I am wondering if the forces were being trained and prepared for the original target date of May 1st, 1944? Looking over things it appears there was a flurry of activity by Commonwealth Air Forces before May 1st, which has me wondering about this. Realizing more research is required from my end, which I plan on doing so in due course, as it will help explain a few things. Out of curiosity, has anyone else looked into this? Stephen
Hi Stephen, Using the current book I am reading as the source "Utah Beach" by Joseph Balkoski, here is what I summarize from it's early chapters... Originally in early conversations Stalin was informed by Churchill the initial plan was planned for May (around the 20th). But the initial plan also had only 3 beaches (Omaha, Gold, Juno) over concerns on the number of landing craft available. In January 1944, it was worried by Gen. Montgomery that the 3 beach front was too narrow a front and would allow for a strong German counterattack. COSSAC agreed and added Utah and Sword beaches and doubling the invasion front from 25 miles to 50 miles. This along with airborne drops would diffuse any German counterattack. The addition of the beaches meant a need for additional landing craft that they did not have in place for a May invasion, and may not have had in time for June. John
D'Este's 'Decision in Normandy' discusses the planning and decision making preceding the invasion in great detail. It might also adress this particular question. It least it's a book worth checking if you want to understand how the invasion came to be.
Thanks for the replies, and for the book recommendation Jpz4. I will definitely look this up. I have been consulting a fair number of primary sources, and the publications by the Air Historical Branch...maybe I need to revisit these for as I compile information related to the air ops prior to June 6th, the overall picture is becoming apparent and my knowledge increasing. Mind you, I am not doing this full-time so I tend to loose the odd bit from my pea-brain. That being said, I do need to consult the high policy files at some point. Well who am I kidding. I really need to get over the National Archives in London. Stephen
Hi Stephen, I recall looking at photographs of plastic overlays which were marked up with DZ details but I could never get them to fit the eventual DZs for the 6th June. They could have referred to the original area for the parachute drop westward toward Saint Sauveur le Vicomte. I'll see if I have them on my PC at home. Regards, Pat
Thanks Niels, IIRC, the marking up was very faint, with crease marks obscuring some details. There is a photograph in Mark Bando's '101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles at Normandy' showing glidermen looking at a sand table. I could not get that area, which includes a river and tributary, to fit the eventual LZ's in Normandy either. It looks to be Normandy, but could also be Holland. Anyone with the book able to match it to a section of the Douve in the Saint Sauveur le Vicomte / Etienville area? Regards, Pat