In May 2004 my wife and I went on a tour of the D-Day beaches of Normandy and associated places of interest. On the same tour was a WWII Veteran, Douglas Gibbs and his his lovely wife Beryl. Over the next few pages you will find Doug's own words as he describes his memories of 1944/45 and his return 60 years on. This information has been published with Doug and Beryl's permission and I thank them both for allowing me to do this.

We (that is 5022 squadron, 5357 Wing, Royal Air Force Airfield Construction Service) were strictly a support force for the purpose of providing forward airstrips for the RAF fighters whose function in this was not only to provide air cover for the infantry and tanks, but also, particularly with the use of rocket firing Typhoons, to assault and harry the enemy forces.

From 8th August onwards, the Germans began the long retreat across France, Belgium and into Holland, where they stopped us at Arnhem and then counter-attacked through the Ardennes. Thereafter we were stuck throughout the winter of 1944/1945 and the thrust into Germany did not start until March 1945 and ended in final victory in May of that year.

My interest in writing this account of my own experiences, principally as Officer in charge of “A” Flight of 5022 Squadron, was sparked off by my recent visit to the Normandy beaches. Once I started to write the account the memories came flooding back and I am indebted to my fellow Office Bevan Mitchell, for the information regarding dates and places recorded in his war diary which, together with the history of 5357 wing, enabled me to put the jigsaw together and to relate our own activities to the larger events of the battle taking place around us.

I must also thank my friend Harold Pacey, a member of “A” Flight for discussing his recollections with me, which assisted me greatly in tracing our course.

I found that at times we were a great deal closer to the enemy than I realised at the time, which was just as well! But I also surmise that after the Falaise breakthrough in August 1944 that he was too busy retreating to bother much about us, so we were lucky.

As I have said at the end of my account, the revisit to the Beaches was a humbling experience, in many ways a sad experience, particularly seeing the many white crosses in the many beautifully kept war cemeteries. We owe so much to the frontline forces, I can only thank them, and God, that most of us survived in one piece.

D R Gibbs

June 2004