I am currently working on transcribing the official Navy report on the "Amphibious Operations - Invasion of Northern France" (Landings at Normandy for D-Day). This is still a "work in progress" for me, but if you want some light evening reading, you can find the latest installment at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Normandy/Cominch/index.html
Some very interesting perspective on what we did right, and what we screwed up.
One item that hit home was a comment about the merchant ships being "trigger happy" (I am paraphrasing here). That is, while anchored at the landing sites, if another ship were to fire at an enemy aircraft (or supposed enemy aircraft), several other gun crews on other merchant ships would just open fire randomly, with no target in sight. Apparently this created enough of a concern that the order was given that no merchant ship was to fire a gun after dark unless specifically instructed to do so.
Wondering if any of you were there, and if you have any recollections about this.
Regards, as always.
Rick
Re: Normandy Landings
Posted by william on April 13, 2009, 11:34 am, in reply to "Normandy Landings"
Hello Rick do you have any info on the s.s. Jalapa or the John S. Sargeant like battle stars and port of calls. I would greatly appriciate it William e-mail sabre930@aol.com
Posted by william dampamn on March 16, 2009, 12:05 pm, in reply to "Normandy Landings"
my father was there I believe on the John Sergant any info would be helpful he was a gunner. also looking for info on the S.S. Jalapa again any info would be greatly appriciated.He also was involved in the murnask run and torpedoed on the s.s. bates
Re: Normandy Landings
Posted by william dampamn on March 16, 2009, 11:59 am, in reply to "Normandy Landings"
my father was there I believe on the John Sergant any info would be helpful he was a gunner. also looking for info on the S.S. Jalapa again any info would be greatly appriciated.