- Introduction
- Mission
- Men and their experiences
- Muir Adair – index
- Muir Adair – notes from a conversation (February 2007)
- Muir Adair – notes from another conversation (September 2007)
- Muir Adair’s story – Preface
- Muir Adair’s story – Chapter 4 – D-Day
- Muir Adair’s story – Chapter 5 – D-Day +1
- Muir Adair – Photo – Chrissie Adair
- Muir Adair – Photo – Muir and his wife Chrissie, 2007
- Muir Adair – Photo – 1944
- Bill Adderley – index
- Norman Best – index
- Norman Best – Transcript of his handwritten personal diary from 25th May to 1st July 1944
- Norman Best – excerpt from the July 1945 RADAR Group Bulletin
- Norman Best – Transcript of notes at the back of his personal diary, handwritten at Camp D2 between 27th May and 1st June 1944
- Norman Best’s D-Day + n Places, day by day
- Norman Best’s D-Day + n Days, place by place
- Norman Best – excerpt from the June 1945 RADAR Group Bulletin
- John Cubitt – index
- Bill Firby – index
- Arthur Greenleaf – index
- Reg Hague – index
- Padre Geoffrey Harding – index
- Eric Heathcote – index
- Ned Hitchcock – index
- Jim Horsley – index
- Johnnie Humble / Hamble – index
- Chris Kelly – index
- Stan Mallett – index
- Alexander McLeod – index
- Arnold Palin – index
- Richard Parr – index
- Archie Ratcliffe – index
- William (Bill) Wiseman – index
- Bill Wiseman – Photos from the family album 1944
- Bill Wiseman – His photo in uniform
- Bill Wiseman – A facsimile copy of a letter to his wife, 1944
- Bill Wiseman – Service Record 1
- Bill Wiseman – Service Record 2
- Bill Wiseman – Particulars of Qualifying Service
- Bill Wiseman – Claim for Campaign Stars and/or Defence Medal
- Bill Wiseman – A handwritten list of dates, headed “15082 GCI Mobile”
- Bill Wiseman – Two handwritten lists, headed “15082″ (dates) and “Kills”
- Bill Wiseman – Permit to Travel and Paris Pass
- John / Jock Reid – index
- Richard Rycroft, MO – index
- John Stevens – index
- Harry Warren – Index
- Casualties of 21 Base Defence Sector: e-mail from CWGC
- Catalogue of all men
- Muir Adair – index
- Supporting Research
- D-Day: Its organisation
- OPERATIONS RECORD BOOK 1944
- Operations Record Book (21 BDS) – Index
- 01 – Cover Sheet
- 02 – 1st January 1944
- 03 – 27th January 1944
- 04 – 1st February 1944
- 05 – 7th February 1944
- 06 – 22nd February 1944
- 07 – 1st March 1944
- 08 – 14th March 1944
- 09 – 25th March 1944
- 10 – 1st April 1944
- 11 – 14th April 1944
- 12 – 25th April 1944
- 13 – 1st May 1944
- 14 – 15th May 1944
- 15 – 29th May 1944
- 16 – 1st June 1944
- 17 – 9th June 1944
- 18 – 12th June 1944
- 19 – 15th June 1944
- 20 – 18th June 1944
- 21 – 23rd June 1944
- 22 – 27th June 1944
- 23 – Report on D-Day 6th June 1944 p.1
- 24 – Report on D-Day 6th June 1944 p.2
- Operations Record Book (21 BDS) – Index
- 25 – Report on D-Day 6th June 1944 p.3
- 26 – 1st July 1944
- 27 – 5th July 1944
- 28 – 13th July 1944
- 29 – 19th July 1944
- 30 – 25th July 1944
- 31 – 29th July 1944
- 32 – 1st August 1944
- 33 – 3rd August 1944
- 34 – 6th August 1944
- 35 – 11th August 1944
- 36 – 18th August 1944
- 37 – 25th August 1944
- 38 – 31st August 1944
- 39 – 1st September 1944
- 40 – 9th September 1944
- 41 – 17th September 1944
- 43 – 2nd October 1944
- 42 – 25th September 1944
- 44 – 1st November 1944
- Operations Record Book (22 BDS) – Index
- Operations Record Book (Sousse) – Index
- Operations Record Book (24 BDS) – Index
- Operations Record Book (21 BDS) – Index
- BDS 21 Unit Structure
- The Reason for Ground Control Intercept Units
- Base Defence Sectors
- The RAF Units which landed during the Assault Phase
- List of Base Defence Sectors
- Operation Record Book
- RAF Radar Units under AEAF, June 1944
- Sector Location 264
- Sector Location 265
- Sector Location 266
- Sector Location 267
- Sector Location 268
- Transport to the Beaches
- Radar Equipment
- Onwards into France
- Further research
- Bibliography and references
This web site is dedicated to the men of RAF 21 Base Defense Sector (BDS), 85 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force, who landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, 6th June 1944.
Their story has remained relatively unknown, but they suffered 48 casualties out of a group of 180 or so, and only in 2012 was their heroism recognised by the unveiling of a monument at Vierville-sur-Mer. It is a remarkable and poignant story.
This site was started in November 2012 and is still very much "under construction". We welcome any contributions or advice. Please email the website editors at omahabeach@outlook.com
Main Background Image
The defining photograph for 21 BDS.
Scene on “Omaha” Beach on the afternoon of “D-Day”, 6 June 1944, showing casualties on the beach, a bogged-down “Sherman” tank, several wrecked trucks and German anti-landing obstructions. A LST is beached in the left distance and invasion shipping is off shore. More significantly, amongst the trucks in the centre are 2 burnt out Crossley [...]
Hitchcock recordings
Here is the Music Player. You need to installl flash player to show this cool thing!
Hitchcock recording
Listen to an interview with Ned Hitchcock recorded on 14th September 2004 by Alison Parr of the D-Day Oral History Project, New Zealand Department of Culture.
Also refer to Section “ Men and their experiences: Ned Hitchcock” for a transcript.
edited by Longtrainride.co.uk
