Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: LYNX on December 01, 2009, 05:41:49 AM

Title: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: LYNX on December 01, 2009, 05:41:49 AM

Some of you know I'm doing a little writing....nothing special but on this site I joined I found these true life accounts by Will Gray.  

Will gray kindly gave me permission to post these links here after I explained that you folk would find them most interesting, as did I. :salute

If you have a spare 20 minutes you'll not be waisting it reading these.  

The tank tester
 http://ukauthors.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16953

It was nearly curtains.
 http://ukauthors.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14856

Bail out
 http://ukauthors.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14833


I have taken the opportunity to add some sites for a historical backdrop of Mr Grays experiences.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23rd_Hussars

 http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/ADADD5C6-9F34-4A94-AD03-5C915E25AD51/0/ww2_caen.pdf

I can't promise anything ....but I would like to ask Mr gray some question about the types of tanks he drove.  Also about that typhoon's ground attack.  Are there any questions you guys would like to ask.  

Like I said...I can't promise if Mr Gray would answer and I think we can understand if he doesn't.  

Regards
LYNX
Steve

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: Bodhi on December 01, 2009, 10:11:18 AM

Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: Shuffler on December 01, 2009, 12:49:40 PM

Very interesting.....

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: Baumer on December 01, 2009, 01:13:31 PM

Thanks for posting, great links.

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: LYNX on December 01, 2009, 05:30:07 PM

Thanks lads ....but more thanks to Mr Gray for setting out his experience in writing.

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: killrDan on December 01, 2009, 07:21:48 PM

This is the good stuff Lynx.  It 's so important that these last surviving WWII veterans tell their story as Mr. Gray has done, else their stories be lost forever.  I once knew a WWII tank commander who sat down with me and told me of all his experiences in WWII from landing in Tunisia, then on to Sicily and then up through Italy.  He has since passed away. I've wished a thousand times I had been running a tape recorder or video cam.  I've recounted his story in my head numerous times.   I remember him telling me how the boat pulled up short on landing in Tunisia and the first tank off went entirely underwater and how the tanks were fitted with snorkels.  Apparently he and Mr. Gray had the same fond recollection of the 88mm gun of the Tigers.  He spoke of them often.

I too would appreciate any light that could be shed on the role of the Typhoon in WWII.

 :salute

Dan

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: LYNX on December 02, 2009, 04:52:00 AM

KillrDan

I'm with you on this.  I have nothing but reverence and respect for these old boys.  They have mourned their fallen commrads as have we, the generations of their future.  And it's now our turn to stand at the monuments of remembrance.  Each and everyone of their personal moment in history deserves it's own place and rightly so.  Which will help us... "remember them".
 :salute

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: save on December 02, 2009, 08:52:33 AM

thanks for sharing.

As a former tank platoon commander, I specially enjoyed the level of details of the stories.

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: LYNX on December 02, 2009, 07:56:15 PM

Quote from: save on December 02, 2009, 08:52:33 AM

thanks for sharing.

As a former tank platoon commander, I specially enjoyed the level of details of the stories.

Now then....you got anything you want to share ?

I have been in touch with Mr Gray and he says he's willing to answer some questions.  With your knowledge Save what sort of tacticle/strat questions would you ask...as a comparrison ?

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: LYNX on December 03, 2009, 10:25:29 AM

Anyone curious about how the Sherman tank was fought and lived in ?  I'm corresponding with Mr. Gray the author of the links above.

Please ask your questions here and I'll forward them.

cheers

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: Brooke on December 04, 2009, 01:48:16 AM

Thank you for posting this information.  :salute  :aok

If you talk to Mr. Gray again, please tell him that your Aces High pals thank him and are grateful for his service.

Title: Re: A WWII ....Tank crew members accounts in Normandy.
Post by: save on December 04, 2009, 05:08:42 AM

Ive got many pics that I took for a newspaper in 1982, during the big exercise "norrsken"

I could not keep the negatives since I did the work for the newspaper, but the pics  a4 size should be scannable.