D-Day 6th Airborne 9th Battalion DZ V assembly point.

Hi !
Maybe we are approaching the answer …
Here’s a 1947 picture of Les Braux farm surroundings.
If we consider Richard’s last elements of localization, we can notice one or several big trees in this area (red circle). Couldn’t it be the famous « bushy tree » we’re looking for ? Cee already pointed this precise area on october 13rd ( #10).
What is your opinion ?
Kind Regards,
Franck

 

"Cee - AND CHARLES - already pointed this precise area..."

 

Hi Franck,

Good find. Yes the tree in question is very likely in your circled area, probably close by the douet/ditch.

Regards ...

 

Hello,

From the PDF a Google Street View looking northwest to the same field corner (arrow ... ?) from Route D513 below Varaville.



Could the original bushy topped tree still be there more than 75 years later? Doubtful. As can be seen a thick hedge containing large trees still exists in that area south of the farm which could be the "wood" of war diary map reference (MR).

Regards ...

 

Hi !
In May, when I'm back in Normandy, I'll will have a look at this area to see if the remaining tree(s) can be older than one century. And - if not - if there is a large tree stump in the hedge ...

 

There are still today a few big trees to the back, behind the farm. It would be amazing if still there - a living monument to the 9th Parachute Battalion.

Regards ...

 

Hi,

I'll go out on a limb and point out a tree that should be looked at more closely and could possibly be the bushy topped RV tree still standing after all these years. It is one that is very close to or at the RV map reference as determined by Richard Lewis above.

Here is a crop of the above Streetview image looking northwest with a few trees marked for orientation. Also a Google satellite view of same trees below or south of the Les Braux farm.



A few more Streetview images of the tree looking south and east from the Rue de Varaville. Is that our baby?



Regards ...

 

Hi Cee ! Hi everybody !
These new pictures are really interesting ! It's the magic of the Internet ...
I think that - now - the only thing we have to do is to go to the farm and ask to see the area to check if the trees we are talking about could already be there in June 1944, and, if not, to see if any stump can match.
A discussion with farmers could also be very helpful.
If no one has had the opportunity to go there in the coming months, I promise to do so as soon as I return Home in Normandy in early May 2023 !
Kind Regards,
Franck