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Intro
Omaha the Locomotive
D-Day in Brief
Mission
Mission Summary
Planning with the USAAF
The Landing Area Map
Where they should have landed
Where they landed
Uniforms
The 60 Group Camera
Postscript
The Oxford Maps
The Story Behind the Maps
D1
D3
E1
E3
Utah Beach maps
Miscellaneous colour maps
Timeline
The full timeline from January 1944 onwards
Detailed timeline from D-Day to D-Day+3
Men
Name, Rank and Number of 21 BDS D-Day Combatants
Full listing of all known men involved with the RAF at Omaha Beach.
“They also served…”
More Possible 21 BDS Names
Associated RAF Personnel Stories
Gallantry Awards
Original Gallantry Award Citations
British and Commonwealth personnel numbers on Omaha Beach on D-Day
How Many British and Commonwealth Troops Landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day?
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
Wallace Eric Adderley – index
Wallace Eric Adderley – Dates and notes, 1944
Wallace Eric Adderley – Photo – Weston, 1942
Wallace Eric Adderley – Photo – The Corporals 15082 Unit (with names), November 1944
Wallace Eric Adderley – Additional Photos
A M Anderson – index
A M Anderson’s Story
A M Anderson’s Photos
Joseph James Baldry – index
Joseph James Baldry’s Story
Joseph James Baldry’s Photos
Norman Best – index
Norman Best – Transcript of his handwritten personal diary from 25th May to 1st July 1944
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
Norman Best – excerpt from the July 1945 RADAR Group Bulletin
Norman Best – Photo – 1939
Norman Best – Photo – Preparing for D-Day
Norman Best – Photo – The Warriors Return
Norman Best – Notes on Landing Tank Ship LST-316
Norman Best – Photo – Service Record page 1
Norman Best – Photo – Service Record page 2
Military Cross
Charles Francis Birch – index
Charles’ Story (as told by his family)
Charles’ Service Record
John Cubitt – index
Memories of D-Day written in 1984 for the Fortieth Anniversary
A birthday cake for two absentees
Robert (Bob) Dixon – index
Bob’s Story as told by his daughter
Bob’s Photos
Les Dobinson – Index
Les Dobinson’s own story
The D-Day Story that never made the headlines
Reuben Eckersall – index
Reuben Eckersall’s Story
Reuben Eckersall’s Photos
Bill Firby – index
Bill Firby – notes from a conversation (2007)
Bill Firby – Photo – 1943 (in the centre)
Bill Firby – Photo – February 2007
WW2 Europe – possibly Belgium
Bill Firby – third from left
On the Beach
Bill Firby – with others
Bill Firby – Belgium
Bill Firby – soldiers at rest
William George Grieve Forrest – index
William’s Story (as told by his daughter)
Notes from William’s wartime diary
Arthur Greenleaf – index
Arthur Greenleaf – from WW2 People’s War website (BBC)
Reg Hague – index
Reg Hague – Photo – Taken during a training exercise early in 1944
Padre Geoffrey Harding – index
Padre Geoffrey Harding – Photo – Citation
Padre Harding’s reminiscences
Military Cross
Eric Heathcote – index
Eric Heathcote – a handwritten account of D-Day
Eric Heathcote – Eric’s wife remembers (2007)
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Return to Normandy (1987)
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Return to Normandy diary (1987)
Eric Heathcote – Photo – WW2 Medals
Cosqueville, France, July 1944 – Unit Soccer XI versus French XI
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Service Record page 1
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Service Record page 2
Ned Hitchcock – index
Ned Hitchcock – Photo – 2000
Ned Hitchcock – Photo – taken during an interview in NZ in 2004
Ned Hitchcock – Photo – Ned and his wife Joan
Ned Hitchcock’s account of RAF Radar on Omaha Beach
Ned Hitchcock’s interview with a NZ reporter in 2004
Jim Horsley – index
Jim Horsley – What did you do in the War, Daddy?
Jim Horsley – group photo
Jim Horsley – service record
Johnnie Humble / Hamble – index
Johnnie Humble – Photo – 1944
Chris Kelly – index
Chris Kelly – Photo – 1943
Chris Kelly – photo taken with his wife (date unknown)
Chris Kelly – RAF group photos
Richard Parr – Photo
Chris Kelly – outdoor photos
Chris Kelly – photo
Tom Kibble – index
Tom Kibble – his story
Tom Kibble – as told to the local Royal British Legion
Stan Mallett – index
Express and Echo article 12th May 1984
Stan Mallett – Hankies Circus
Stan Mallett – Photo – Entering Paris
LAC Stan Mallett somewhere in Europe
RAF Historical Branch letter 13th October 1994
Members of 15082 GCI with Stan Mallett on the left
List of men who served with Stan in 15082 GCI
Photos of Stan and other RAF members
Alexander McLeod – index
Alexander McLeod – from “Canadians on Radar: RCAF 1940-1945”
John Moore – index
John Moore – information from his son Charlie
John Moore- photo frame
Lewis George Muggleton – index
Account by Ron Muggleton
Further Recollections by Ron Muggleton
Lewis Muggleton in uniform
V-Mail letter sent from 21 Sector by LAC L.G. Muggleton to his wife
Driving licence
D-DAY RAF, The RAF’s Part in the Great Invasion
Doug Owen – index
Doug Owen – notes from a conversation (June 2014)
Doug Owen – newspaper article (June 2014)
Arnold Palin – index
Arnold Palin – Information provided by his friend, Mr P Kirkland, Haslington
Arnold Palin – Photos from www.rafbeachunits.info
John Henry Pank – index
Standard Types of Mobile Signals Units
Good Conduct Badges
John Henry Pank – Service Record
Email from Ron Muggleton to Peter Best, dated 27th November 2017, answering some of John Pank (jnr)’s questions
John Henry Pank – email from his son, John Pank, dated 27th November 2017
Richard Parr – index
Richard’s story as told to a Crewe Town Councillor
Richard Parr – Photo
Richard Parr – Photo – (possible identification) Early 1944
Richard’s first grave – another photo from Chris Kelly’s collection
Stanley Walter Peckett – index
Stanley’s Story
Stanley’s Photos
Archie Ratcliffe – index
Archie Ratcliffe’s account of D-Day (facsimile)
Archie Ratcliffe’s account of D-Day (transcribed)
Archie Ratcliffe’s further thoughts
Archie Ratcliffe – The RAF and the 29th, article published November 1992
Archie Ratcliffe – letter sent on 29th November 2006
John / Jock Reid – index
Jock Reid – Photo – 1944
Jock Reid – Photo – With others
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 2
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 3 (Jock is 2nd from the right)
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 4, in Holland 1945 (He is 2nd from left)
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 5 (Jock is in the middle)
Thomas Arthur Rhodes – index
Tom’s Story (as told by his son-in-law)
Interview by Tom’s granddaughter
Jack Robertson – Index
Jack Robertson’s Service Summary
Richard Rycroft, MO – index
Richard Rycoft, MO – Medical Report
Richard Rycroft, MO – Medical History of War
Richard Rycroft, MO – Mrs Rycroft’s story
Richard Rycroft, MO – His diary
Military Cross
William Smyth – index
William Smyth’s Story
William Smyth’s Photos
John Stevens – index
John Stevens – from “Canadians on Radar: RCAF 1940-1945”
Arthur Stokes – index
Corporal Arthur Augustus Stokes, Service Number NZ412560
Frederick Joseph Trollope – index
Frederick Joseph Trollope’s Story
Frederick Joseph Trollope’s Photos
Harry Warren – Index
Harry Warren – Photo – WAAF Sgt Mrs Warren and Cpl Harry Warren (2010)
Harry Warren – “Landed with the Yanks at Omaha Beach”
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
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
Lee Wrake
Sergeant Wrake’s story
Casualties
Casualties of 21 Base Defence Sector
Commonwealth War Cemetery Bayeux
Vierville-Sur-Mer memorial and ceremony
Interview of Peter Best 6th June 2014
General Eisenhower’s letter to all D-Day combatants
Research
D-Day: Its organisation
Fighter Direction Tenders
The Beaches Used On D-Day
Operations Record Book 1944
Operations Record Book (21 BDS) – Index
Operations Record Book (22 BDS) – Index
Operations Record Book (Sousse) – Index
Operations Record Book (24 BDS) – Index
BDS 21 Unit Structure
The Reason for Ground Control Intercept Units
Base Defence Sectors
15083 GCI Training and Action
The RAF Units which landed during the Assault Phase
The Late Additions
List of Base Defence Sectors
Operation Record Book
Public Record Office records for GCI 15082
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
Introduction
The Landing Craft used by 21 BDS on D-Day
Two photographs of 21 BDS on their way to Omaha Beach
A view from another beach – the story of GCI15053
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Arthur Milbank’s story
Radar Equipment
A.M.E.S. Type 15 Mk 1
Type 15 Aerial Lorry. ( Austin Type 458a)
Type 11
Type 13
Type 14 Transmitter Truck
Onwards into France
Mine Clearing the RAF way!
Cosqueville, France, July 1944 – Unit Soccer XI versus French XI
St Laurent Airfield
The Liberation of Paris
GCI 15082, late 1944, just before the unit was disbanded
Bibliography and Glossaries
Photographs
Glossaries
Appendix A: Equipment Glossaries
Appendix A: Equipment Glossaries (continued)
Appendix B: Technical Glossaries
Appendix B: Technical Glossaries (continued)
Appendix C: Place Names UK
Appendix C: Place Names France
Bibliography
The War Through French Eyes
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Acknowledgements
News
News Items
Website Stats
Contact
Search for:
Search Button
Home
Intro
Omaha the Locomotive
D-Day in Brief
Mission
Mission Summary
Planning with the USAAF
The Landing Area Map
Where they should have landed
Where they landed
Uniforms
The 60 Group Camera
Postscript
The Oxford Maps
The Story Behind the Maps
D1
D3
E1
E3
Utah Beach maps
Miscellaneous colour maps
Timeline
The full timeline from January 1944 onwards
Detailed timeline from D-Day to D-Day+3
Men
Name, Rank and Number of 21 BDS D-Day Combatants
Full listing of all known men involved with the RAF at Omaha Beach.
“They also served…”
More Possible 21 BDS Names
Associated RAF Personnel Stories
Gallantry Awards
Original Gallantry Award Citations
British and Commonwealth personnel numbers on Omaha Beach on D-Day
How Many British and Commonwealth Troops Landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day?
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
Wallace Eric Adderley – index
Wallace Eric Adderley – Dates and notes, 1944
Wallace Eric Adderley – Photo – Weston, 1942
Wallace Eric Adderley – Photo – The Corporals 15082 Unit (with names), November 1944
Wallace Eric Adderley – Additional Photos
A M Anderson – index
A M Anderson’s Story
A M Anderson’s Photos
Joseph James Baldry – index
Joseph James Baldry’s Story
Joseph James Baldry’s Photos
Norman Best – index
Norman Best – Transcript of his handwritten personal diary from 25th May to 1st July 1944
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
Norman Best – excerpt from the July 1945 RADAR Group Bulletin
Norman Best – Photo – 1939
Norman Best – Photo – Preparing for D-Day
Norman Best – Photo – The Warriors Return
Norman Best – Notes on Landing Tank Ship LST-316
Norman Best – Photo – Service Record page 1
Norman Best – Photo – Service Record page 2
Military Cross
Charles Francis Birch – index
Charles’ Story (as told by his family)
Charles’ Service Record
John Cubitt – index
Memories of D-Day written in 1984 for the Fortieth Anniversary
A birthday cake for two absentees
Robert (Bob) Dixon – index
Bob’s Story as told by his daughter
Bob’s Photos
Les Dobinson – Index
Les Dobinson’s own story
The D-Day Story that never made the headlines
Reuben Eckersall – index
Reuben Eckersall’s Story
Reuben Eckersall’s Photos
Bill Firby – index
Bill Firby – notes from a conversation (2007)
Bill Firby – Photo – 1943 (in the centre)
Bill Firby – Photo – February 2007
WW2 Europe – possibly Belgium
Bill Firby – third from left
On the Beach
Bill Firby – with others
Bill Firby – Belgium
Bill Firby – soldiers at rest
William George Grieve Forrest – index
William’s Story (as told by his daughter)
Notes from William’s wartime diary
Arthur Greenleaf – index
Arthur Greenleaf – from WW2 People’s War website (BBC)
Reg Hague – index
Reg Hague – Photo – Taken during a training exercise early in 1944
Padre Geoffrey Harding – index
Padre Geoffrey Harding – Photo – Citation
Padre Harding’s reminiscences
Military Cross
Eric Heathcote – index
Eric Heathcote – a handwritten account of D-Day
Eric Heathcote – Eric’s wife remembers (2007)
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Return to Normandy (1987)
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Return to Normandy diary (1987)
Eric Heathcote – Photo – WW2 Medals
Cosqueville, France, July 1944 – Unit Soccer XI versus French XI
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Service Record page 1
Eric Heathcote – Photo – Service Record page 2
Ned Hitchcock – index
Ned Hitchcock – Photo – 2000
Ned Hitchcock – Photo – taken during an interview in NZ in 2004
Ned Hitchcock – Photo – Ned and his wife Joan
Ned Hitchcock’s account of RAF Radar on Omaha Beach
Ned Hitchcock’s interview with a NZ reporter in 2004
Jim Horsley – index
Jim Horsley – What did you do in the War, Daddy?
Jim Horsley – group photo
Jim Horsley – service record
Johnnie Humble / Hamble – index
Johnnie Humble – Photo – 1944
Chris Kelly – index
Chris Kelly – Photo – 1943
Chris Kelly – photo taken with his wife (date unknown)
Chris Kelly – RAF group photos
Richard Parr – Photo
Chris Kelly – outdoor photos
Chris Kelly – photo
Tom Kibble – index
Tom Kibble – his story
Tom Kibble – as told to the local Royal British Legion
Stan Mallett – index
Express and Echo article 12th May 1984
Stan Mallett – Hankies Circus
Stan Mallett – Photo – Entering Paris
LAC Stan Mallett somewhere in Europe
RAF Historical Branch letter 13th October 1994
Members of 15082 GCI with Stan Mallett on the left
List of men who served with Stan in 15082 GCI
Photos of Stan and other RAF members
Alexander McLeod – index
Alexander McLeod – from “Canadians on Radar: RCAF 1940-1945”
John Moore – index
John Moore – information from his son Charlie
John Moore- photo frame
Lewis George Muggleton – index
Account by Ron Muggleton
Further Recollections by Ron Muggleton
Lewis Muggleton in uniform
V-Mail letter sent from 21 Sector by LAC L.G. Muggleton to his wife
Driving licence
D-DAY RAF, The RAF’s Part in the Great Invasion
Doug Owen – index
Doug Owen – notes from a conversation (June 2014)
Doug Owen – newspaper article (June 2014)
Arnold Palin – index
Arnold Palin – Information provided by his friend, Mr P Kirkland, Haslington
Arnold Palin – Photos from www.rafbeachunits.info
John Henry Pank – index
Standard Types of Mobile Signals Units
Good Conduct Badges
John Henry Pank – Service Record
Email from Ron Muggleton to Peter Best, dated 27th November 2017, answering some of John Pank (jnr)’s questions
John Henry Pank – email from his son, John Pank, dated 27th November 2017
Richard Parr – index
Richard’s story as told to a Crewe Town Councillor
Richard Parr – Photo
Richard Parr – Photo – (possible identification) Early 1944
Richard’s first grave – another photo from Chris Kelly’s collection
Stanley Walter Peckett – index
Stanley’s Story
Stanley’s Photos
Archie Ratcliffe – index
Archie Ratcliffe’s account of D-Day (facsimile)
Archie Ratcliffe’s account of D-Day (transcribed)
Archie Ratcliffe’s further thoughts
Archie Ratcliffe – The RAF and the 29th, article published November 1992
Archie Ratcliffe – letter sent on 29th November 2006
John / Jock Reid – index
Jock Reid – Photo – 1944
Jock Reid – Photo – With others
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 2
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 3 (Jock is 2nd from the right)
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 4, in Holland 1945 (He is 2nd from left)
Jock Reid – Photo – With others 5 (Jock is in the middle)
Thomas Arthur Rhodes – index
Tom’s Story (as told by his son-in-law)
Interview by Tom’s granddaughter
Jack Robertson – Index
Jack Robertson’s Service Summary
Richard Rycroft, MO – index
Richard Rycoft, MO – Medical Report
Richard Rycroft, MO – Medical History of War
Richard Rycroft, MO – Mrs Rycroft’s story
Richard Rycroft, MO – His diary
Military Cross
William Smyth – index
William Smyth’s Story
William Smyth’s Photos
John Stevens – index
John Stevens – from “Canadians on Radar: RCAF 1940-1945”
Arthur Stokes – index
Corporal Arthur Augustus Stokes, Service Number NZ412560
Frederick Joseph Trollope – index
Frederick Joseph Trollope’s Story
Frederick Joseph Trollope’s Photos
Harry Warren – Index
Harry Warren – Photo – WAAF Sgt Mrs Warren and Cpl Harry Warren (2010)
Harry Warren – “Landed with the Yanks at Omaha Beach”
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
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
Lee Wrake
Sergeant Wrake’s story
Casualties
Casualties of 21 Base Defence Sector
Commonwealth War Cemetery Bayeux
Vierville-Sur-Mer memorial and ceremony
Interview of Peter Best 6th June 2014
General Eisenhower’s letter to all D-Day combatants
Research
D-Day: Its organisation
Fighter Direction Tenders
The Beaches Used On D-Day
Operations Record Book 1944
Operations Record Book (21 BDS) – Index
Operations Record Book (22 BDS) – Index
Operations Record Book (Sousse) – Index
Operations Record Book (24 BDS) – Index
BDS 21 Unit Structure
The Reason for Ground Control Intercept Units
Base Defence Sectors
15083 GCI Training and Action
The RAF Units which landed during the Assault Phase
The Late Additions
List of Base Defence Sectors
Operation Record Book
Public Record Office records for GCI 15082
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
Introduction
The Landing Craft used by 21 BDS on D-Day
Two photographs of 21 BDS on their way to Omaha Beach
A view from another beach – the story of GCI15053
Sqn Ldr Geoffrey Arthur Milbank’s story
Radar Equipment
A.M.E.S. Type 15 Mk 1
Type 15 Aerial Lorry. ( Austin Type 458a)
Type 11
Type 13
Type 14 Transmitter Truck
Onwards into France
Mine Clearing the RAF way!
Cosqueville, France, July 1944 – Unit Soccer XI versus French XI
St Laurent Airfield
The Liberation of Paris
GCI 15082, late 1944, just before the unit was disbanded
Bibliography and Glossaries
Photographs
Glossaries
Appendix A: Equipment Glossaries
Appendix A: Equipment Glossaries (continued)
Appendix B: Technical Glossaries
Appendix B: Technical Glossaries (continued)
Appendix C: Place Names UK
Appendix C: Place Names France
Bibliography
The War Through French Eyes
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Acknowledgements
News
News Items
Website Stats
Contact
Search for:
Search Button
Robert (Bob) Dixon - index
Bob's Story
Bob’s Story as told by his daughter
Bob's Pictures
Bob’s Photos
