And I'm sorry i went offroading in your brand new car
The Travels of Tel's Tin Tent.
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fubar57
General
Yikes!!!!
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Uh oh...
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Airframes
Benevolens Magister
No prob Karl, it was very mild off roading, compared to some places where I took my old Land Rover, where even mountain goats were trembling !
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Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Reviers.
We passed through this attractive town twice, stopping once to take photos and, as in almost every small town or village we visited, I noted something I'd often noticed in previous visits all over rural France - where were all the people ??!!
Apart from vehicles passing though, and the almost obligatory, unseen, barking dog, there was no sign of life !
Anyway, fierce, intense fighting took place in and around the town, which was finally taken on the afternoon of June 6th, by the Regina Rifles, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
I did a prolonged search for period photos, but only found a couple, from all sources looked at, showing infantry of 50th (Northumbrian) Division (TT), and Sherman tanks of 44 Royal Tank Regiment, passing through the village on 11th/12th June, shown below as "then and now".
Images show a map with Reviers outlined, a satellite view, and the village today, with views from June 1994. Note the memorial banners in honour of Canadian troops on the flag poles in the square and main street.
Back soon with more of the tour ....................
We passed through this attractive town twice, stopping once to take photos and, as in almost every small town or village we visited, I noted something I'd often noticed in previous visits all over rural France - where were all the people ??!!
Apart from vehicles passing though, and the almost obligatory, unseen, barking dog, there was no sign of life !
Anyway, fierce, intense fighting took place in and around the town, which was finally taken on the afternoon of June 6th, by the Regina Rifles, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
I did a prolonged search for period photos, but only found a couple, from all sources looked at, showing infantry of 50th (Northumbrian) Division (TT), and Sherman tanks of 44 Royal Tank Regiment, passing through the village on 11th/12th June, shown below as "then and now".
Images show a map with Reviers outlined, a satellite view, and the village today, with views from June 1994. Note the memorial banners in honour of Canadian troops on the flag poles in the square and main street.
Back soon with more of the tour ....................
Last edited:
fubar57
General
My kinda place....vacant. Not a big fan of crowds
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Rots.
Some more "then and now", this time with a little background to a very well known series of photos of 12th SS Panzer, "Hitler Jugend".
(due to parking availability, and to save time, Karl nipped out quickly and took the photos I asked for, so thanks again mate !)
After almost continuous fighting, since June 7th, against Canadian forces, on June 9th the 1st Battalion of 12th SS Panzer Division were in the town of Rots, just west of Caen, and prepared to launch a counter attack against the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (supported by tanks of 6th Armoured Regiment, 20th Canadian Armoured Brigade) around the towns of Breteville and Norrey - en - Bessin, slightly south of Rots, and about 1 mile (1.6km) to the west, beyond a railway line that ran west to east. (apologies for the misspelling of Breteville and Canadian on the satellite image).
This attack was delegated to the 3rd Kompanie, with 12 Panther tanks, with the infantry riding on the tanks. The column drove south from Rots, under the railway bridge, then turned west, crossing over open fields, with the raised railway embankment on their right, which they may have thought would give some cover to their unprotected right flank.
On the eastern edge of Norrey-en-Bessin, there was a line of Canadian 6pdr AT guns, dug in and well camouflaged, and the Panthers charged towards them, in open country, in a head-on attack.
As this was happening, three troops of Sherman tanks, including some Fireflys (normally one per troop) appeared to the north of the railway line, with a clear view to the Panthers, and opened fire.
With Shermans to their northern, exposed flank, and AT guns to their front, the 3rd Kompanie took a battering, and within minutes, 7 Panthers were either burning, or totally disabled, their horrifically burned crews trying to escape as best they could, with a naval barrage, called up by the Canadians, to help them on their way.
The five surviving Panthers withdrew, back to Rots, to regroup and assess the damage, and this is when that series of photographs was taken.
(the knocked out Panthers remained in the field for a number of years after the war, and a photo of one is included below, presumably on its side after scavenging for scrap by locals.)
Photos below show the locations then, and now, with the map showing the location of Rots, and the satellite image showing the key positions, along with the 12th SS route and attack, and the Canadian AT guns and Shermans.
Pic 1. Map showing location of Rots.
Pic 2. Satellite image of the battle area.
Pic 3. The railway bridge south of Rots.
Pic 4. View from the 6 pdr AT guns location.
Pic 5. One of the knocked out Panthers after the battle, with Canadian officer inspecting the damage.
Pic6. One of the Panthers some time after the war, almost certainly the same one.
Pic7 Panther "326" and other elements of 3rd Kompanie, returning to Rots immediately after the battle.
Pic 8. The same view today.
Pics 9 and 10 Crewman cleaning the blood off the turret of Panther "326", where the Commander had been cut in half by a shell.
Pic 11. The same location today.
Pics 12 and 13. Panzer Grenadiers of 12th SS in an alleyway opposite Panther "326", Otto Funk in the first photo.
Pic 14. The alleyway today.
There are a number of articles and videos on-line, describing this incident, but to actually be there and see the locations, was quite powerful stuff.
Back, hopefully tomorrow, with more in this area.
Some more "then and now", this time with a little background to a very well known series of photos of 12th SS Panzer, "Hitler Jugend".
(due to parking availability, and to save time, Karl nipped out quickly and took the photos I asked for, so thanks again mate !)
After almost continuous fighting, since June 7th, against Canadian forces, on June 9th the 1st Battalion of 12th SS Panzer Division were in the town of Rots, just west of Caen, and prepared to launch a counter attack against the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (supported by tanks of 6th Armoured Regiment, 20th Canadian Armoured Brigade) around the towns of Breteville and Norrey - en - Bessin, slightly south of Rots, and about 1 mile (1.6km) to the west, beyond a railway line that ran west to east. (apologies for the misspelling of Breteville and Canadian on the satellite image).
This attack was delegated to the 3rd Kompanie, with 12 Panther tanks, with the infantry riding on the tanks. The column drove south from Rots, under the railway bridge, then turned west, crossing over open fields, with the raised railway embankment on their right, which they may have thought would give some cover to their unprotected right flank.
On the eastern edge of Norrey-en-Bessin, there was a line of Canadian 6pdr AT guns, dug in and well camouflaged, and the Panthers charged towards them, in open country, in a head-on attack.
As this was happening, three troops of Sherman tanks, including some Fireflys (normally one per troop) appeared to the north of the railway line, with a clear view to the Panthers, and opened fire.
With Shermans to their northern, exposed flank, and AT guns to their front, the 3rd Kompanie took a battering, and within minutes, 7 Panthers were either burning, or totally disabled, their horrifically burned crews trying to escape as best they could, with a naval barrage, called up by the Canadians, to help them on their way.
The five surviving Panthers withdrew, back to Rots, to regroup and assess the damage, and this is when that series of photographs was taken.
(the knocked out Panthers remained in the field for a number of years after the war, and a photo of one is included below, presumably on its side after scavenging for scrap by locals.)
Photos below show the locations then, and now, with the map showing the location of Rots, and the satellite image showing the key positions, along with the 12th SS route and attack, and the Canadian AT guns and Shermans.
Pic 1. Map showing location of Rots.
Pic 2. Satellite image of the battle area.
Pic 3. The railway bridge south of Rots.
Pic 4. View from the 6 pdr AT guns location.
Pic 5. One of the knocked out Panthers after the battle, with Canadian officer inspecting the damage.
Pic6. One of the Panthers some time after the war, almost certainly the same one.
Pic7 Panther "326" and other elements of 3rd Kompanie, returning to Rots immediately after the battle.
Pic 8. The same view today.
Pics 9 and 10 Crewman cleaning the blood off the turret of Panther "326", where the Commander had been cut in half by a shell.
Pic 11. The same location today.
Pics 12 and 13. Panzer Grenadiers of 12th SS in an alleyway opposite Panther "326", Otto Funk in the first photo.
Pic 14. The alleyway today.
There are a number of articles and videos on-line, describing this incident, but to actually be there and see the locations, was quite powerful stuff.
Back, hopefully tomorrow, with more in this area.
Brilliant stuff Terry.
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Benevolens Magister
Thanks Wayne.
Next location should be posted later tonight.
Next location should be posted later tonight.
Crimea_River
Marshal
Terry, I can see how these posts are a lot of work, particularly the research and preparation for the before and after presentations. Such great work. Thank-you.
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- #1,493
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Thanks very much Andy.
It can tend to take some time - collecting and collating the info, double-checking on dates, units and so on, then when it come to post a section, I find that what I thought would take 30 minutes has taken 3 hours !!
Just working on the final few sections now, and trying to decide in which order to post them !
It can tend to take some time - collecting and collating the info, double-checking on dates, units and so on, then when it come to post a section, I find that what I thought would take 30 minutes has taken 3 hours !!
Just working on the final few sections now, and trying to decide in which order to post them !
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- #1,494
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
We are nearing the end of our four-day tour, with just a couple more locations to visit after this instalment, then a few "odds and ends" to finish with.
As happened on more than one occasion, we were happily bimbling through the country lanes, on our way to "somewhere", when we entered a narrow village street, dominated by a tall church spire, and the village name, Plumetot, rang a vague bell. Turning into the beautifully groomed village square, a large, unmissable, shiny metal memorial explained the reason why the name seemed familiar.
This village, Plumetot, was the site of Advanced Landing Ground B.10 (ALG B.10), one of the first Allied airstrips constructed immediately after D-Day, with construction beginning on June 18th, and operations commencing just a few days later.
The Typhoons of 198 and 609 Squadrons were the first residents, then on July 1st the Spitfire Mk.IXs of Polish 302, 308 and 317 Squadrons arrived.
By September, the Mustang IIs of No.2 Sqn, RAF, were operating from here in the tactical recce role.
Today, nothing remains of the airstrip, just open fields, but the satellite view, and the airfield diagram give some idea of how it was laid out, with, unusually for a temporary strip, a steel mesh runway surfaced with asphalt.
The photos show the village and memorial, along with period shots.
Pic 1. Location map.
Pic 2. Satellite view.
Pic 3. Airfield plan.
Pic 4. Typhoon Mk.Ib (JP963, TP-T) of 198 Sqn at Plumetot (bomb disposal detonating a mine in the background), IWM photo.
Pic 5. Spitfire IXs of 317 (Polish) Sqn at Plumetot (IWM photo).
Pic 6. Entering the village through the very narrow streets.
Pic 7. The impressive "V for Victory" memorial, carefully tended my the village residents.
Pics 8 and 9. The village church and square, with Karl and Mick taking photos.
Back tomorrow, with Authie, Chateau Audrieu and the murder of Canadian PoWs.
As happened on more than one occasion, we were happily bimbling through the country lanes, on our way to "somewhere", when we entered a narrow village street, dominated by a tall church spire, and the village name, Plumetot, rang a vague bell. Turning into the beautifully groomed village square, a large, unmissable, shiny metal memorial explained the reason why the name seemed familiar.
This village, Plumetot, was the site of Advanced Landing Ground B.10 (ALG B.10), one of the first Allied airstrips constructed immediately after D-Day, with construction beginning on June 18th, and operations commencing just a few days later.
The Typhoons of 198 and 609 Squadrons were the first residents, then on July 1st the Spitfire Mk.IXs of Polish 302, 308 and 317 Squadrons arrived.
By September, the Mustang IIs of No.2 Sqn, RAF, were operating from here in the tactical recce role.
Today, nothing remains of the airstrip, just open fields, but the satellite view, and the airfield diagram give some idea of how it was laid out, with, unusually for a temporary strip, a steel mesh runway surfaced with asphalt.
The photos show the village and memorial, along with period shots.
Pic 1. Location map.
Pic 2. Satellite view.
Pic 3. Airfield plan.
Pic 4. Typhoon Mk.Ib (JP963, TP-T) of 198 Sqn at Plumetot (bomb disposal detonating a mine in the background), IWM photo.
Pic 5. Spitfire IXs of 317 (Polish) Sqn at Plumetot (IWM photo).
Pic 6. Entering the village through the very narrow streets.
Pic 7. The impressive "V for Victory" memorial, carefully tended my the village residents.
Pics 8 and 9. The village church and square, with Karl and Mick taking photos.
Back tomorrow, with Authie, Chateau Audrieu and the murder of Canadian PoWs.
Couple of close of the monument.
Vic Balshaw
Major General
It's a beautiful monument. Thanks Karl.
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Airframes
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Great shots Karl, thanks !
I took my pics from the car, as we passed and from the car park, so didn't get to see the details. It's certainly a striking monument.
I took my pics from the car, as we passed and from the car park, so didn't get to see the details. It's certainly a striking monument.
A4K
Brigadier General
Great shots and info guys, cheers for posting!
