Dawn was already rising with Double Wartime Dalight Savings at 0200, June 6, 1944, to reveal cloudy skies from horizon to horizon. The rumble of 48 Pratt and Whitney R-2800s reverberated across the quiet English countryside that surrounded the former RAF station of Beaulieau Roads, between Southampton and Bournemouth, which was now home to the 9th Air Force's 365th Fighter Group, known as the “Hellhawks.” On the taxiway, the big P-47s, each resplendent in the black and white identification stripes hurriedly applied with mops and brooms by the ground crews two nights before, S-turned under their heavy loads of two 500-lb bombs on the wing shackles and a 110-gallon drop tank on the centerline mount as they taxied toward the runway in the growing dawn light.
On this day, my dad, then M.Sgt. Robert W. Plants, 21 years old, was dropped behind enemy lines during the early morning hours, to lay out communications in advance of the invasion. A member of the 101st airborne, 506th paratrooper infantry, dad was jump master on one of three planes two of which actually got a little closer to their landing target than the third, which was way off course. He was first to jump behind a huge supply bundle that he was supposed to toss out first. It got stuck in the door, so he jumped on top of it, pulling it with him as he exited the plane. Landing in the dark, off course, he and the Lt. in charge of the second plane, were able to gather all but one of their guys (I don't know what happened to him) and try to figure out where they were and how to set up communications with HQ and connect via radio with Dad's boss, Colonel Sink. They were dropped into an orchard, with deep ditches on either side of a narrow dirt road. So, they had to use the road, which then placed them in greater danger. Later that day, they were surrounded by Germans and forced to either be shot or surrender. They chose the latter. Dad ended up being force walked across France and into Germany. During the walk, he was strafed by friendly fire and left for dead in a ditch. He was later picked up by Germans again and taken to a camp where he spent the rest of the war.
When I read your account, I thought of all that strafing. It helped me understand how Dad managed to catch one of those deadly bits of shrapnel in his foot.
You have a rare gift TC, you are able to pull together all of those different bits, and weave together a coherent narrative, of what many of our parents and grandparents risked and accomplished, most of them with their lives on the line, for us to be able to enjoy the freedom we have today, thank you, the tales you tell touch me deeply as does this day.
They had to s-turn when they taxied because they couldn't see straight ahead. I've seen pics of P-47s with the crew chief hanging onto the wing, guiding the pilot too. During takeoff, before the tail came up, all they could do was watch the distance to the edge of the runway.
TC - I hope this message will get to you since I have no email address for you. This post seems to be a good opportunity to tell you of some amazing news I received a week ago, on July 2, regarding my maternal uncle, Lt. Walter Emery Lang Jr., who served on the USS Albacore (SS 218). Albacore was lost off of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, on 7 Nov. 1944. The Albacore was very successful in her tours in and around the Sea of Japan and the Philippine Sea. She sank the newest aircraft carrier in the Japanese Navy, the Taiho, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
In May, 2022, Albacore was found by a Japanese researcher who has been, since 2017, using side-scan sonar "to “research the deep sea for scientific and technical activities, and conduct activities related to dissemination and promotion of undersea activities including deep sea such as undersea observation and development of equipment.” The U.S. Navy has still to confirm the find is the Albacore but a Japanese patrol vessel was nearby when Albacore hit a mine, and recorded coordinates for her sinking. These were found after the war in Japanese military archives.
You can imagine how exciting this news has been for me, my sister, and my cousins including Walter Jr's grandson, Walter Emery Lang IV! Here are a couple of links which you may find interesting.
"USS Albacore and USS Cavalla each sink aircraft carriers heading for the Battle of the Marianas. Pls click the link below. There are ads in the show, but that's how it's free of charge to watch.
"Here is the story of the newest and largest Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier, the IJN TAIHO. Her trip to the Mariannas was her first and last, as she was sunk by the USS Albacore. This video is very detailed, but explains how just one torpedo blew up the pride of the Japanese Fleet.
Jim Converse" [the person who contacted me, having found me on FB because I posted Uncle Walter's photo and info about USS Albacore this past Memorial Day!]. https://youtu.be/fkchsNDmkNc
I'm guessing you have access to my email address if you want to reply. Just in case: jswink1@cox.net
It is June 6th, airborne and naval operations had begun 78 years ago in the Battle of Normandy. Facing the powerful front of a 48 Pratt and Whitney R-2800s, in photo, was my first awakening to missions taken by the 9th Air Force's 365th Fighter Group, known as the “Hellhawks”. I could hear the roar of the planes' engines; imagine the two 500 pound bombs carried by each, and '... see so many airplanes in the sky that there was a serious risk of collision,... There were so many ships in the Channel it seemed that you could have walked from ship to ship from England to France."
Thank you, TC, for taking us back 78 years to recreate a sense of the D-Day missions through the lives and deaths of the pilots with the 388th Fighter Squadron. My muscles tensed and skin prickled following your account.
I walked the beaches and visited the cemeteries before the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The whole area was crawling with tourists and re-enactors, so much so that many of the museums along the coast were too crowded to visit. It was humbling to see what was left, and imagine what the Allied troops had to go through just to make it to the beach, let alone beyond.
Later, in Carentan, I was eating my lunch when I looked up and thought I was seeing ghosts. They were modern-day US Army troops in fatigues, shoulder patches indicating they were part of the First Division (The Big Red One) whose forebears had hit the beach that morning. Sure, the fatigues on modern troops are different, but still, it was eerie.
Thanks for posting about the aerial side of "The Longest Day." I met and made friends with a P-47 pilot who flew his first mission 3 days after D-Day, and survived the war, and his stories were very similar.
I think I've shared this before.
On this day, my dad, then M.Sgt. Robert W. Plants, 21 years old, was dropped behind enemy lines during the early morning hours, to lay out communications in advance of the invasion. A member of the 101st airborne, 506th paratrooper infantry, dad was jump master on one of three planes two of which actually got a little closer to their landing target than the third, which was way off course. He was first to jump behind a huge supply bundle that he was supposed to toss out first. It got stuck in the door, so he jumped on top of it, pulling it with him as he exited the plane. Landing in the dark, off course, he and the Lt. in charge of the second plane, were able to gather all but one of their guys (I don't know what happened to him) and try to figure out where they were and how to set up communications with HQ and connect via radio with Dad's boss, Colonel Sink. They were dropped into an orchard, with deep ditches on either side of a narrow dirt road. So, they had to use the road, which then placed them in greater danger. Later that day, they were surrounded by Germans and forced to either be shot or surrender. They chose the latter. Dad ended up being force walked across France and into Germany. During the walk, he was strafed by friendly fire and left for dead in a ditch. He was later picked up by Germans again and taken to a camp where he spent the rest of the war.
When I read your account, I thought of all that strafing. It helped me understand how Dad managed to catch one of those deadly bits of shrapnel in his foot.
You are at your best in these accounts. Also really appreciated Ellen's account of her Dad's experience. Thanks to you both!
You have a rare gift TC, you are able to pull together all of those different bits, and weave together a coherent narrative, of what many of our parents and grandparents risked and accomplished, most of them with their lives on the line, for us to be able to enjoy the freedom we have today, thank you, the tales you tell touch me deeply as does this day.
They had to s-turn when they taxied because they couldn't see straight ahead. I've seen pics of P-47s with the crew chief hanging onto the wing, guiding the pilot too. During takeoff, before the tail came up, all they could do was watch the distance to the edge of the runway.
I was keenly aware this morning of the anniversary of D-day— my dad was on Omaha Beach that and survived 10 before being hit by schrapnel.
TC - I hope this message will get to you since I have no email address for you. This post seems to be a good opportunity to tell you of some amazing news I received a week ago, on July 2, regarding my maternal uncle, Lt. Walter Emery Lang Jr., who served on the USS Albacore (SS 218). Albacore was lost off of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, on 7 Nov. 1944. The Albacore was very successful in her tours in and around the Sea of Japan and the Philippine Sea. She sank the newest aircraft carrier in the Japanese Navy, the Taiho, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
In May, 2022, Albacore was found by a Japanese researcher who has been, since 2017, using side-scan sonar "to “research the deep sea for scientific and technical activities, and conduct activities related to dissemination and promotion of undersea activities including deep sea such as undersea observation and development of equipment.” The U.S. Navy has still to confirm the find is the Albacore but a Japanese patrol vessel was nearby when Albacore hit a mine, and recorded coordinates for her sinking. These were found after the war in Japanese military archives.
You can imagine how exciting this news has been for me, my sister, and my cousins including Walter Jr's grandson, Walter Emery Lang IV! Here are a couple of links which you may find interesting.
https://academist-cf.com/projects/252?lang=en
"USS Albacore and USS Cavalla each sink aircraft carriers heading for the Battle of the Marianas. Pls click the link below. There are ads in the show, but that's how it's free of charge to watch.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=usXozMDsfOk Albacore action is at time 31:00 and 36:50
"Here is the story of the newest and largest Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier, the IJN TAIHO. Her trip to the Mariannas was her first and last, as she was sunk by the USS Albacore. This video is very detailed, but explains how just one torpedo blew up the pride of the Japanese Fleet.
Jim Converse" [the person who contacted me, having found me on FB because I posted Uncle Walter's photo and info about USS Albacore this past Memorial Day!]. https://youtu.be/fkchsNDmkNc
I'm guessing you have access to my email address if you want to reply. Just in case: jswink1@cox.net
It is June 6th, airborne and naval operations had begun 78 years ago in the Battle of Normandy. Facing the powerful front of a 48 Pratt and Whitney R-2800s, in photo, was my first awakening to missions taken by the 9th Air Force's 365th Fighter Group, known as the “Hellhawks”. I could hear the roar of the planes' engines; imagine the two 500 pound bombs carried by each, and '... see so many airplanes in the sky that there was a serious risk of collision,... There were so many ships in the Channel it seemed that you could have walked from ship to ship from England to France."
Thank you, TC, for taking us back 78 years to recreate a sense of the D-Day missions through the lives and deaths of the pilots with the 388th Fighter Squadron. My muscles tensed and skin prickled following your account.
I walked the beaches and visited the cemeteries before the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The whole area was crawling with tourists and re-enactors, so much so that many of the museums along the coast were too crowded to visit. It was humbling to see what was left, and imagine what the Allied troops had to go through just to make it to the beach, let alone beyond.
Later, in Carentan, I was eating my lunch when I looked up and thought I was seeing ghosts. They were modern-day US Army troops in fatigues, shoulder patches indicating they were part of the First Division (The Big Red One) whose forebears had hit the beach that morning. Sure, the fatigues on modern troops are different, but still, it was eerie.
Thanks for posting about the aerial side of "The Longest Day." I met and made friends with a P-47 pilot who flew his first mission 3 days after D-Day, and survived the war, and his stories were very similar.