The Koodoo men have been told they're not allowed to land on the beaches, having to make do with periscope observations instead. But they're still able to gather useful information to feed back to the Torch planners. (✏️ National Archives, DEFE 2/588) ▶️ https://buff.ly/3zCv4AT
They'd set out from Gibraltar in submarines HMS Seraph (📸 IWM FL 3566) and P.222. (Seraph will go on to acquire a reputation as a 'secret ops' specialist, carrying out Operation Mincemeat among others.)
Their recce leads to a successful landing and assault on nearby German gun positions by the Iraq/Assyrian Levies. (📸 = view over Sarandë from the hill that they assaulted, Ajdin Kamber/Adobe Stock) Find out more about the Iraq/Assyrian Levies: ▶️ https://buff.ly/3Tposwt
Looks like I may get the full "Operation Neptune experience" in terms of weather as I cross the channel tomorrow. But shows how the Cotentin peninsula shelters the Normandy beaches.
Hudspeth, Enzer and Tilley are later part of the crew of X-20 that works with COPP on Normandy reconnaissance and beach-marking operations. ▶️ https://buff.ly/3zgGc6e
Although they weren’t part of Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP), the X-craft crews involved in the Normandy reconnaissance and invasion played a significant role.
They 'sit tight' on the bottom to avoid detection and possibly compromising the operation, and later successfully rendezvous with their 'towing' submarine to head back to the UK. (📸 U. Gernhoefer/Adobe Stock)
