Introduction
Introduction and signposting of this website
This website is dedicated to the 160 or so men of the Royal Air Force 1st Echelon of 21 BDS (Base Defence Sector) who landed at about 5.00pm on D-Day, 6 June 1944, on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France.
The inspiration for this website came from the discovery of a diary that my father, Squadron Leader Norman Best, had written during the short time he was seconded to 21 BDS. I only discovered the diary following the death of my mother in 2004 whilst clearing her effects.
Like many men who serve their country, those who fought in World War 2 did not like to talk about their experiences. This was certainly the case for my father who, despite winning the Military Cross in Normandy, never gave his family any narrative as to how he had won it.
The popular view of Omaha Beach was that it was an exclusively American beach landing. Not so. But it was certainly the place where the heaviest casualties occurred during that momentous day all those years ago. No wonder it has been dubbed “Bloody Omaha”.
Any brief summary of what happened on Omaha Beach would not have space to record the tiny but significant contribution that the RAF made to the ultimate success of that landing. Indeed, even the most authoritative book on the subject, by historian Joseph Balkoski, does not find space to recount the misfortunes which the small RAF Radar and Signals Team encountered. However, this website and the excellent Mark Felton YouTube film seek to redress this.
On p.340 of Mr Balkoski’s book “Omaha Beach D-Day June 6, 1944” (paperback, 2006 edition, published by Stackpole Books) you will find a photograph of the aftermath of D-Day on June 7, D+1. It shows the wreckage of a US Sherman tank and a collection of burnt-out trucks. The trucks shown in the photograph were some of the RAF Radar vehicles which were destroyed by mortar and gunfire as the RAF men arrived.
It is also the main photograph above the Introduction to this website and is such a poignant memorial to the eleven men who died and the thirty-seven who were injured when they came ashore at D-Day.
And yet, the story of the team known as 15082 GCI, and the other RAF and Army units who landed with them, is important historically and needs telling.
This website, together with the Memorial located at Vierville-sur-Mer which was organised by D-Day veteran Les Dobinson and produced by a Franco-Dutch Group called “Deep Respect” with the help of the Vierville townspeople, is a lasting memorial to all of those who landed with the RAF on Omaha Beach.
Our research has led to us to contact many experts and other men who were actually on Omaha Beach either on 6 June or subsequently. It has been a wonderful and moving experience too, to meet the wives, sons and daughters of those veterans who have passed away.
With their help, and particularly the assistance given to me by David Heathcote and Ron Muggleton, this website seeks to explain why they were there and what became of them during D-Day and beyond. It is not a complete story and I hope that it will continue to expand as more information becomes available.
This website contains much content and background material which takes the reader deeper into the full story. For those who would prefer the “executive summary”, we would like to commend to you the key stories of some remarkably brave men.
Firstly, there were 4 Military Crosses won and 2 Military Medals, plus one Croix de Guerre. We are fortunate that there survive 4 detailed stories. Follow these links to read them:
- Muir Adair – Croix de Guerre: Chapter 4 D-Day and Muir Adair’s story: Chapter 5 D-Day+1
- Norman Best – Military Cross: Excerpt from the June 1945 RADAR Group Bulletin and excerpt from the July 1945 RADAR Group Bulletin
- Padre Geoffrey Harding – Military Cross: Padre Harding’s reminiscences
- Dr Richard Rycroft – Military Cross: MO’s report
Additionally, one of best and most succinct accounts of 21 BDS on D-Day was written by Eric Heathcote, which can be read at Eric Heathcote – a handwritten account of D-Day.
Another interesting link is provided by 21 BDS veteran, Les Dobinson: The D-Day story that never made the headlines.
Other revealing accounts are:
- Memories of D-Day by John Cubitt, written in 1984 for the fortieth anniversary.
- Ned Hitchcock’s account of the RAF Radar on Omaha Beach.
- The story of an airman who was wounded and is penned by Arnold Palin – information provided by his friend, Mr P Kirkland of Haslington.
- Finally, another poignant story comes from Archie Ratcliffe – his account of D-Day (transcribed)
There are other aspects of the story that are also worth singling out, including Uniforms (why the Americans shot at us) and Where they landed (what a difference a tide makes).
I would earnestly welcome correspondence with anyone who feels they can add even tiny snippets of information – you may have a vital piece that completes another part of this heroic jigsaw.
I hope this site will be a lasting and fitting memorial to the Royal Air Force at Omaha Beach. May all these gallant gentlemen Rest In Peace.
Peter Best
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England – info@therafatomahabeach.com
The author is a science graduate, who has set up and run several successful engineering component manufacturing and distribution companies in the UK and USA. He also owns several full-sized steam locomotives! One of these is an American-built wartime engine S 160 class 2253. It was built in 1943 and served with the London and North Eastern Railway operating from Leeds Neville Hill shed. In September 1944, it was exported to France and continued with the Allies until the end of the War. It was then sold to Polish State Railways and became PKP TR-203-288. It was withdrawn in 1988 and saved for preservation by the author. The locomotive was overhauled in Poland before returning to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Following a further overhaul completed in 2019, 2253 was repainted in Burrell Plum and named “Omaha” in memory of 21 BDS and the men who did not come back. It is currently operating on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company‘s line running between Paignton and Kingswear in Devon, England. See Omaha the Locomotive.
Hi Charlie,
Thank you so much for contacting the web site. In answer to your question, I think so would be the answer! Has your dad written about his experiences? It would be great if we could add his story to the web site. By the way, which part of the country are you? If you would like to use my e-mail address, it is peterbest@ntity.uk
Thanks and season’s greetings!
Peter Best
Hello ,my name is Neville Thompson living in Yorkshire.I passed through Church Fenton yesterday and it priked my memory re Church Fenton. My father Sidney Leonard Thompson was based at C.H. and it was there he met my mother Norma a leeds lass.My father died when I was 8 ( 1956) so I had little time to have a mature relationship with him but I remember the pride he had in his Squadron ZX25 and I was allways briefed to watch out for them on” War in the air” – early b.b.c 1950s.Mother told me in later years that dad was moved to the south cost and when my mother went down to see him in early June after a few days dads C.O advised her to “Go home”.It turned out he was part of the force that was with the forces that went over on D-DAY-2Tactical Air Force?.I believe he was involved in the progress across Europe and was involved in the liberation of one of the concentration camps he had a momento -an identity book Another unidentified hero
My late father landed on Omaha beach. RAF radio operator. He was shot in his leg and hit by shrapnel in his back as he fell, He remained on the beach for 3 days before being taken back to the UK. Once recovered he ended the war in the Pacific. Demobbed in 1946. He returned to Omaha with my brother and I a few years before he passed
Hello David. Thank you for your message: I apologise for the delay in responding. I’m another David, one of the admins that looks after the website. Admin, that is, rather than expert. That said, our historians are very interested to learn more about your father’s D-Day experience. Do you know which unit your father was attached to? Do you know anything of the training – the type, and the location – he underwent? What was his previous, pre-war, expertise? If you have been able to obtain a copy of his service record, that of course would be perfect! Do you have any photos of your dad in uniform, and when he returned to Omaha Beach with your brother and you? Regards, David
Hi I’m currently restoring a Bedford MWV the only one left I’m led to believe it served with the 21 BDS and is one of the 8 vehicles that made it ashore my question is what unit markings would it have had many thanks chris
Good to hear from you, Chris. Do you have photos of the Bedford MWV you can send us? Ideally, a “before”, an “in progress” and an “after” photo would be great. Have you done any research on the vehicle’s history? David (admin)
This is a remarkable record of a small part of D-Day which without your effort would have been lost.
The padre’s self deprecating account contrasts with the MO’s observation of his coolness under fire and contribution to the medical care.
Thank you for your kind remarks, Professor, which are much appreciated. As a retired consultant surgeon, you will certainly understand what it is like to be at the cutting edge (pun intended) of patient care. To have performed while under fire must have taken extraordinary skill and self-control.
Hi, my name is David Hill and my father was Harry Hill. He was seconded to the American forces as a wireless signalman whose job was to errect aerials in the beach so that messages could be relayed from shore to the ships out at sea. He was wounded by a ricochet bullet almost as soon as he landed, then suffered an epileptic attack which rendered him unconscious. He woke up a while later in a captured German field hospital and was ordered to find his unit, which he did by following the aerials! He then continued all the way to Berlin. I only know this because my son had to do a school project on WW2 and asked my dad what he had done, only a year or so before he died in 2005 and that was when the story came out. I have never been able to find out anything more concrete about British soldiers in Omaha beach until I found this website. I would love to know more about what happened to my dad. I have his medals and his combined operations cloth badge, but very little else, not even his service number,
Good to hear from you, David – especially at this auspicious time, the evening before D-Day 80. Have you looked through all the photos on this website, to see if you spot your father? His service number, of course, is the key that could unlock more detail if you had it. Is there an old wooden hanger from your parents’ house that has a number marked on it (that could well be his service number)? Have you trawled through the local newspapers for 1944/45 to see if he gets any mention? All credit to your son for having asked his grandfather to tell his story. If he cares to send us a copy of that project, it may prompt some further ideas. David
Hi, my father was William George Grieve Forrest and he was a meteorologist in the RAF during the war. He landed on Omaha and his service record says he was with the 21 BDS but like so many he never talked about his experience and he died many years ago. Is there any way the family can find out more as to when he landed and what happened after they got off the beaches. Such a shame so much history is passing with these quiet and modest men. Thank you
Thank you for messaging us, Alison. Everything we know about 21BDS is posted on our website. Would you like your father to be added to our Pending list, people who we believe were part of the team, but for whom we are seeking more information? Do you have photos of your father in uniform? My more expert colleagues can deduce much from the badges etc on a uniform! Have you checked the website photos to see if your father appears in any of them? What is his service number? If you have his service record, however sketchy it may be, we can maybe correlate what you know with any additional data we have. Best wishes, David
Further to your enquiry regarding your father, William George Grieve Forrest, I found the following in the Operations Record Book for No. 24 Sector which might be of interest.
24 Sector Operations Record Book, 24th August 1944.
“On the following day the Meteorological Section arrived and set up business on the Ops site and produced weather reports”.
I doubt that each Sector had its own Meteorological Section but it is entirely possible that there was a single Met Section attached to No.85 (Base) Group which operated on behalf of all the constituent parts and moved around the various sites as needed?
24 Sector ORB dated 16th September 1944
On the 16th the major move gets under way and is reported as follows: – “Camp is called at 05.00, breakfast at 06.00 and the final loading of tents and cookhouse takes place. Start at 08.00 was however delayed until 08.25. The morning is fine but chilly. The main convoy of 26 vehicles is preceded by a small convoy of Intelligence and Met Section and followed later by the main Ops Party who came off last night watch. All told some 140 to 160 vehicles arrived at Boos for the night, which is spent in the open.
As you can see it refers to 24 Sector rather than 21 Sector, but as No. 85 (Base) Group, which was the parent unit of 21, 24 and 25 Sectors, was the main formation, it is quite possible that the Meteorological Section was part of 85 Group and moved around between the Sectors as required. By the dates shown above, 4 GCIs of 21 Sector were about to return to England but all of the other attached units, which could have included the Met Section, would have remained on the Continent probably as a constituent part of 85 (Base) Group.
An absolutely breathtaking revelation about a tiny but key RAF ground unit playing such an important part on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Machine gun fire and radars do not go well together. In 1982-84 I organised the recovery of near brand new ex Argentine Swiss-manufactured radar controlled twin 35mm AA guns. Although the Skyguard radar recovered from the famous 2 Para battlefield of Goose Green had over 2,000 bullet holes through it, we still managed to salvage a valuable source of electronic components . Eventually, all the radars and cannons were refurbished to as new and entered RAF service as two RAF Regiment squadrons manned equally by male and female gunners under NATO operational command for the peak of the Cold War until the Soviet Union imploded and the Cold War ended. See my book, THE FALKLAND GUNS. In WWII, however, one of those squadrons, 2729, also landed on the Normandy beaches and fought all the way to Berlin and actually took part in the Berlin Victory Parade of 1945. But what our combat unit suffered in WWII was picnic compared to what the men of the BDS WENT THROUGH AND I URGE YOU TO BRING THEIR STORY INTO PRINT AS A STAND ALONE BOOK. Websites are very etherial, if you’ll excuse the pun. This story should be told to all ground-pounders, within the RAF, disparagingly called Penguins, and assumed never to have to be involved in bloody ground fighting. It is, perhaps the most outstanding action performed by what Churchill demanded of the RAF – That every airman, irrespective of his specialisation, should, in the first instance be a fighting airgroundsman prepared to die in defence of his unit. The story you have unveiled has to be the definitive ground combat action by any RAF ground unit, probably ranking equal with the RAF Regiment working with the Polish Division assaulting Monte Cassino.
Thank you very much indeed for your impassioned message, Mike. You are a most talented writer! (I especially liked the “penguins” reference!) Best wishes, David (admin)
Hi, i have been trying to find information on my uncle Driver Denis Weston who was with the Royal corps of signals and landed on D Day, he didn’t talk much about his experiances like many veterans but did tell me that he was attatched to the Americans for the landings and that his Bedford radio coms truck drove into a bomb crater on landing, i was wondering if he was a part of this unit or it was just a coincidence. i have a picture of him with his truck if that would be of any help to you
Please send us a copy of the photo, Stuart. Any badges on a uniform can be extremely helpful. david.heathcote@mac.com will reach me directly. Regards, David (Editor)