大象传媒

Cdr R. 'Mike' Crosley, the author of a book with the above title, lives on the Isle of Wight. This short extract gives a graphic account of events around D-Day from a fighter pilot's point of view.

Commander Buster Hallett was appointed to command 3 Naval Air Fighter Wing a month before D-Day. The Wing was composed of four Naval Squadrons, totalling 48 pilots and 48 Seafire L111 aircraft, based on Lee-on-Solent, ready to carry out bombardment spotting for a line of five battleships to be assembled off the Normandy coast from 6th June onwards for perhaps a month's work. An American and two RAF Squadrons were also based there for the same purpose.

We flew in pairs over France. Flying southeast at about 5,000 feet, we could see a fleet of invasion craft, spreading in zig-zag lines across the misty and white-flecked Channel. Lines of smoke blew inland from the clean line of sand and surf on the shoreline by Trouville - our first target on D-Day. Clusters of shallow-draft landing ships were discharging their mobile cargo over lines of matting spread on the sand. Haphazard ribbons of transport and men stretched inland into the sand dunes beyond. We could see our lines of battleships anchored offshore, their guns flashing orange as we directed their fire over the radio.

On D plus 1 the weather dawned bright and clear over Lee. Flying 15 miles inland and southeast of Caen I saw what I thought was a Mustang stooging along about the clouds. I couldn't believe it was a German as he was asking to be shot down. He stood out like a sore thumb. I flew by on the opposite course, a bit sun-up. As I turned after him he flew into cloud and I lost him. I climbed to 7,000 feet for a good look to the southeast from whence he had come. Lo and behold, I saw another one like the first, heading in a straight line for Deauville. This time I was determined to make sure what he was - quickly. With 18 pounds boost and everything shaking madly at about 360 knots on the way down, I was catching up fast. I was behind him very close indeed when I saw the black crosses on the side of his fuselage.

I skidded in behind him. He still couldn't see me but I was going too fast and overtaking him. I pressed the gun button at about 150 yards range for about two seconds, seeing many hits with the cannon on his wing and port fuselage. I pulled up to the left to avoid hitting him.

I was anxious in case he had a number two up-sun, ready to pounce on me. I still couldn't understand anyone could be so stupid as to fly alone towards a beach-head crowded with our own fighters - unless he was a decoy. I reversed the pull-up and had a look for him. I caught sight of him ... before he hit the ground at the edge of the cloud cover, 3,000 or 4,000 feet below. I flew back weaving all the way, expecting a furious German to come at me at any moment ...

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