D-Day US Airborne - Seaborne route markers GALLUP and HOBOKEN

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody can help me with this?

I'm doing some D-Day research and I've become quite interested in the various 'behind the scenes' parts of the whole thing. And as usual I find myself becoming quite attracted to the bits I can't find any info on!

So the US Airborne operations followed prescribed routes which were marked on land and at 2 points at sea. The 2 points at sea where known as 'GALLUP' where they continued straight on the way out and turned back towards England on the return journey, and 'HOBOKEN' which is where the planes turned towards the Cotentin Peninsula on the way out.

These 2 points where marked by Royal Navy vessels. I've seen it being variously reported as 110ft MT boats, a beacon ship and a submarine, but I can't find any other mention of them anywhere.

Does anybody have any idea which vessels were used for this?

It seems a bit of a shame to me that they don't really get more recognition for what they did as they undertook particularly important tasks (although i suppose that could be said about any tasks undertaken relating to D-Day!). And the fact that they would have been sitting in open ocean in a stationary position for so long, would lead me to think that it was quite a potentially perilous task!

Anyway if anybody has any thoughts on the matter or guidance on where i could possibly find out, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks