D-Day activities commemorate the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944, marking the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe during the Second World War. Through portable and field radio operations at historically significant locations, these activities honour the men and women who planned, supported, and took part in Operation Overlord. By operating restored vintage military radio equipment in authentic settings, D-Day activations and expeditions aim to preserve the skills, technology, and spirit of wartime communications while educating the amateur radio community and the wider public about their vital role in this pivotal moment in history. VMARS members join the 80th anniversary commemorations

James Burrough, M7JBZ, has kept a blog of the expedition crew which can be followed here https://afpu.weebly.com/

Merville Gun Battery Museum – TM80MGB – VMARS member Martin Smyth, M0MGA, one of the two co-owners, on board the Chevrolet Canadian Military Pattern lorry, widely used by the British and Canadian armies in 1944. In the background, the Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft – designated “Dakota” by the RAF – nicknamed SNAFU.

Details of the assault and capture of the Merville Gun Battery can be found here

Pegasus Bridge Museum – TM80PB.  Early morning on June 6th 2024. The CMP lorry is loaded with fully operational WW2 wireless equipment and is in position here parked alongside the original Caen Canal bascule bridge in the museum. By prior arrangement with the museum, a 15 metre tall Inverted Vee Half Wave aerial for 80m operation was erected for communications with AM stations on a controlled net beginning at 06:00 local time on 3615KHz. The net was run by Paul, M1PVC from his home QTH in East Sussex and lasted for almost 5 hours attracting 77 call in stations.

Tony Barron here after demonstrating the equipment in the CMP and telling these French school children visiting the Pegasus Bridge of the importance of radio communications in the military actions. They asked how old he was in the war!

The station will be operating in Normandy for a few days until 15th June at various locations which had significance in the 1944 Normandy landings. For direct contact with the CMP vehicle listen on 3615kHz A.M.  from around 07:30 BST and on 7070kHz USB during the day. Some efforts will be made to link up on  51.700mHz F.M. but these will be dependant on 6m propagation.

VMARS members after arriving in Normandy from England on Wednesday 5th June with the 1943 Canadian Military Pattern lorry – CMP and a support vehicle, the crew refresh themselves and prepare for the rigours of the coming week.  Left to right -Tony Barron, G3YYH, – Martin Smythe, M0MGA –   James Burrough, M7JBZ –  Rik Proctor M7NTS – Rich Bamber, M0XRB – Trevor Sanderson, PA3BOH.

Douvres-la-Délivrande – Tony Barron, G3YYH, wearing a WW2 helmet waving to the crowds from the CMP as it led the 1940’s vehicle parade

Gold Beach – TM80GOLD, Viewed from Ver-Sur-Mer – the CMP working from Gold Beach on the morning of 10th June 2024 at low tide

Martin, M0MGA operating a Wireless Set No.46 used by Beach Masters on D-Day

Wireless Set No.46. A crystal controlled man-pack built by EK Cole at their factories in Woking and Southend-on-Sea during WWII. Water resistant and used by British paratroops and by Beach Masters like Captain Colin Maud R.N. on D-Day for controlling beach landings. Three crystal controlled channels in the fequency range of 3.4 – 9.1 Mc/s and about 700mW RF output on AM and up to 1.5 watts on MCW. The set has six valves which include 2 x ARP12’s, an ARP37, an ARTP2,an AR8 and an ATP4 in the final. Power originally came from 150v and 3v batteries but VMARS users usually employ a small 6v battery inverter to supply these voltages when operating the set as a portable man-pack.    It can be used with a whip aerial or with a wire aerial through a 40pf capacitor to achieve longer ranges. When conditions are right, VMARS users have frequently achieved good point to point contact between WS.No.46 sets over distances in excess of  200 miles (320Km) using wire aerials on 3615Kc/s. Probably the best British man-pack of WWII

Gold Beach – Flypast over the beach, morning 10th June 2024 in weather more like that experienced by D-Day invasion forces on 6th June 1944

Chateau d’Audrieu – TM80RWR. Operating from the grounds of the Chateau to honour the memory of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and Green Howards men who were massacred by German 12th SS troops on the night of 7/8th June 1944 after they had surrendered

Equipment on the CMP – L-R: Wireless Set No.19 transceiver with RF amplifier on top. Wireless Set No.76 transmitter with R109 receiver.

Equipment on the CMP – Left – top, Wireless Set No.12 transmitter, bottom, R107 Receiver

On Thursday 13th June the CMP radio truck and equipment was invited to take part as a publicised exhibit of the Juno Beach Centre, the Canadian Normandy museum. This was a pre-organised visit which was promoted by the museum and publicised in their advanced promotional campaign. This was a fitting display and practical use of the Canadian built lorry and of the Canadian made wireless equipment installed inside, as well as an interesting practical demonstration over several hours making direct radio contact with stations in England & Wales, France, Belgium and the Netherlands using the ANFR issued callsign TM80JUNO. Click here for information on the Juno Beach Landings.

These two local visitors to the CMP showed much interest in the exhibits and brought an infectious smile to the crew

A Spitfire taxis past local farmers harvesting wheat at B-2 Bazenville Advanced Landing Ground in June 1944

The CMP with the Luftwaffe Würzburg Radar at Douvres in 2023

For more information click here for the Luftwaffe Douvres Radar Station link

Photographs here are of a WW2 German Wehrmacht wireless truck visiting the Douvre Radar museum on Saturday 15th June 2024

Early morning on Gold Beach 11th June 2024, the CMP is set up for the TM80GOLD wireless station
Below:- Early morning on Gold Beach 6th June 1944, British troops  leading the beach assault

For information about Canadian Military Pattern lorries, extensively used by British forces, click on this link

Local map of the Gold Beach first assault wave plan for 6th June 1944. The Landing Beach Zone Expedition  team operate from the East Red Jig location on the Beach Road.

Follow this link for more information

Flowers placed anually on Gold Beach in a moving tribute to those who landed here on 6th June 1944. We don’t know who the thoughtful people are who place them there, but we thank them.

The “Standing with Giants” commemoration area at the British Memorial. There are 1,475 two metre tall “giants” representing each of those who died under British Command on 6th June 1944. In the background are the remains of the caissons of the Mulberry Harbour at Arrowmanche.

Normandy Landings Beach Zone Expedition June 2024 Expedition