EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY. JUNO BEACH MIKE RED SECTOR

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by spyder, Apr 22, 2018.

  1. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Nice Albion transporters too.

    Mike

    Something wrong here. It says I posted this at 6.11 am. Only the cat is awake at that time. I posted this last night.
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2018
  2. Hello Alan,

    Nice to hear from you again!

    Unfortunately I am afraid that I have some bad news for you: this photo (IWM A23947) by Lt Hampton was definitely not shot in JUNO Area at all, but in GOLD Area, more precisely on JIG GREEN Beach. See Royal Marines Armoured Support Regiment (2RMAS) Juno, D-Day

    [​IMG]
    THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR: OPERATION OVERLORD (THE NORMANDY LANDINGS), JUNE 1944. IWM (A 23947)
    IWM Non Commercial Licence

    The D7 armoured angledozer on the left of this photo belonged to one of the Gapping Teams landing in GOLD Area, not in JUNO Area, so if your father was indeed bound for JUNO Area and landed on MIKE RED Beach, there is no way that this dozer could be his.

    This does not mean that other photos, if actually shot in MIKE Sector, of armoured angledozers could not show your father's, but I have not found any such photo as yet.

    Sorry again for being the bearer of bad news,

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2018
  3. spyder

    spyder Member

    bulldozercrew.jpg

    Another picture taken by my Father shows the Hauler crew Mike. Think these guys deserve a mention
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Spyder,

    Great picture of the transporter crew, and a nice complement to the one showing your father in front of one such transporters in your post #19 above.

    Did you receive your father's service record, and if so, could you post it here? We might be able to find additional clues as to his whereabouts on D Day and later.

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2020
  5. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Spyder,

    I like the obscure sideroads and backwaters of history. The big Albions were good looking vehicles but are much neglected. They worked hard in a variety of roles. The Heavy Artillery Tractor is better known.

    In a previous existence I was Trux Models and listed both the Albion transporter and the armoured D7 in my range. I did not know that the two could be seen together or I would have sold them as a set. Missed an opportunity there.

    Mike
     
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  6. If I am not mistaken, this is an Allis-Chalmers HD-10 (with Baker hydraulic "Gradebuilder" angle blade), categorised as Class II by the British (i.e. the same Class as the Caterpillar D7).

    The non-armoured dozer in A23947 looks like an Allis-Chalmers HD-14 with Baker blade (Class I, same as the Caterpillar D8).

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2018
  7. This photo (PA-137016) was actually shot at the western edge of Bernières-sur-Mer, so not quite Courseulles yet.

    On the right is LCI(L) 125, which also appears on other pictures of the series, such as the second one in this collage, shot from NAN WHITE Green Gap in Bernières West:
    p010862 vs p010856.jpg
    p010862 vs p010856

    Michel
     
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2018
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  8. hidip

    hidip hidip

    Hi, what fantastic photos you have of your dad. I wish I could find as many as you have. The great members on this forum know almost everything there is to know.......Good Luck
     
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  9. A couple of photos shot, I believe, on MIKE GREEN Beach at Exit M1, which is about 400 yards west of the boundary with MIKE RED Beach.

    This photo shows an angledozer Caterpillar D7 Armoured:
    probably MIKE GREEN Exit M1 - 1.jpg

    while this one shows another D7A and two Allis-Chalmers HD-14:
    probably MIKE GREEN Exit M1 - 2.jpg

    Michel
     
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  10. Trux

    Trux 21 AG

    Nice pictures of a NL Pontoon pier in use.

    D+3. A 700 foot length of NL pontoon pier was built out from the western end of Nan Green Beach, close to the entrance to Courseulles harbour.

    D+4. NL pontoons were working on Nan Green and the centre of Mike beaches. These could be used except for a period of two hours either side of low tide.

    Mike
     
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  11. middy

    middy Junior Member

    I don't know if this topic is the correct one for me to add to but my father's unit (65th Medium Regt RA) arrived at Juno M & N beaches off Couselles Sur Mer on the 6th& 7th June and disembarked on the 8th to support the 6th Airborne at Collville.
    As yet i have not found any photos that show guns ( particularly 5.5 "Field and 6'' Howitzers) being landed on the beaches. Is anyone aware of where i may find such pictures?

    John
     
  12. Maybe better to start a thread on the RA forum and post the link here.

    Michel
     
  13. middy

    middy Junior Member

    Thanks Michel, will do as you suggest.

    John
     
  14. spyder

    spyder Member

    tomanddozer.jpg
    This is a picture of my late fathers pal, "Sapper Tom Whetnall" (59M.E) with his Alis-Chalmers dozer.
    Painted on the side of this AC is the name of Tom`s then girlfriend "Irene Robb"
     
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  15. spyder

    spyder Member

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