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[ in red writing:] ack 27/5/58 Extract Canadian Beach
THE ASSAULT LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
D DAY: MIDNIGHT JUNE 5 — MIDNIGHT JUNE 6
What is your full name? John Murphy
What is your present address? 43 Swaffield Road, Wandsworth, London SW 18
Telephone number:
What was your unit, division, corps? R.A.F. "Balloon Command" "Transport Section"
Where did you land and at what time? Berniers-sur-Mer approx 6.45 AM
What was your rank and age on June 6? Leading aircrafts man 24 (653083)
Were you married at that time? unmarried
What is your wife's name?
Did you have any children at that time?
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
The previous 9 to 12 months were used for intensive training and exercises with the
Army and Navy, and joined as "combined operations" for an eventual invasion.
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you
remember, for example, any conversations you had or how vou passed the time?
Similar routine to many previous exercises, except we knew by the last "cooked meal" - a special
treat of pork chops and trimmings, that this was no exercise. We, the R.A.F. personnel
of three to each landing craft tank, boarded on the evening of the forth of June, but due to very
bad weather, the invasion was posponed for 24 hours. The weather was still bad when we set sail
from Gosport, for an unknown destination. The ships commander later disclosed this was the real thing
and France was the target. Our Object was "Red Beach" Bernieres-sur-Mer.
Were there any rumours aboard ship? (Some people remember hearing that
the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire
when the troops came in.)
Previous to the "talk" from the C. O. there was many speculations about our landing area. Some
had it in Norway others in Belgium etc. Our craft was loaded with French Canadians
and we had lively music from an accordian or two on board. But I was beyond caring about
rumours, or the constant shout of enemy flares for I was sea-sick. I was able to stand-to,
for disembarking, and my 2 RAF friends and 1 persons equipment followed the Canadian tanks and vehicles
into the water and on the beach.
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day?
I didn't keep a diary - but wish I had done so.