RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS
RED CELL
NORMANDY 1944!
AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION THE MEMBERS OF RED CELL THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO UNDERTAKE ONE OF THEIR “SPECIAL REPORTS” AGAIN AND AS WE FIND OURSELVES NOW IN JUNE IT SEEMED APT TO LOOK BACK TO THE SAME MONTH IN 1944 AND TO THE WEAPONS, AND AIRSOFT REPLICAS THEREOF, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED BY BOTH SIDES FACING ONE ANOTHER OVER THE BEACHES AND COUNTRYSIDE OF NORMANDY ON D-DAY!
O
n the morning of 6th June 1944, the peace of a new dawn on the beaches of Normandy was rudely broken by an enormous naval bombardment, and soldiers from around the world were drawn into a bloody conflict that was fought out in Normandy. “Operation Overlord” began with a massive overnight aerial bombardment which served to distract the Germans and upset communications, and was supported by the actions of the French Resistance and allied clandestine special units. Landings of paratroopers and glider-borne infantry shortly after midnight sought to secure key objectives, and these operations were targeted mainly at the canal crossings and the artillery installations; their strategic purpose was “to secure river crossings for the beach break-out and to reduce enemy defences.” Shortly after, in the early light of the day special units like the Rangers made for their objectives, often scaling cliffs like those at Pointe du Hoc to get
to their targets. The precision naval bombardment against the coastal batteries shifted from the beaches mere minutes before the main landings commenced; H-Hour was 0630 over five beaches, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. British, American, Canadian, Polish, Australian, New Zealand, French, Belgian, Norwegian, Dutch, and other Allies who fought alongside them and against the German defenders hit those five key beaches and the battle for the liberation of Europe began in earnest!
“H-HOUR WAS 0630 OVER FIVE BEACHES, UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO AND SWORD. BRITISH, AMERICAN, CANADIAN, POLISH, AUSTRALIAN, NEW ZEALAND, FRENCH, BELGIAN, NORWEGIAN, DUTCH, AND OTHER ALLIES WHO FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THEM AND AGAINST THE GERMAN DEFENDERS HIT THOSE FIVE KEY BEACHES AND THE BATTLE FOR THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE BEGAN IN EARNEST” 48
JULY 2022
