like to see the Cafe Gondrée, the first house in France to be liberated in the landings. In truth there is little to actually see on the beaches themselves apart from the remains of the Mullberry harbour and a moving tribute built in the sand at Omaha beach. The War Cemeteries are an evocative reminder of the large numbers that died during the invasions.

This is the American War cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking Omaha Beach Behind the beaches you will see the remains of bunkers used by the Germans to defend the territory, and even some barbed wire fence sections have been left intact. The Merville Battery posed a very serious threat to the landings and its elimination was a primary goal for paratroopers from the 6th Airborne Division prior to the land-based landings Battles of Normandy Museums There are several museums dedicated to the events including: The Memorial Museum for the Battles of Normandy in Bayeux offers a great deal of information about the landings. At Utah Beach and in Arromanches there are Landing Day Museums - the museum at Utah Beach includes various large equipment used in the landings The Museum of the Occupation is at Sainte-Marie-du-Mont The Museum of the Liberation can be seen at Cherbourg An Airborne Museum is found at Sainte-Marie-Eglise The Memorial Museum of Omaha Beach is at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer You can find more local travel ideas in the Calvados guide and the Normandy guide .

See also: Hotels in and near Arromanches-les-Bains Map of Normandy landing beaches and places to visit Visit near Normandy landing beaches with France This Way reviews Wikijunior:World War II/D-Day - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Wikijunior:World War II/D-Day This is the latest reviewed version , checked on 3 July 2014. (+) Quality: minimal ← Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East | Liberation of Western Europe → Landing craft with American soldiers on D-Day The D-Day landings took place on June 6, 1944. It was the largest invasion by sea in history. The code name for this operation was "Overlord". The forces were sent across the English Channel from the south of England, mainly Portsmouth, to Normandy in a mighty fleet of over 8,000 ships. Normandy is located in the northwest corner of France. The overall commander of the Allied forces was the US General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was later President Eisenhower. The land force commander was the British General Bernard Montgomery, popularly known as "Monty".

Eisenhower There were 156,000 men mainly from three countries, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The objective was to storm the German defenses on five beaches and eventually to drive the Germans out of France, and establish a second front to attack Germany itself. The beaches were codenamed Gold, Sword, Juno, Utah and Omaha. The Canadians were to take Juno beach, the Americans, Utah and Omaha and the British, Gold and Sword. Just before the landings, massive numbers of paratroops were landed behind the German lines to try to disrupt communications and reinforcements when the beaches were attacked. There were three famous Airborne Divisions, the US 82nd Airborne, called the "All American", the US 101st Airborne called the "Screaming Eagles" and the 6th Airborne comprising Canadian and British paratroopers. There was also a big effort from the French people themselves called the "French Resistance" which disrupted the Germans and blew up key facilities like German troop transport trains. The resistance were told in coded messages from the BBC when the invasion would start.

Contents 3 Aftermath Paratroopers behind German lines[ edit ] The success of the landings required that German reinforcement were delayed in getting to the beaches where the allied troops were coming ashore. Paratroops were placed behind German lines into order to seize key towns, roads, bridges, etc. The U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were placed west of Utah Beach and the British 6th Airborne Division near Sword beach. The 82nd occupied the town of Sainte-Mère-Église early in the morning of June 6, giving it the claim of the first town liberated in the invasion. This was featured in the film "The Longest Day". The five beaches[ edit ] Invasion plan - England to France The D-Day landings involved assaults on five key beaches by troops in landing crafts. The beaches and the Germans defending them were pounded by massive fire from all sorts of naval ships, including battleships. Most of the beaches were heavily fortified, and had large numbers of German troops defending them. Some had large fortifications with big guns and machine gun nests. Sword[ edit ] Sword beach was taken with relatively light losses.

One of the main objectives was to capture the city Caen, but this was not achieved. The British linked up with the 6th Airborne Division inland soon after. Juno[ edit ] The Canadians were responsible for the storming of Juno beach. The beach was heavily defended by machine guns, larger artillery guns, pillboxes, concrete fortifications and a massive seawall. Juno beach was the second worst beach for men killed after Omaha. By the end of the day, 15,000 Canadian troops had landed. They had gone deeper into German territory than any other beach landing. Gold[ edit ] The Gold beach was strongly defended by the Germans and the British forces sustained heavy losses. The beach was an important objective because it was to be a primary harbor in which to deliver oil and supplies once for the allies. Omaha[ edit ] US soldiers landing on Omaha beach. The Omaha beachhead was the most challenging beach of the five. American's boats quickly dumped their troops on the beach and troops encountered sprays of MG-42 (machine guns) and sniper fire while they were vulnerable on the open beach.

Scenes in the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Longest Day" recreate the event based on real war footage and testimony. Omaha beach was heavily fortified and defended by German troops on the highground. The first few landing crafts had all of the officers and sergeants killed or wounded. The men were virtually leaderless. The Americans eventually got a hold of the beach, with a loss of 1,200 troops. They then had to take out the massive guns on top of a cliff overlooking the beach. The US 2nd Ranger battalion climbed the 100 feet high cliffs using ropes and ladders under heavy German fire. The battalion was successful in capturing the guns. Utah[ edit ] The Americans had little difficulty capturing Utah, The Germans didn't expect that the US would take Utah. The 101st Airborne Division had already taken key positions behind the beach. One-Star General Theodore Roosevelt Jr, the beach commander, and related to President Teddy Roosevelt (after whom teddy bears are named) stated "We will start the war from right here.".

Aftermath[ edit ] After the beaches were secured, two large constructions were hauled across the English channel in order to tie up ships and deliver supplies for the armies' continued invasion into France. These facilities were called Mulberry harbors. By June 19, 1944, over 600,000 men, 100,000 vehicles and 200,000 tons of supplies were delivered to France, thanks to the Mulberry harbors. The whole D-Day operation was mainly successful, although one of the main objectives, the city of Caen, was still in German hands. Caen underwent heavy bombing and the Canadians eventually captured it, but many Canadians and civilians died.

Question: In which country would you find Omaha, Juno, and Utah beaches?
Answer: France