A close look on the "Bunker Defenders" (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

I believe there was another soldier, also a teenager at the time, who was in one of the pillboxes who may have killed a lot of soldiers but later on in life led reconciliation efforts with former enemies and has been featured in several documentaries. Just can't remember his name.

Could be the same guy Brad,he too was reconciled with former enemies in the documentaries he was featured in.

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

Thanks James,heartbreaking isn't it.All the time he was thinking 'if i don't get them they are going to get me'.He was a teenager at the time,imagine that on the shoulders of a teenager.

Oz, good point.I have just finished the Voices from D day book.In it one British soldier recalls calling up a Sherman to put a solid round into the slit of a pillbox,this resulted in the shell ricocheting around inside the box.He then had to go inside and view the hideous results, 'Mincemeat' was the word he used.

Rob

If the American commanders had used the Duplex-Drive Shermans effectively, and not launched them too far out in seas far too rough, there would certainly have been far fewer casualties at Omaha Beach.

 

[Rob]

If the American commanders had used the Duplex-Drive Shermans effectively, and not launched them too far out in seas far too rough, there would certainly have been far fewer casualties at Omaha Beach.

Yep this has to be one of the major reasons for the disaster that day.You also have to feel for the poor guys who drowned in the Shermans when they were launched into rough sea and went straight to the bottom.RIP.

Rob

 

[Dragoon]

Can't remember the details, but didn't a US destroyer finally come in very close to shore and knock out many of the Omaha pillboxes?

 

[Rob]

Yes,after hours of firing Severloh got so low on ammo that he began firing with tracer rounds and it was then that Naval ships could finally pinpoint his position and open fire on him.(he was not actually in a bunker i understand but a foxhole close to a bunker,this made it difficult to get a fix on him)

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

Could be the same guy Brad,he too was reconciled with former enemies in the documentaries he was featured in.

Rob

No, I don't think it was. The name sounds different but then again my memory isn't what it used to be

 

[Rob]

No, I don't think it was. The name sounds different but then again my memory isn't what it used to be

This guy did say there was about thirty other guys in the area around him in foxholes and bunkers so it could well be someone else Brad.Apparently you can still just about make out his foxhole.

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

If the American commanders had used the Duplex-Drive Shermans effectively, and not launched them too far out in seas far too rough, there would certainly have been far fewer casualties at Omaha Beach.

After reading the accounts in the Beevor book, at some of the other beaches, the tanks were launched closer (1,000 versus 5,000 yards) and had more success in taking care of things. I know at one beach, they wanted to launch them far out but the tank commanders protested and got their way.

 

[Rob]

After reading the accounts in the Beevor book, at some of the other beaches, the tanks were launched closer (1,000 versus 5,000 yards) and had more success in taking care of things. I know at one beach, they wanted to launch them far out but the tank commanders protested and got their way.

Yes it appears they had a lot more success at the British beaches and were able to come right up to bunkers and pillboxes and fire straight into them.However as at Omaha i think some of the Shermans sunk in the British sector too.

Rob

 

[Rob]

Just looking at pics again,they are going to look so cool on that new Bunker

Rob

 

[Rob]

Guys,check out this excellent site for Atlantic Wall pics;

http://www.atlantikwall.org.uk/

Rob

 

[Njja]

Yep this has to be one of the major reasons for the disaster that day.You also have to feel for the poor guys who drowned in the Shermans when they were launched into rough sea and went straight to the bottom.RIP.

Rob

........................................................................................................

Yet another problem was Gen Bradley's order to the air force to avoid

dropping bombs on the beach itself!

He was concerned the tanks (most of which never arrived for the inital

assault) would get hung up in the bomb craters.