Cornelius Ryan WWII papers, box 015, folder 13: Kenneth Stoughton Davis

USS Bayfield N.Y. DAVIS, Kenneth Stoughton CG Mass 10

Box 15, #13

UTAH

Commander, CG USS BAYFIELD

SLEPT THROUGH ASSAULT PHASE

I was on my feet for over 18 hours as navigator of Admiral Moon's flagship and I fell asleep on transom soon after anchoring vessel and slept through the first assault phase.

SUNKEN SHIP SURVIVORS

The first wounded men came alongside in gig, from a sunken destroyer. The Admiral ordered them away to find a ship designa- ted for survivors. They were bleeding and covered with fuel oil, and they were sneaked aboard from the other quarter and treated in our sick bay.

Dead

[*any time 2 wks. aft. [illegible] CG-1 BOSTON, MASS. * Navigation command ship force V MASS 10 LL*]

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-Day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? Kenneth Stoughton Davis

What was your unit and division? U.S.S. Bayfield

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? 6 June, 1944 at 0430?

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Commander, U.S. Coast Guard

What was your age on June 6, 1944? forty-five years

Were you married at that time? yes

What is your wife's name? Doris E. (Sterling) Davis

Did you have any children at that time? yes - two

What do you do now? Captain, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Operations Division First Coast Guard District, Boston, Mass.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? yes-designated as a "bigot" (cleared for secret conferences on preparations)

What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? on my feet for over eighteen hours as navigator of Admiral Moon's flagship. Near collision with squadron of LST's. Fell asleep on transom soon after anchoring vessel and slept through first assault phase

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). No rumors on Bayfield Bridge- too busy for small talk.

-for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name Davis, K.S. Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? no, have original chart on which approach was made Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? no Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? no Were you wounded ? no

Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were you so surprised that you felt nothing?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it did not, of course, seem amusing at the time? steaming in column on night 5-6 June, off Portland Bill. I was working on chart within screen area in chart room under bright light. Captain on bridge but exact location unknown to officer of the deck. OOD burst into chart room and reported that radar showed squadron of several vessels crossing from starboard to port and that collision was imminent. Could not find commanding offier. I rushed out on navigating bridge and could see nothing as eyes were not accomodated to darkness. orded engines full astern and danger signal sounded Captain

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic, or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?

roared out of the darkness "who ordered that damn whistle blown? calmed down immediately when situation explained. Crossing squadron altered course to starboard at sound of whistle and situation cleared. --------------------------------- The sight of the first wounded men alongside in GIG from sunken destroyer. Bleeding and covered with fuel oil. Admiral ordered (carry?) them away to find ship designated for survivors. But they were sneaked aboard from the other quarter and treated in our sick bay.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Davis, K.S.

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? about off Isle of Wight Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? off Utah beach Do you know of anybody else who landed within those 24 hours (midnight June 5 to midnight June 6) as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Ralph A. Taylor, LCDR. U.S.C.G. (Ret.) Oyster Pond Road Route 1- Falmouth, Massachusetts

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW; YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

expect to be in Boston from now on. Ice Patrol season closed 15 June.

Cornelius Ryan Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

ADDRESS REPLY TO: Commander International Ice Patrol Navy 103, F.P.O. New York, N. Y.

28 April 1958

Miss Frances Ward Reader’s Digest 230 Park Avenue New York, N. Y.

Dear Miss Ward,

From a notice published in the U. S. Coast Guard, Weekly Report of Activities, I understand that you are desirous of inter- viewing personnel who were engaged in the Normandy Invasion, in connection with a book which is to be published on the subject. As navigator of the BAYFIELD, Admiral Moon's flagship, I participated in the planning, advance training, and the assault on Utah Beach on D-Day. I also acted as pilot for the first merchant vessels to enter the off-loading area as a preliminary to which I personally made a survey and plotted the position of sunken vessels and navigational hazards. I have in my possession the original chart on which the BAYFIELD was navigated to the assault area and which I used in piloting the merchant vessels.

At present, I am dividing my time between the duties of Commander, International Ice Patrol, Argentia, Newfoundland, and Chief, Operations Division, First Coast Guard District at Boston, Massachusetts. I expect to be in my office at Boston approximately 2-10 May where I may be reached by telephone at Capital 7-3710-Ext.264 or at my home in Beverly, Massachusetts, at Walker 2-2798.

Very truly yours, K. S. Davis K. S. DAVIS Captain (1268) U. S. Coast Guard