1/72 B-26B-50MA, "Victory Read", 394th Bomb Grp, 584th Bomb Sqd

[kgambit]

1/72 B-26B-50MA, "Victory Read", 394th Bomb Group, 584th Bomb Squadron, 9th Air Force Bomber Command

Username: kgambit
Name: Dwight
Category 2/Intermediate
Model: B-26B-50MA K5*B "Victory Read"
Scale: 1:72
Maunfacturer: Hasegawa
Aftermarket add ons:
- Zotz B-26 Marauder decals
- Quickboost B-26 B/C Resin Engines
- Quickboost B-26 Gun Barrels (?)
- True Details Resin B-26 weighted wheels / diamond tread
- Eduard Photo Etch 73-292 B-26 Interior Set

Unit History:

Constituted as 394th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 15 Feb 1943. Activated on 5 Mar 1943. Trained with B-26's. Moved to England, Feb-Mar 1944, and assigned to Ninth AF. Entered combat in Mar 1944 and helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by hitting V-weapon sites, marshalling yards, bridges, air-dromes, and gun emplacements. On D- Day, 6 Jun, bombed gun positions at Cherbourg; afterward, struck communications, fuel supplies, and strong points in support of the Normandy campaign. Aided the breakthrough at St Lo by bombing targets in the area on 25 Jul 1944. Received a DUC for operations from 7 to g Aug 1944 when the group made five attacks against strongly fortified targets in northern France, knocking out an ammunition dump and four railroad bridges.

After moving to the Continent late in Aug 1944, the group hit strong points at Brest and then began to operate against targets in Germany. The unit took part in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945 by hitting communications sites to deprive the enemy of supplies and reinforcements. Bombed transportation storage facilities, and other objectives until the war ended; also dropped propaganda leaflets. Remained in the theater to serve with United States Air Forces in Europe as part of the army of occupation.

 

[kgambit]

Crew:

Lt Owen Reeder - Pilot
Lt George Domblazer - Co-Pilot
Lt Everly Crouser - bombardier
Rex Merriman - Crew Chief
James Ray - tail gunner

Plane Details:

B-26B-50ma
Serial Number 42-96026
Unit: 584th Bomb Squadron
Markings:
- K5*B letters and numbers in faded grey,
- Diagonal white tail slash with serial number,
- Nose art "Victory Read",
- D-Day Stripes,
- Mission Tally


Mission:

6-6-44 : Benerville gun positions

 

[Heinz]

Very cool Dwight, looking forward to this one!

 

[ozhawk40]

WOW! Dwight this is going to be a bit special - can't wait. 8)

Cheers

Peter

 

[kgambit]

The Target: The Benerville Gun Battery / Sword beach


Overview: The Benerville Battery, located on Mount Canisy, is one of four gun batteries (the others are located at Villerville (x2) and Houlgate) designed to protect the sea approaches to the port of Le Havre.

Mount Canisy, at an altitude of 110 metres above Benerville-sur-Mer, dominates both the Bay of the Seine and the port at Le Havre. In 1935 the French Navy installed a battery of four 138mm guns to neutralise an enemy force before they could land on the local beaches. (Pictures 1 thru 4, archival photos; picture 5 present day showing view from one of the bunkers)

Aware of the strategic value of this location, the German command set up a new and larger battery consisting of a number of captured French 155mm guns within armoured enclosures. By 1944 these had been transferred to sheltered casemates constructed close by. (Pictures 6 thru 8 - present day)

The French guns, first introduced in 1917 and known as Grande Puissance Filloux (GPF), and renamed "Feldkanone 418 f" by the Germans, had a listed range of 19 Kms. Age and poor maintenance reduced this to an effective range of 15kms; still more than sufficient to reach the landing zones at Sword Beach. (Pictures 9 thru 12 - archival footage)

The Design:

The site was designed around three type 679 Casements: massive gun emplacements with incredibly thick reinforced concrete walls. Each of these type 679 Casemates housed one of the Frnech 155 mm guns. In front of the Casements were six open gun emplacements, one of which was equipped with a 155mm gun on D-day. (Pictures 13 thru 16 archival footage, Pictures 17 thru 20, casements present day; Pictures 21 thru 26 - open gun emplacements and additional bunkers)

The entire complex of casements and gun emplacements were interconnected with a network of underground galleries over 250 metres long and 15 metres deep for the safe storage and handling of the munitions. In addition, there are two Fire Control Posts and numerous reinforced concrete shelters on the surface as protection for both personnel and armaments. (Pictures 27 thru 34 - fire control posts, shelter entrances and tunnels - present day, Pictures 35 and 36 bunker schematics; pictures 37 thru 39 - casement and gun emplacement schematics)

As if those numerous defensive measures weren't enough, the site was further protected by a Renault R35 tank turret. (Pictures 40 thru 42 - present day)

In addition to the defense around the gun battery, the town of Benerville Su Mer is protected by a number of beachside defensive works comprised of trenches, gun pits, and bunkers. (Pictures 43 thru 46 - present day)

 

[kgambit]

During the operations of the D-Day landings the mission for two British battleships, "Warspit" and "Ramillies" and the Allied Airforce was to neutralise the coastal batteries of the Cote Fleurie, especially Mont Canisy.

The Battery exchanged fire on D-day with HMS Warspite, using its 15 inch guns. The guns were not silenced and later in the day exchanged fire with HMS Ramillies.

Although the original guns were eventually put out of commission, the Germans moved a mobile field battery into the casements and resumed firing. The Ramilies returned on June 18 and after firing over 1000 rounds of 15 inch ammo, it returned to Portsmouth.

In spite of the aerial and naval bombardment, the battery was not finally silenced until the end of August.

 

[kgambit]

Thanks Alex and Peter. THe Mararuder has always been one of my favroites.

If anyone is interested, I have about 30 more pics of the details of that bettery - all present day.

 

[ozhawk40]

Hell Yes Dwight! Post 'em.

One problem, I get bad links to your photos in post #5. Anybody else have the problem?

Cheers

Peter

 

[kgambit]

Hell Yes Dwight! Post 'em.

One problem, I get bad links to your photos in post #5. Anybody else have the problem?

Cheers

Peter

Peter, which ones are bad? Or are all of them messed up?

 

[ozhawk40]

All of them Dwight - they don't seem to have the right link address to view. If they are hosted, they may not have public access set.

Cheers

Peter

 

[kgambit]

All of them Dwight - they don't seem to have the right link address to view. If they are hosted, they may not have public access set.

Cheers

Peter

That's odd - because they are uploaded right to this site and they are showig up just fine for me. Let me try something.

 

[kgambit]

Peter,

Did the first four show up?

 

[ozhawk40]

No - no luck.

 

[kgambit]

No - no luck.

Okay, i'll just edit that entire post and put the descriptions at the top of the page.

 

[DBII]

Great thread but I cannot see the photos either.

DBII

 

[kgambit]

Great thread but I cannot see the photos either.

DBII

Try now and give it a second or two, there are over 40 pics in that one post!

 

[Lucky13]

Sweet stuff mate!

 

[Bucksnort101]

Great choice, and a history lesson to boot

 

[DBII]

The pictures are up. great stuff. I am at work right now. I cannot wait to sit down and read through your materials.

DBII

 

[Airframes]

Great choice and background info Dwight. And no probs, I can see all the pics - fascinating stuff! That place really took a pounding, with the craters still easily visible 66 years later!
I'll get together what I have, or links, for the B26, and note you'll need a lot of weight up front! On my (48th scale) Marauder, I had to put a lot of weight in the radio room, and in the engine cowlings!