June 1944

June 6, 1944

D-Day - Normandy Invasion
Operation "Overlord" and "Neptune"

Background
Much has been written about D-Day and its pivotal role in world history. A large collection of materials found in a General Overview of D-Day provides information pertaining to the planning, events and actual landings at Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword Beach. The largest ground and naval forces ever assembled were needed for operation Overlord.

President Roosevelt made this statement to the American public concerning the Invasion of Normandy.

"Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation this day have set on a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and set free a suffering humanity...They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tired, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (June 6, 1944) as published in Tom Brokow's The Greatest Generation

General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force gave the following note to all those about to participate in the Invasion of Normandy (Dad made the annotations on his note):



USS LCI (L) 35 Participation-Sword Beach

June 1, 1944
In getting ready for the invasion, the LCI (L) 35 began preparations for carrying troops on Thursday June 1st. This was the same day that HMLCI 111 backed into the bow of the LCI (L) 35 putting a 10 inch diameter hole in its starboard peak tank.

June 2, 1944

On Friday June 2nd the entire crew, (except for 4) mustered on the docks in undress blues and attended pre-invasion lectures and movies from 1130 until 1445. At 1200 "All liberties were cancelled until further notice" and by 1500 the "Ship has been stripped of unnecessary gear--finished camouflage painting--now ready and waiting to take on troops."

June 3-4, 1944
On Saturday June 3rd and Sunday June 4th, just normal cleaning was undertaken while the ship awaited troops to board.

The LCI (L) 35 with the 190 troops on board preparing to leave for the invasion of Normandy is shown in the photo on the right.

June 5, 1944

On Monday June 5th the following entries of note were made in the LCI (L) 35 deck log.

*At 0415 General Eisenhower gave his order "Okay, Let's Go!" and the Invasion of Normandy began.

Time	LCI (L) 35
1115	Ship has "Ready-Duty" for the day
1530	British troops coming aboard - 190 men
2010	Got underway-loaded with troops-Left for the Invasion of Normandy, France
2045	Crew was given brief talk-then donned chemically treated gas protective clothing-gas masks-over shoulder and helmets. Went to battle stations for entire trip.
2100	Sailing with convoy of USS LCIs and HMLCIs

Courtesy National Archives

June 6, 1944
LCI (L) 35 - Landing at Sword Beach
The beach obstacles at Sword confronting the troops landing were extensive but the dunes were not so high as Utah, and instead of bluffs behind the seawall there were French vacation homes. Some of these were torn down to give a better field of fire for the German troops, while others were used as strong points. There were casements, large and small scattered along the coast.

The plan for Sword called for the British 3rd Division, with French and British Commandos attached, to push across Sword Beach then pass through Ouistreham to capture Caen and Carpiquet (Airport)...

From Stephen E. Ambrose, D-Day June 6, 1944-The Climactic Battle of World War II

The following map provides an overview of the D-Day Landings and includes the Sword Beach Area near the Orne River and City of Ouistreham.  The LCI 35 landed in the Roger Red Sector of the Sword Beach landing area.

From the LCI (L) 35 Deck Log - June 6, 1944

Time	LCI (L) 35
0800	Nearing Coast of France
1025	Everyone went to Beaching Stations
1030	Started towards beach with ramps in dropping position
1100	USSLCIs' and HMLCIs broke columns-now going into beach-ships abreast of each other. British troops ready to disembark
1120	Hit beach-smooth landing.  Sword Area near River Orne
1122	British troops started to disembark. Under enemy fire while on beach. Shells landed close
1130	Troops Unloaded
1132	Took in ramps
1135	Started pulling ship off beach with stern anchor. Could not get anchor up. It was caught on submerged wreckage of an Army Tank. While repeated efforts were made to hoist anchor, ship was drifting to port towards two small boats wrecked near shore. Seeing imminent danger of collision, Mr. D.A. Lewis (CO) ordered anchor cable cut, then with skillful maneuvering backed the ship off beach. Lost anchor and about 500 ft of cable.
1140	Off beach-headed to sea
1145	Underway for rendezvous area
1201	Off coast of France near town of Ouistreham, Normandy
1230	Forming disposition in convoy of USS LCIs' and HM LCIs' underway to Newhaven, Eng
1245	Beaching stations secured-men went to battle stations
1600	Pilot House and engine room watches were relieved
1800	All's well
1945	Watches were relieved
2200	Sailing along with convoy

Courtesy: National Archives

D-Day - H-Hour at Sword Beach

From the Conning Tower of LCI 35

British troops disembarking from LCI (L) 35 onto Sword Beach on D-Day. The disembarkation occurred between 1122 -1130 while the ship was under enemy artillery fire from German 88's.

This photo was also taken during the eight minutes that the LCI 35 was disembarking troops.  This photo shows less British Soldiers on the beach than shown in the other photo above.

 

Clarence Robins

Clarence Robins believed that German 88 artillery fire came close to the LCI 35 during the Invasion. So close in fact that he thought that the LCI (L) 35 was being "bracketed".   Enemy gunfire landed shells on both sides of the ship. Fortunately, when Skipper Lewis made the decision to cut the cable from the submerged army tank, he moved the ship right before an enemy shell exploded in the ship's wake.  The shell had landed in the exact spot where the LCI (L) 35 had just moved. He also indicated that Skipper Lewis handled himself well during the Invasion.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Logan Sr. (LCI 219 and LCI 216) and Joe Logan Jr.

LCIs are shown disembarking troops on Sword Beach.  These LCIs probably were a little west of the landing area of LCI 35. 

Photo Courtesy of Joe Logan Sr. (LCI 219 and LCI 216) and Joe Logan Jr.

The photo above showing the landing of troops from the LCI 9 and LCI 14 is also believed to have been taken on Sword Beach.

 

British LCI and LCT Association Archivist Comments on Sword Beach

Additional information pertaining to the LCI (L) 35 landing at Sword Beach was provided by Tony Chapman, the official archivist for the British LCI and LCT Association. Tony provided the following information regarding the landing:

LCI (L) 35 landed with Group 4 of the USS LCIs assigned to "I" Squadron Landing Craft under the command of Lt. Commander M.O.W. Miller, RN. There were a total of 11 USS LCIs participating in the landing at Sword Beach. According to Chapman, LCI (L) 35 was part of Assault Group S2 (second wave) assigned to carry English soldiers of the 185th Infantry Brigade. In addition to the US LCIs, Miller's squadron was comprised of the British 251 and 263 LCI (L) Flotillas in company with the 40th, 42nd, and 48th LCT Flotillas (Mk4's).

The first assault went to the Assault Group S3 of the British 8th Brigade. Tony indicated that they suffered "grievously" going ashore at Sword. Tony indicated that the reserve British 9th Brigade of Assault Group S1 was the last assault group at Sword Beach.

Dad captioned the photo above "First Landing-Shells are Popping".

Tony also raised an interesting point while providing information on the Sword Beach landings. It appears that the US LCIs may not have been part of the original plan for the Sword Beach landings, but because of the shortage of available British LCIs, were included to make up for the shortfall. This fact was later confirmed by a Flotilla 251 officer of the Royal Navy.