Maurice Franklyn 98 LAA RA Can anyone substantiate his story?

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by Sheldrake, Dec 1, 2017.

  1. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    I have just listened to reels three and four of the IWM interview with Maurice Franklyn 98 LAA RA
    http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80025973

    He served in 305 battery of 98 Light AA and claims to have landed on Omaha Beach. In Reel three her explains that his detachment served a 40mm AA Gun mounted on the front of a US tank Landing Craft. he then claims in reel 4 to have followed a Sherman tank on foot and joined the assault.

    I have never heard the story before. If this is historically accurate then the Light AA on Omaha Beach is a great story. But is this history, fantasy or muddled memory?
     
  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Can you find out any other details about him ?? an attestation for example - I also note that his surname could be Franklin.
    Its possible hes written memoirs or is mentioned in books/articles, but would be good to start off with the right details

    TD
     
  3. idler

    idler GeneralList

    With a 40mm gun at the front it sounds more like an LST rather than an LCT, and they would have come in after the actual assault.

    Do we know what 98 LAA were supposed to be doing?
     
  4. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....


    It is Franklin not Franklyn. 98 Light AA are not Listed in the index to Routledge's history of AA. Maybe I need to contact Peter Hart. He was the interviewer.
     
  5. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    CL1 likes this.
  6. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    I have met him. He keeps sending me invites to hear his band play
    Those Naughty Lumps
     
  7. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    This is what I have on the 98th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA. I am not sure of where it was until joining 308th Infantry Brigade, so it may have been involved in Normandy.


    98th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A. (T.A.)
    RHQ, 304th, 305th, 306th (From 16 December 1941)
    Raised: 2 December 1941 at Albrighton, Staffordshire

    481st Battery was added on 19 February 1942. The regiment was converted to 627th Regiment, R.A. (T.A.) with ā€˜Aā€™ to ā€˜Eā€™ Batteries on 28 January 1945. This regiment served under 308th Infantry Brigade from 28 January to 31 August 1945. It was located in the United Kingdom until 28 April 1945 and from then in North-West Europe.
     

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