Awfully Sorry, Old Man, But We Simply Landed Here By Accident

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by Cee, Jun 6, 2017.

  1. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    June 6th - Haras du Quesnay

    It's June 6th and the 73rd commemoration of the Invasion of Normandy. I was reminded of the well known short scene in the movie "The Longest Day" of a British Paratrooper who landed in the courtyard of a German HQ. When brought forth to the commanding German General and asked where he had come from he answered rather casually, "Awfully sorry, old man, but we simply landed here by accident.

    In the film the German General is Von Salmuth, however, this is considered a mistake according to various lists of goofs for "The Longest Day":

    "The British pathfinders land on the HQ of Gen. Von Salmuth, commander of the 15th Army. However, the pathfinders had actually landed on Gen. Reichert's HQ (Reicher was commander of the 711 Division in Normandy); in addition, Von Salmuth and the 15th Army were actually at the Pas de Calais."

    I'll add the portion of Reichert's post D-Day report that mentions the incident and his impressions of what he was witnessing.

    Reichert-NARA_FMS_B403 711 div.jpg

    See this thread for the possible identities of the parachutists that landed at the German HQ:

    General Joseph Reichert HQ Paratroopers – Pathfinders?

    The HQ

    Recently while looking at photos of a group of Airborne men taken prisoner I was struck by the unique characteristics of the background buildings and asked forum member Brithm if he had any idea where it was. He replied they were at the the Haras du Quesnay which was part of the German 711th Infantry Division's HQ near Vauville. Many of the Airborne men who were captured after landing off course to the east of intended landing zones were funnelled through the HQ. The comparison below comes from Brithm.

    Compare le Quesnay by Brithm.jpg

    Airborne POW Le Quesnay-1.jpg Airborne POW Le Quesnay-2.jpg Le Quesnay Map.JPG

    Stud Farm

    As it turns out the the Haras du Quesnay near Vauville is a famous race horse breeding farm with an impressive history, being at one time owned and operated by railroad tycoon William Kissam Vanderbilt who later sold it to American horseman Arthur Macomber in 1918. In 1957 jockey Alex Head purchased the estate which was in a dilapidated state and restored it's reputation as one of France's preeminent stud farms. Nearby the stables is a grand chateau which I suspect is the building Generalleutnant Joseph Reichert rushed out of with pistol in hand on hearing shouts of "Parachutists!".

    Attached are a few photos and a lovely recent video of the stables and chateau.

    Le Quesnay - Front.jpg

    Haras du Quesnay-Aerial-1.jpg Haras du Quesnay-Aerial-2.jpg Le Quesnay - Rear.jpg Le Quesnay-Queen with Alex Head.jpg




    Hopefully of general interest on this June 6th anniversary as I suspect many are already well aware of the role of le Quesnay during the war.

    Regards ....

    Later:

    A PDF based on the thread -

    Airborne POWs - Haras du Quesnay.pdf - Icedrive
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2023
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    In that photo of captured paras , how come there's a chap on the right with a Wessex wyvern of 43rd Div ?
    What date was it taken ?

    croped pic.JPG
     
    Ludo68000 likes this.
  3. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Good catch Owen!

    From information received from Brithm the officer you point to is thought to be Lt. Walls with the 179th Field Regiment, R.A., 43rd Wessex Division. The Officer next to him in the middle is Major Gubbins (212th Air Landing Battery, R.A.). They were both on the same glider that ditched in the Channel. An extract from Major Gubbins' account:

    “6/6 Ditched 0340 NW wind, Craft disappeared 0500 approx blown SE – approached rocks 0930 ashore shot at 1000 Up steps searched & everything taken. Marched AUBERVILLE with K. Walls , D.R. Russell, Sig. Thomas, Sig Dewey, Sgt Pilots McKenzie [GP], Argyle [GP]. To Bde HQ identity card taken First warmth seen some 18 commandos and paratroops. Marched through lanes and to DIV 711 HQ W of S Trouville. Clothes drying in sun. 1st Interrogation. Cigarette & bread (1 slice) stables. Joined Maynard Capt RE, Shinner Lt RE, Church Capt RAMC & Jackson Capt RE. Vehicle to PONT L’EVEQUE School. Straw Bed at Midnight. No food.”

    I believe Lt. Walls was attached to the 3rd Brigade HQ in a FOO capacity. You can also see him and Major Gubbins together in another photo being interrogated by German Officers. Both photos would have been taken on June 6th. It was quite an eventful day for the men in this group and they would have been exhausted by the time they reached Pont L'Eveque.

    Major Gubbins, Lt. Walls.jpg Major Gubbins, Lt. Walls-Reverse.jpg

    Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Teacher's account on the Pegasus Archive includes detailed information by Major Gubbins of the downing of Horsa CN 126 into the sea.

    Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Teacher

    Regards ...
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2023
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