The centremost beach, and of course the section to include Arromanches, where we assembled the Mulberry Artificial Harbour. I find it hard to imagine the scale of the simple comment of 'let's build a harbour and take it with us'. As amazing an undertaking as the whole landings themselves.Between Gold beach, and Omaha to the west, lay the German gun battery at Longues sur Mere. Today this is a historic site, with the 4 large gun casemates, of which 3 still have the original guns in place. The pieces of the 4th also remain, but in pieces where it was destroyed. On the cliff edge, the observation bunker is open to go in, and the view you have over the sea in front of you is impressive. Just think of looking out and seeing the sea covered with ships in the early dawn. It just has to have been an awe inspiring vision.The AVRE pictured here was knocked out on D-Day, and pushed into a crater in the road. The road was simply built over it afterwards, and it lay there until the late seventies. Then, prompted and encouraged by After the Battle magazine, the road needed repair and the Churchill was recovered. Small arms, ammunition and even the Petard rounds and crew kit was still in it. Restored, it has now been placed on a pedestal just a short distance from where it was knocked out on the day. One ofthe most 'authentic' items to be left near where it was landed.
Gold
There is just no substitute for visiting the real battlefields of WW2 in Europe if you have an opportunity to do so.
Links to other Small Scale Scene sites:-
Small Scale Scene Main Site
Military Modelling website
Section 2 - Normandy, Battlefields and even more models...
Small Scale Scene - The Real Battlefields
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