Retracing the route of the 4th Infantry and other units, Normandy 2011

Full report in due course, some photos in the meantime....










Support vehicle left us behind and look what happened!!-


Ben had an earlier encounter with a sea-monster, and enthrals the gang with a tale of his escape from the giant creature







Angoville-au-plain


4th Infantry Memorial –Utah Beach



Fantastic Guy ; James H “Pee-Wee” Martin, veteran of G Co 506th PIR, who last visited Normandy on a coach trip in 1964. A real honour to meet him.



Richard Yates, veteran of 82nd Airborne, 508th, 1948, and Ray Fary, 80th Anti-Aircraft Batt, 82nd Aiborne


Recreating an image from around D-Day + 1, Baudienville. This house is still owned by the Phillipe Family. Jacques Phillipe is named after his grandfather, who stood in the doorway of the original photo with troops from 4th Infantry.




Sharing some time with Jacques and his wife, AND Rations!



Retracing the route of 22nd Infantry Regt, 4th Infantry, on their advance to Azeville Battery



We even had to contend with vehicle malfunctions!


Utah Beach



Crisbecq Battery. The 4th took heavy casulaties on D0Day plus 1 trying to take this battery, and even came under fire from Azeville battery. The Germans counter attacked and with heavy losses the 4th retreated at 1600 on June 7th 1944.


The view from one of the batteries…



Hunting for landing zone “N” 82nd Airborne


Later we crossed over La Fiere and retraced route of 508th on Hill 30, and their defence of the area before they were able to join troops at Chef du Pont. We met up with this local historian who gave us a guided tour!




And we gave him some Victory Beer and D Rations!!!


US Cemetery- exhibition hall, Coleville Sur Mer



Pointe Du Hoc



The journey home- a second support vehicle and crew was provided by members of the Royal Family, the Queen decided to join them.

Excellent pics! Love the 'then and now' pictures at the Cafe, worth the effort.

I told you that gite was haunted just look at the ghostly face in the mirror
Nice phtos Paul, thanks for posting.

Chris.

Looking good lads! Great pics.

What happened with the Jeep then?

samharris45 wrote:Looking good lads! Great pics.

What happened with the Jeep then?

Funny knocking sound, that stopped afterwards- didnt get to the bottom of that. But during the stop we noticed my gearbox was lacking in oil!!!

Some cracking photos there, thanks for sharing them! I think that it was a really great trip, and I can't wait to get back there!

Cheers,
Ben.

Yeah, excellent pics of what was an excellent trip!

Thoroughly enjoyed it and will cherish some amazing moments and memories from it. Will try and sort out and post some of my pics later on...

Great photos, looks like you had a good time

Johnny_Costino wrote:

samharris45 wrote:Looking good lads! Great pics.

What happened with the Jeep then?

Funny knocking sound, that stopped afterwards- didnt get to the bottom of that. But during the stop we noticed my gearbox was lacking in oil!!!

Oh dear! I take it your going to get it looked at then? I am sure things will be fine! The joy of WW2 vehicle ownership!

nice pics guys, looks like you had good weather, not jealouse at all

riz

rizla wrote:nice pics guys, looks like you had good weather, not jealouse at all

riz

Actually Riz the weather was no where near as good as last year, lot's of rain, wind and even cold at times. Would have made our trip last year a little uncomfortable by comparison.

A big thank you to Murph for organising the trip, fantastic Gite and company. Shame we couldn't do anything about the weather. Here's too next year!!

Camel1815 wrote:A big thank you to Murph for organising the trip, fantastic Gite and company. Shame we couldn't do anything about the weather. Here's too next year!!

Thanks Richard.

Just to echo Richards previous post, many thanks to Murph for booking the trip & the accommodation and in fact to everyone for being such great company and making it a really enjoyable week ... wish we were still there!

Cheers guys & gals!!!!

Dan & Clare

Dantheman wrote:Just to echo Richards previous post, many thanks to Murph for booking the trip & the accommodation and in fact to everyone for being such great company and making it a really enjoyable week ... wish we were still there!

Cheers guys & gals!!!!

Dan & Clare

Funnily enough I thought the same myself when I got back to work!

Lovely pictures there !! I really enjoyed my weekend with the crew although we had nice 6th June 1944 weather ! Good job Murph for finding this beautiful gite ! Can't wait to be back (and do a complete week in Normandy !!).

Cheers

Pat

Hi Guys,
Great pics and nice write up there Paul, i'm very impressed. I wish I could have come along with you guys but at least we got to meet up briefly out there. I look forward to going on more trips with you guys in the future.

Regards
Tom

Tom Sainter wrote:Hi Guys,
Great pics and nice write up there Paul, i'm very impressed. I wish I could have come along with you guys but at least we got to meet up briefly out there. I look forward to going on more trips with you guys in the future.

Regards
Tom

Cheers Tom- my fav days were the impromptu ones- Azeville and Chef du pont/hill 130

Guys, I have just been looking at a book which has the picture we re-created during our trip in it with a narrative. The author claims it's the 90th ID, as he reckons he can pick out one of the SSI, which hasn't been blanked out by the censor. The book is the After the battle book, volume two, D-day then and now. Any comments?

Which picture we recreated, Richard?

Cheers,
Ben.

The forum photo above matey.

Hmm, I'm sure they're 4th ID mate.

Cheers,
Ben.

Tbh I can't really see the image properly and it much detail, so can't tell. (Eyesight failing!!!) Just thought would mention it though. Not doubting anyone apart from the author of the book. I will bring it round when the bits are ready mate.

Apparently its been credited to a number of units, 90th, glider riders....

The fact that Jacques instantly recognised the patches says it all to me, though!

Regards,
Ben.