Naval Spectator’s Dramatic Picture

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1944, Page 5

Naval Spectator’s Dramatic Picture

(Rec. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 6

“We are standing on the bridge of a British destroyer 8000 yards from the beaches at Berniere sur Mer. Guns are belching flame from more than 600 Allied warships, and the air is filled with the thunder of broadsides and crash of bombs. More than 2000 tons of high explosive shells, ranging from 16-inch to four-inch have gone down the beachhead in the last 10 minutes. The invasion fleet has arrived at the shores of North-Western France unmolested.” This picture is given by Reuter’s correspondent aboard a destroyer at dawn yesterday. He proceeds: , “Some German shore batteries are opening up, but fire is ineffective. A gallant little fleet of destroyers is steaming close inshore, protecting landing troops and plugging shore batteries with sheils. Two great assault forces are participating under the supreme command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay—an Eastern task force, mostly British and Canadian vessels under Rear-Admiral Sir Phillip Vian, and a Western task force, mostly'American warships, under command of RearAdmiral Alan G. Kirk, of the United States Navy.

Four Separate Phases

“Invasion plans consisted of four separate phases. G) Landings by airborne troops and paratroops in the rear. t2) Tremendous full-scale nightbombing by R.A.F. on the landing beaches.

(3) Sea bombardment by more than 600 Allied warships including battleships, cruisers, monitors and destroyers. (4) Day break bombing by a full force of the United States air force just before dawn and before the initial landings.

“A string of tank-landing craft passed with Tommies sitting in the turrets of their tanks giving us the ‘thumbs-up’ sign. The weather became worse, the sky turned grey, and big clouds came up. The roar of Fortresses, coupled with the crump of bombs and the crashing of shells became terrific, and the coast line was covered with balls of smoke.

“As we crossed the Channel, seas were running high and many of the little tank-landing craft we were escorting were ‘shipping it green’. The captain, speaking over a loud-speaker system, said: ‘You have the honour of participating in the biggest amphibious operation ever planned. We are assaulting the beaches of Normandy coast at dawn. More than 4000 craft are in the initial landings. The Navy’s responsibilty is to get the army ashore at the right place, at the right time and in the right condition. This is the crucial time. We can smash Hitler. I wish all the best of luck’. t.

What a Party “It was just 4 a.m. when We were some 18 miles from the coast of France. Night-bombing was in full swing and we could see enormous explosions. One great fire shot up in the air in the vicinity of the Berniere sur Mer beach area. “Night-bombing ceased at 5.27 a.m. and a great naval bombardment began. We moved in slowly. Big assault ships at 5.45 started lowering their boats crowded with tin-hatted Tommies. There were at least 1000 ships of all sizes in our section alone, and a fleet of destroyers were darting around us. “What a party. ‘I wouldn’t miss this for ail the tea in China,’ I heard the captain say. It was an unbelievable sight. The coast was clearly visible at G a.m. Big fires were then raging ashore, while the invasion fleet was waiting just seven miles from Courseulles. “By 6.50 a fleet of destroyers were close to the shore, bombarding any targets to be seen. To The Minute “It was quite light by 7.20 a.m. The first wave of landing-craft reached the shore by 7.25. The men leapt out and moved forward. Tanks followed. “Everything was now an inferno. Fortresses moved their bombing behind the beachhead and continued to plaster the Germans. We moved out on patrol at 7.35. It was too early to know how the initial landings have gone, but they were made according to the timetable to almost a split second. “Bernier sur Mer is on the coast about 11 miles north-west of Cnen and has a 300 yards esplanade, of sandy beach. The British United Press correspondent aboard' an American torpedoboat says the invasion took the Germans completely by surprise. It was not until 3.30 a.m. that a German reconnaissance plane discovered forces moving into position. It was an hour, after the bombardment of the German shore batteries began beforp the Nazis sent a single answering shot. Moreover, British minesweepers which escorted. our squadron cleared a broad highway without loss. Our ships were practically within gunshot of German shore batteries from midnight onward. Hell For The Germans

A German war correspondent, reporting from the invasion coast over Berlin radio, said: “It is a maelstrom of hell out here. I lost count of events after the first invasion craft crept up and the enemy armada had taken up positions. Enemy paratroops dropped down everywhere from an overcast sky. Our positions were as good as buried by a thick carpet when the Allied warships put up their barrage.” /. ~