kentmunich

Archive for the ‘Other WW2’ Category

Reculver Towers – Dambusters – Amy Johnson

In Other WW2 on October 24, 2008 at 10:55 am

Took a great walk along the coast this week near to my UK home. I went past Reculver Towers where the Dambusters practiced their bomb runs with Barnes Wallis and his team watching and aiming to refine their weapon. My Grandfather guarded the cliffs during the trials as naturally they were sealed off….he came close to being killed by a German parachute mine that went off near him. But that is another story. The bombs lay on the sea bed for years and were eventually recovered and are now displayed.  the sea behind the towers is where Richard Hillary was shot down during the Battle of Britain and also is the final resting place for Amy Johnson who disappeared in bad weather over it…whilst ferrying an aircraft in 1941 if my memory serves me right! I will post more pics soon.

Dambusters test footage at Reculver here – http://www.thedambusters.org.uk/60feet.html

The wall of the Roman Fort at Reculver with ww2 tank traps in the background (called dragons teeth)

The wall of the Roman Fort at Reculver with ww2 tank traps in the background (called dragons teeth)

Reculver Towers

Reculver Towers2000 years of history.

German Half Track wheel

In Other WW2 on October 24, 2008 at 10:26 am

Whilst routing around in France in June 2004 – I found this half track wheel in a ditch….I was with the farmer at the time and he let me have it.  A left over from the battle of Failse pocket. It was discovered in right on the southern edge of the Normandy battle field.

This is what I know about it.

Sd Kfz it was abandoned at La Baroche S Luce whilst towing a 10.5cm gun. It ran out of fuel. The date was probably about 15-16Augsut 1944. The unit was probably the 10SS Panzer Division.

The wheel has signs of battle field repairs on it and also shrapnel damage.