Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes

WN · K.V.U. Gruppe Bessin (Gold/Omaha Beach) · AOK 7 Normandy · France

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

3rd Company, Grenadier Regiment 726.

1 x SK bunker.

1 x Pz. T(f) Renault R5 turret.

Possibly: - 2 x Mortar positions.

2 x Tobruk MG. 1 x MG.

Renault R5 turret.
Renault R5 turret.
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
 

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
This photo was taken from a small American Cub spotter plane some time in 1944, probably just after the village was captured. To the right flank of Omaha Beach, Wn59 is the Wn that was not attacked on D-day but was taken later when the American's were joining up with British Commandos in Port-en Bessin.

1944

Commandos attacking at Port en Bessin a painting by David Rowlands, 'The capture of Port-en-Bessin, 7th June 1944'
Commandos attacking at Port en Bessin a painting by David Rowlands, 'The capture of Port-en-Bessin, 7th June 1944'
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Aerial photo of the defences, also several houses do not have roofs?.

1944

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
There would possibly be a Belgian gate with two concrete posts either side with the gate locked in place. It could then be wheeled out and fishermen or soldiers access to the beach.

06 November 2014

Belgian gate road block.
Belgian gate road block.
Plan of how they would be used..
Plan of how they would be used..
Concrete road block that a Belgian gate would lock into.
Concrete road block that a Belgian gate would lock into.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Looking west along the beach with Wn59 up on the cliff above.

06 November 2014

How the beach may have looked with all its defences in place.
How the beach may have looked with all its defences in place.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Now looking east and there would have been plenty of barbed wire, hedgehogs, Belgian Gates and mines along the beach.

06 November 2014

Barbed wire being strung out.
Barbed wire being strung out.
Mine laying a beach.
Mine laying a beach.
Belgian gate being pushed into place.
Belgian gate being pushed into place.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Trench working up the hill.

06 November 2014

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Foot path access to the cliff walk.

06 November 2014

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
A very pretty village.

06 November 2014

The house used in one of the opening sequences of 'The Longest Day' film.
The house used in one of the opening sequences of 'The Longest Day' film.
And Gert Fröbe on his horse.
And Gert Fröbe on his horse.
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Tobruk with an attached tank turret bolted on the top by a ring of threads seen in the top picture. Pz. T(f) Renault R5 turret.

06 November 2014

R5 turret 3.7cm main gun and a co-axle machine gun.
R5 turret 3.7cm main gun and a co-axle machine gun.
Tobruk with the R35 turret.
Tobruk with the R35 turret.
Note the bolts holding the turret down.
Note the bolts holding the turret down.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Trenches continuing up the hill.

06 November 2014

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
This could be a mortar pit or a machine gun post.

06 November 2014

81mm mortar.
81mm mortar.
Machine gun post.
Machine gun post.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
The view down into the village.

06 November 2014

Plan of the defence.
Plan of the defence.
Inside an R35 turret.
Inside an R35 turret.
Inside an R35 turret.
Inside an R35 turret.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
The trench running down the hill.

06 November 2014    

Field kitchen.
Field kitchen.
Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

A picture from the Longest Day, it was filmed in the house in the valley.

The Longest Day film

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
The church at Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

06 November 2014

Commonwealth War Graves Commission plate on the the church yard wall.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission plate on the the church yard wall.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
The church at Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes. The First World War French memorial.

06 November 2014

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Sgt Newman was the pilot of a Spitfire Vb in No. 234 Squadron RAF flying from RAF Warmwell on fighter sweep over the Normandy coast.

06 November 2014

Sgt Harry Newman.
Sgt Harry Newman.
Spitfire Vb the type he was flying with 234 Sqn markings at Biggin Hill 2014..
Spitfire Vb the type he was flying with 234 Sqn markings at Biggin Hill 2014..
RAF Warmwell, Dorset.
RAF Warmwell, Dorset.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
Maj. Werner Pluskat commanded 1./Art.Rgt.352 and controlled their fire onto the beaches in the area. There are lots tails of Pluskat, some say he was there and some say he was not. He survived D-day and was captured later in the war to live to a good age.

1960's

Maj. Werner Pluskat. ( link to Maj Pluskat talking of his experiences on D-day [in German])
Maj. Werner Pluskat. ( link to Maj Pluskat talking of his experiences on D-day [in German])
SK fire control post.
SK fire control post.
Up on the cliff was a fire control post that directed the fire of III. Batt. des I. Art. Btl/352. 10.5cm FH 18/40.
Up on the cliff was a fire control post that directed the fire of III. Batt. des I. Art. Btl/352. 10.5cm FH 18/40.
10.5cm FH 18/40. The Batteries had their scale of ammunition cut down by half just before D-day and the rest was stored inland to protect in from Allied bombing. The ammunition was being brought forward and was caught in air raid by strafing fighters and the lot was destroyed.
10.5cm FH 18/40. The Batteries had their scale of ammunition cut down by half just before D-day and the rest was stored inland to protect in from Allied bombing. The ammunition was being brought forward and was caught in air raid by strafing fighters and the lot was destroyed.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.

Wn59 Ste-Honorine-des-Pertes.
 

1944