Amtracs at Normandy

[Mark W. Tonner]

In the area of operations of 21st Army Group, Buffalos were first used during the Scheldt operations, starting with the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade's amphibious assault across the mouth of the Braakman Inlet on the night of 8/9 October 1944.

Cheers

[Alex van de Wetering]

I don't know about the LVT-2's, but if I remember correctly someone came up with a picture of two LVT-4's on Omaha beach a couple of years ago. I believe it was on missing-lynx forum and it was a picture taken a few days after D-day from the see towards the beach.

Alex

p.s. It seems the LVT-2's at the Omaha beach museum have finally "died". I don't remember seeing them on my last trip to Normandy, last year.

edit: it was this thread..http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/message/1089310983 sadly no picture anymore

[Gunner]

Hi Mark:

Thanks for the info about the Scheldt- I have persistent rumours that the SD&H may have been hauled ashore in Normandy in them. I haven't taken the time to read their official history yet but will get around to it at some point!

The reason for the interest is that we (S&P Museum) are sending an Alligator to Cornwall for use as a gate guard. The fact that Alligators were not used will be pointed out in the signage with an explanation of the differences between an Alligator and a Buffalo but they want something closer to what they crossed the Rhine in then the current M113 1/2 Linx that has no connection to their history at all.

Do you have any further info regarding Buffalos and the SD&G? Photos?

As always, thanks for the careful research you do... we all benefit from it!

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Do you have any further info regarding Buffalos and the SD&G? Photos?

Gunner,

No Canadian units were hauled ashore in Normandy in LVT´s. They did not come into Commonwealth use until well after D-Day - see Mark´s comment.

Re. SD&G, re-read Alligators and Buffaloes.

- Hanno

[Gerry McGinty]

Thanks for the replies chaps.
Here are the links which I picked on on the TMP website - hope they work!:-

http://img120.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_525lo.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=80010zb2.jpg
http://www.le-roosevelt.com/utah_1945_5.htm

Best regards
Gerry

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gerry McGinty

http://img120.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_525lo.jpg

This pic shows an LVT-1 in the lower left corner. That makes it doubtful it is a June 1944 NWE theatre photo. When and where was this taken?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gerry McGinty

http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?image=80010zb2.jpg

The French text mentions these two pictures are the only known ones showing LVT´s in Normandy, underpinning the hypotheses they were used there.

One of the other pictures in that link show the pair of LVT´s at the Utah Beach Museum. I recall seeing this picture in a 1950´s(?) picture postcard booklet.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The French text mentions these two pictures are the only known ones showing LVT´s in Normandy, underpinning the hypotheses they were used there.

Here is the footage these photos were lifted from: https://www.criticalpast.com/video/6...nderway-at-sea

Allied Landing craft and liberty ship underway at sea during the invasion of Normandy.
Location: Normandy France
Date: 1944, June
Duration: 1 min 31 sec
Sound: NO SOUND
Clip: 65675075869
The Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. Landing vehicle tracked (LVT) underway on Normandy beach.

65675075869_000115_3.jpg 65675075869_000276_3.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Picture taken from HM LCT647 / LTN2030 of the 28LCT flotilla while transporting USAAF 9th AF Personnel & Vehicles to Omaha Beach in Normandy - June 7, 1944

LIFE Magazine Archives - Frank Scherschel Photographer WWP-PD

IMG_0563.jpeg

Found here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ej...ibextid=wwXIfr

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gerry McGinty

http://www.le-roosevelt.com/utah_1945_5.htm

According to the site, this picture is one of a series taken in 1945. I hope they dated the picture accurately.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I don't know about the LVT-2's, but if I remember correctly someone came up with a picture of two LVT-4's on Omaha beach a couple of years ago. I believe it was on missing-lynx forum and it was a picture taken a few days after D-day from the see towards the beach.
edit: it was this thread..http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/message/1089310983 sadly no picture anymore

I am in contact with Dan Fong, so I asked him for the picture. Although he did not have the picture on his PC anymore, he was kind enough to copy the picture again from his copy of the book 'Kilroy Was There: A GI's War In Photographs'. The only caption with the photo was 'June 8, 1944, Omaha Beach'. Dan has no indication if the caption is accurate or not.

lvt_omaha_normandy_8jun44.jpg lvt_omaha_normandy_8jun44_a.jpg

Source: 'Kilroy Was There: A GI's War In Photographs'. Caption: 'June 8, 1944, Omaha Beach'
http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/show...hp?photo=63497 | http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/show...hp?photo=63498

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

p.s. It seems the LVT-2's at the Omaha beach museum have finally "died". I don't remember seeing them on my last trip to Normandy, last year.

Reportedly, the one pictured above was temporarily removed in 2007 for restoration. Let’s hope it wil be back for this year’s commemorations.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Reportedly, the one pictured above was temporarily removed in 2007 for restoration.

Over on the G503 forum, there are some pictures of a recently restored LVT-2: Normandy 2009 - look what I found. Most likely this is the one which was at Utah Beach previously. Seeing in what condition it was, and to get to this stage, >90% of the parts must have been replaced/remanufactured.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

it was this thread..http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/message/1089310983 sadly no picture anymore

Tank Museum historian David Fletcher´s reply is useful to copy here:

Barry Gregory's book AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS (Blandford Press UK/Stirling Publishing USA 1988 isbn 0 7137 1547 2) shows (photo 55) what is almost certainly an LVT II on Utah with 4th Infantry Division. I assume these would have been opperated by Amphibious Tractor Companies of the US Army, rather than the Marine Corps yet their history does not mention this. Presumably they operated as supply carrier, alongside the DUKWs, rather than assault craft on D-Day itself?
The two very rusty LVTs now sitting alongside the Museum on Utah should not be offered as evidence. According to local people these were donated by a commercial operator in France who had finsihed with them.