D-Day: The Unhappiest Man on the Beach

Arthur Bradford’s Spitfire was shot down over Normandy on D-Day, and he parachuted into the sea where he was promptly “rescued” by a landing craft, steaming towards the beach.
He was unarmed, unprepared, and very, very unhappy.
To read my interview with this former Welshman, click on the Wartime Wednesdays link below.

 

Can I ask how he was shot down? 1940 is more my area than 1944 but it was my understanding that the Allied Air Forces had complete mastery of the skies over Normandy.

 

Well there is ground fire which took s toll on P 47's, Typhoons, etc. The Germans had single, twin and quad 20mm AA plus a variety of other weapons such as 40 mm's . I am curious , too, was the Spitfire flying low?, what was it's role that day. There is a excellent photograph of a Spitfire on the beach at Normandy, B&W, amongst landing craft, troops, etc . that I can email you but cannot post here because of IE 11.

Gaines

PS, I forgot, Elinor, thank you for your constant interesting post.

 

Gosh, I wish I knew. I should have asked him for more details when I had the chance -- as many others have said about their veteran friends.

 

I sent Elinor the crashed Spit on Normandy beach. Beautiful shot in the edge of the water with a LST unloading in the background. It is not her plane, seems it has UD stars on it, flown by Yanks. There is a great UTube film of an American pilot flying a recon Spitfire over Berlin. Maybe this one is reconnaissance as well or did the US fly any Spitfires in combat roles ?

Gaines

 

Here's the photo that Gaines Blackwell set to me, a downed Spitfire on the beach on D-Day.


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