OMAHA BEACH.

S J Davis · Feb 12, 2025

Trux said: ↑

THE GAP ASSAULT TEAMS LAND.

OMAHA WEST.
H+3 Minutes.
Gap Assault Teams from 146 Engineer Combat Team land. The LCMs of the Gapping Teams had been towed across the Channel by LCT(A)s and LCT(HE)s. The teams travelled on the towing vessels and transferred to the LCMs in the Transport Area. This proved difficult in the rough seas and some craft were delayed.

The Gapping Support Teams were carried across the Channel on LSI(S) Princess Maude. The LCMs were towed across the Channel by craft of the Gunfire Support Group and collected the teams in the Transport area. Again this proved difficult in the rough seas and all were delayed. A Command Team also landed. This group travelled on a LCT(R) which towed the command LCM.

The following is from the landing tables dated April. By May 31 extra LCMs had been allocated. This did not affect the Gapping Teams but provided extra reserve craft. Details are given below.

Dog Green.
Serial 1047 is an LCM carrying
40 men from Gapping Team 1.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Serial 1049 is an LCM carrying
39 men from Gapping Team 2.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Arriving some minutes later
Serial 1048 is an LCM carrying
39 men from Gapping Support Team A.
This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing.
Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing.

Dog White.
3 X LCM.
Serial 1050 is an LCM carrying
39 men from Gapping Team 3.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Serial 1052 is an LCM carrying
40 men from Gapping Team 4.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Arriving some minutes later
Serial 1051 is an LCM carrying
39 men from Gapping Support Team B.
This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing.
Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing.

Dog Red.
Landing some minutes later.
Serial 1053 is an LCM carrying
26 men. Demolition Control Boat.

Serial 1054 is an LCM carrying
39 men from Gapping Team 5.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 1056 is an LCM carrying
40 men from Gapping Team 6.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 1055 is an LCM carrying
37 men from Gapping Support Team C.
This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing.
Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing

Easy Green.
Serial 1057 is an LCM carrying
39 men from Gapping Team 7.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 1059 is an LCM carrying
40 men from Gapping Team 8.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 1058 is an LCM carrying
40 men from Gapping Support Team D.
This LCM towed by LCG(L) for the crossing.
Personnel carried on LSI(H) Princess Maude for the crossing.

Serial 1059a is an LCM carrying
26 men. V Corps Control Boat.
This LCM towed by LCT(R) for the crossing.
This craft was free to land at the commanders discretion.

By May 31st thirty six LCM had been allocated to the Special Engineer Task Force. These were assigned numbers within the force. Craft 1 to 8 were to carry the eight Gapping Teams. Craft 17 to 20 carried the Gapping Support Teams. Craft 25 was the Command Craft. Craft 28 to 31 were Reserve Craft.

The Gapping Team LCMs. All towed by LCT(A) or LCT(HE).
Craft 1 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 1, including NCDU 11. Dog Green.
Craft 2 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 2, including NCDU 24. Dog Green.
Craft 3 towed by LCT(?) carried Gapping Team 3, including NCDU 27. Dog White.
Craft 4 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 4, including NCDU 41. Dog White.
Craft 5 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 5, including NCDU 42. Dog Red.
Craft 6 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 6, including NCDU 43. Dog Red.
Craft 7 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 7, including NCDU 140. Easy Green.
Craft 8 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 8, including NCDU 137. Easy Green.

Craft 17 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team A, including NCDU 133. Dog Green.
Craft 18 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team B, including NCDU 130. Dog White.
Craft 19 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team C. Dog Red.
Craft 20 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team D, including NCDU 133. Easy Green.

Craft 25 towed by LCT(R) carried Command Group 1.

Craft 28 towed by LCT(R) was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 29 towed by LCT(R) was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 30 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 31 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.

On May 31st craft personnel loads are listed as:
All craft carrying Gapping Teams – 40 men.
All craft carrying Gapping Support Teams – 40 men, except Team C with 35 men.
Command Craft - 27 men.
Reserve Craft no personnel.

The spare craft were listed as ‘reserve craft’ in naval orders. On arrival at the transport area they were cast off and joined the assembled LCMs of the Gapping Group. If any of the assault craft were missing the reserve craft was to replace it and collect its team from the towing craft or LSI(S) Princess Maude as appropriate. Reserve craft were already loaded with all the necessary equipment. Remaining reserve craft were to approach the beach and aim to be 1000 yards off their assigned beach by H+20 minutes. They were then to lie to until called in.

Gapping Teams.
As on all the D Day beaches it was a priority to clear gaps through the beach obstacles. The assault wave was carried in LCAs and LCVPs which were planned to beach on the seaward side of the obstacles. Later waves would arrive when the seaward rows of obstacles were under water and invisible to the crafts crews. Soon larger craft, LCTs and LCIs, would be landing. It was planned that 50 yard wide gaps would be cleared and marked so that craft could beach safely and vehicles make their way from the craft to the top of the beach.

Gapping teams for Omaha were provided by the Special Engineer Task Force. There were eight Gapping Teams landing with the assault waves of 116 RCT, numbered logically 1 to 8. Each team consisted of 13 men from Naval Combat Demolition Units, which were trained in underwater demolition, and 28 army engineers from the engineer combat battalions. These were assisted by one Sherman tankdozer per team, landing by LCTs which carried the wading Shermans of 743 Tank Battalion. Gapping Support Teams would land by LCM carrying additional equipment and personnel. One such team was to support each pair of Gapping Teams and were lettered A, B, C and D. The LCMs were towed across the Channel by the LCTs carrying wading Shermans, the personnel being carried on the LCT and transferring off shore before running in to beach.

Army personnel for the Gapping Teams and Gapping Support Teams came from 146 Engineer Combat Battalion.

Gap Assault Team 1 from ‘A’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 2 from ‘A’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 3 from ‘A’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 4 from ‘A’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 5 from ‘B’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 6 from ‘C’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 7 from ‘B’ Company.
Gap Assault Team 8 from ‘B’ Company.

Gap Support Team A from ‘C’ Company.
Gap Support Team B from ‘C’ Company.
Gap Support Team C from ‘C’ Company.
Gap Support Team D from ‘B’ Company.

Naval personnel for the Gapping Teams came from Naval Combat Demolition Units 11, 22, 23, 24, 27, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 127, 128, 130, 131, 133, 140, 141 and 142. Each team consisted of and officer or petty officer, five ratings trained in underwater demolition, two seamen for the rubber assault boats which carried explosives and five army engineers to assist with placing explosives. Army personnel for the Naval Combat Demolition Units came from 150 men from 2 Division engineers who had been trained in underwater demolition.

Naval Combat Demolition Units were to clear the most seaward line of obstacles. It was planned that initially a fifty yard wide gap would be made. The unit would then progressively widen the gap until the entire beach frontage was cleared. Units would then assist the army engineer teams to clear the remaining lines of obstacles and removing the obstacles from the beach area. When it appeared that the outer line of obstacles would be Element ‘C’

In addition to his personal equipment each man in a Gapping Team carried a 40 pound bag of explosives and a pair of wire cutters. Each man also carries one of the following pieces of equipment, Bangalore torpedoes, mine detectors, reels of primacord. Each of the LCMs carried a further 500 pounds of explosives, extra Bangalore torpedoes, mine detectors, gap markers and buoys. They also carried between 75 and a hundred jerry cans of petrol. This was perhaps unwise as explosives and petrol were normally a big no no.

The Reality.
Details of the work of the Gapping Teams are difficult to find and collate because of the high casualty rate. It is clear that for a variety of reasons they were not successful in clearing gaps before the rising tide prevented further work.

Of the eight Gapping Teams landed in support of 116 RCT only two can be considered successful.

Team 1 landed almost on time at 0635 but in the wrong place. It should have landed on the extreme right of the assault near the boundary between Dog Green and Charlie. In fact it was carried by the current and landed on Dog White, well to the east. However they set to work and laid all their charges in some 15 minutes and blew an initial 50 yard gap through the defences. In the afternoon they worked to widen the gap to 150 yards. Almost a text book exercise but unfortunately no craft landed here on D Day and the gap was not used.

Team 2 landed in more or less the correct place but were an hour late and by that time the rising tide prevented any demolition or clearance work.

Team 3 landed in the correct place on Dog White, and on time. As it lowered the ramp of the LCM it was hit by enemy artillery fire which detonated the explosives killing all but one man. No work was possible.

Team 4 landed on time and in the correct place but suffered so many casualties that it was unable to lay sufficient charges to clear a complete gap. Thus this was only partially successful and the gap was not cleared until the tide went out.

Team 5 landed on Dog Red at the correct time and in the correct place and set all its charges by 0655. However they could not set the charges off because of the numbers of infantry which were landing and taking cover behind them. By the time the area was cleared of infantry the tide had risen and only a partial detonation was achieved. The gap was not sufficiently cleared to be used.

Team 6 landed on Easy Green and found that there were relatively few obstacles, only two rows of ramps and one row of hedgehogs, all sparsely distributed. They laid their charges, cleared infantrymen and successfully cleared a 50 yard gap. Later as the tide rose two LCTs heading for the gap missed the markers and struck a mined obstacle thus obstructing much of the gap.

Team 7 landed on time and laid its charges but as it was about to detonate them an LCM crashed into the stakes. This detonated several Teller mines which wrecked the LCM, killed many of the personnel on board and cut the demolition cords. Thus the gap was not cleared.

Team 8 was on time and in the correct place on Easy Green. It suffered heavy casualties but succeeded in clearing a 50 yard gap.

The four Gapping Support Teams had no greater success. All were delayed by the difficulty of transferring to their LCMs, which were themselves late in arriving having had a difficult crossing. Rough seas made this difficult on other beaches also. The craft did not set off until 0600. Gapping Support Team ‘A’ landed at 0710 on Charlie. Here it found ‘C’ Company, 2 Rangers and some of ‘A’ Company 116 Infantry. They prepared charges but they failed to detonate. The other teams arrived late, in the wrong place because of the strong current and suffered heavy casualties. They were unable to carry out clearance work until the tide receded.

The command craft for this sector with Command Team 1 on board was late landing, at 0700, and could then only collect the remnants of the various teams to work further up the beaches until the tide receded sufficiently for work to resume.

The tank dozers intended to support the work of the gapping teams suffered casualties also. It is not clear how many actually landed on Omaha West but it is reported that only six managed to land on the whole of Omaha.

Thus only one operational gap was made, and that was inadequately marked.

OMAHA EAST.
H+3 Minutes.

Gap Assault Teams from 146 and 299 Engineer Combat Battalions land. The LCMs of the Gapping Teams had been towed across the Channel by LCT(A)s and LCT(HE)s. The teams travelled on the towing vessels and transferred to the LCMs in the Transport Area. This proved difficult in the rough seas and some craft were delayed.

The Gapping Support Teams LCMs were towed across the Channel by craft of the Gunfire Support Group and collected the teams in the Transport area.

The following is from the landing tables dated 31 May.
The Gapping Team LCMs. All towed by LCT(A) or LCT(HE).
Craft 9 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 9, including NCDU 44. Easy Red.
Craft 10 towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 10, including NCDU 45. Easy Red.
Craft 11towed by LCT(HE) carried Gapping Team 11, including NCDU 46. Easy Red.
Craft 12 towed by LCT(5) carried Gapping Team 12, including NCDU 22. Easy Red.
Craft 13 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 13, including NCDU 23. Easy Red.
Craft 14 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 14, including NCDU 141. Easy Red.
Craft 15 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 15, including NCDU 138. Fox Green.
Craft 16 towed by LCT(A) carried Gapping Team 16, including NCDU 142. Fox Green.

Craft 21 towed by LCG(L) carried Gapping Support Team E. Easy Red.
Craft 22 towed by LCG(R) carried Gapping Support Team F, including NCDU 131. Easy Red.
Craft 23 towed by LCG(R) carried Gapping Support Team G. Easy Red.
Craft 24 towed by LCG(R) carried Gapping Support Team H, including NCDU 129. Fox Green.

Craft 26 towed by LCT(R) carried Command Group 2.

Craft 32 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 33 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 34 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 35 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.
Craft 36 towed by LCF was a Reserve Craft.

LCMs carrying Engineer Special Task Force land in three waves.
H+3 minutes.
Easy Red.
6 LCM carry Gapping Assault Teams from Engineer Special Task Force.

Serial 2033 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 9. Company ‘C’ 146 Engineer Combat Battalion and 44 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 2035 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 10. Company ‘C’ 146 Engineer Combat Battalion and 45 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 2036 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 11. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 46 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(HE) for the crossing.

Serial 2038 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 12. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 22 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(5) for the crossing.

Serial 2040 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 13. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 23 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Serial 2042 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 14. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 141 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Fox Green.
2 LCM carry Gapping Teams from Engineer Special Task Force.
Serial 2043 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 15. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 138 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

Serial 2045 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Assault Team 16. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 142 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(A) for the crossing.

H+8 minutes.
Easy Red.
3 LCM carry Gapping Support Teams from Engineer Special Task Force.

Serial 2034 is an LCM(3) carrying
37 men from Gapping Support Team E. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCG(L) for the crossing.

Serial 2037 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Support Team F. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 131 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(R) for the crossing.

Serial 2041 is an LCM(3) carrying
37 men from Gapping Support Team G. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(R) for the crossing.

Fox Green.
LCM carries Support Team from Engineer Special Task Force.
Serial 2044 is an LCM(3) carrying
40 men from Gapping Support Team H. 299 Engineer Combat Battalion and 129 Naval Combat Demolition Unit.

H+25 minutes.
Easy Red.
3 LCM carry Reserve Equipment from Engineer Special Task Force. These are listed as reserve craft and have no serial number. Towed across the Channel by LCF.

Fox Green.
2 LCM carry Reserve Equipment from Engineer Special Task Force. These are listed as reserve craft and have no serial number. Towed across the Channel by LCF.

Command Craft 2 should also land.

Serial 2045 is an LCM(3) carrying
27 men from O1 Section Command.
This craft also carries reserve explosives.
This LCM towed by and personnel carried on LCT(R) for the crossing.

Team 9 landed in the centre of Easy Red. One man was killed and three injured when the LCM was hit as the ramp was lowered. The team set their charges and after two attempts set them off. A partial gap was cleared.

Team 10 landed on Easy Red and cleared a gap almost 100 yards wide before work was slowed by casualties and the arrival of more landing craft and troops.

Team 11 had problems before arriving off the beach. The towing LCT(HE) began to take in more water than the pumps could cope with and was abandoned. The team transferred to the LCM but lost most of their Tetrytol explosive packs and all of their Bangalores. They landed on the eastern end of Easy Red on time but alone. They were pinned down by enemy fire and failed to clear a gap.

Team 12 landed on Easy Red slightly early. The team could not move the rubber boat loaded with C2 explosive off the LCM. They wired a sector and placed Tetratol charges but found they could not set it off because of the infantry sheltering behind the obstacles. As they retired up the shore a shell set off the charges killing ten men and wounding nine, as well as many infantrymen. A gap was made however.

Team 13 landed on time on Easy Red but suffered heavy casualties while unloading the craft. They managed to set some charges but could not detonate them because of infantry using obstacles as cover.

Team 14 landed on Easy Red before time. The LCM coxswain of the LCM thought H Hour was 0620 and they arrived before the tanks and infantry. The army team disembarked but a shell hit the craft destroying it and the rubber boat of explosives, plus the navy team. They were unable to set charges.

Team 15 landed on Fox Green ten minutes late. A mortar round hit the explosive laden rubber boat and only four men remained combat effective when they reached shore. No clearance was possible.

Team 16 landed on Fox Green on time. A shell struck the craft destroying the rubber boat loaded with explosive and causing casualties. The remaining men set charges but the primacord was cut by mortar fire and the rising tide did not allow another attempt to be made.

Support Team E landed at 0640.

Support Team F landed at 0700 but was hit by several shells and was unable to carry out any clearance.

Support Team G landed at 0650.

Support Team H landed at 0710 on Fox Green but was unable to carry out any gapping work until the infantry had begun working inland some time later.

The Command Team landed at 0714. It was intended that they would coordinate the work of the various teams and the supporting tankdozers in the enlarging of gaps. At this time there was little that could be done.

The heavy casualties made it difficult to obtain accurate reports but it was clear that no gaps were made on Fox Green until after 0900. Some success was reported on Dog Red and this was built upon later. Reports and secondary accounts differ as to when and to what extent gaps were made. There does seem to be agreement on the fact that a wide gap was cleared on Dog Red but that the boundaries were not adequately marked. Some areas of obstacles remained and these were not marked either.

It seems that the rubber boats loaded with explosives were a failure. They proved more difficult to unload from the craft than had been thought. Certainly the team assigned to the job could not manage unaided. A high proportion of the explosive laden rubber boats were hit by shell or by mortar rounds and exploded, killing many of the team members.

Mike
Click to expand...

Hi,
We have SS Princess Maud as an LSI(H) as listed by John de S. Winser, is this correct?Please can you tell me if you have any details of the Hand Hoist davits used on the Maud for her LCA's?
Many thanks,
Steve

Michel Sabarly · Feb 12, 2025

S J Davis said: ↑

Hi,
We have SS Princess Maud as an LSI(H) as listed by John de S. Winser, is this correct?Please can you tell me if you have any details of the Hand Hoist davits used on the Maud for her LCA's?
Many thanks,
Steve
Click to expand...

Yes, PRINCESS MAUD was a LSI(H). See Princess Maud D Day

The davits look like they are made of one oblique bar (at about 45° to the vertical) and two horizontal bars (at about 45° to the hull side).

Michel

S J Davis · Feb 13, 2025

Michel,
Thank you for these images they match the drawings of the Maud and Chuck Herrick located images of similar davits.
I am based in Seine-Maritime but work with Overlord Museum in Normandy.
Cordialement, Steve

Sean Quigley · Aug 11, 2025

Thought these pics may be food for thought. This is my Fiancées grandfather and his boat crew buddies on a RN Landing Ship(dock) there are 12 names so we are running under the assumption that at least 3 boats were detached from LST 287(Think she had an LCT hoisted aboard her) and they were sent to the Omaha beach LCVP Boat pool. Any idea what the unseen markings might be(I know they designate boat numbers ect)

Bin There · Aug 11, 2025

Yes, those are boat numbers. But the format of those numbers varies by the type of mother ship. An assault transport typically had 3 parts; for example, PA-26-13 would be an assault transport (the "PA"), specifically the USS Samuel Chase, APA 26, and boat 13 of that ship.

With LSTs there was much more variation. Mostly I've just seen the LST designation (for example, LST-286 in the attached photo). Once in a while you'll see it similar to an APA with the individual boat number appended (LST 284-2 in the attached photo). Sometimes they completely omitted the "LST" and just painted the ship number (see 317 in the attached photo). And you'll even see some with no markings on the stern at all.

Not enough of the markings are visible in your photo to make an educated guess as to the actual numbers. Maybe someone here can figure them out.

It isn't likely LST 287 carried an LCT to Omaha Beach, though it might very well have carried one on its trip from the US to the UK. The LCTs crossed the Channel on their own bottoms for D-Day, and the deck space in the LSTs was needed for vehicles. If there's an exception for D-Day I am not aware of, I'm sure someone here will be able to correct me.

i assume your photo shows damaged LCVPs aboard the HMS Oceanway (the LSD that was present off Omaha Beach on D-Day). I know it was used to carry damaged craft back to the UK in the days following D-Day. An interesting phots. Thanks. Wish I could be more help.

Good Luck,
Chuck

Michel Sabarly · Aug 11, 2025

Hi Sean,

It would help if you could post your fiancée's granfather's full name.

Michel

Bin There · Sep 12, 2025

Bin There said: ↑

Gentlemen,

I am embarrassed to ask this question, and fully expect you to heap scorn on me for it. But I am at a loss.

For years I've been using the two Omaha Beach landing diagrams, but now I need to cite them properly for a publication. And that's the problem. Both diagrams are marked 'Annex E', and one if further marked 'Sheet 1". But Annex E to what plan/order?

(Snip)
View attachment 367269
Click to expand...

Just to close the loop on this, I recently found the answer.

This landing diagram turns out to be Annex E of ComTransDiv 3's order 4-44. ComTransDiv 3 wore the hat of Commander, Assault Group O-2 (CTG 124.4) on D-day.

Similarly, the corresponding landing diagram for the eastern beach sectors was Annex E of ComTransDiv 1's order 3-44. ComTransDiv 1 wore the hat of Commander, Assault Group O-1 (CTG 124.3) on D-Day.

Both orders are in RG 38, Box 318, NARA.

Chuck

Rob Crane · Nov 5, 2025

Back to the old DD tank thing again, I've finally opened Saul David's book "SBS: Silent Warriors". He suggests that COPP's Logan Scott-Bowden was in the same boat as Dean Rockwell, but frustratingly, so far as I can see, doesn't state his source.

Throughout his book, a lot of the COPP-related material seems to have been taken from an earlier work, "The Secret Invaders", rather than primary sources - but I looked again in that source and it doesn't mention Rockwell at all.

David did have access to documents in the SBS Association's archive, so it's possible it was mentioned in one of those.

Or he may have just been adding two and two together ....?

Rob Crane said: ↑

These are from ADM 199/1565. They were shared with me by another forum user and I hope he doesn't mind me uploading them. I won't "out" him but guess he might choose to "out" himself. There are some gaps (note missing annex letters) because these relate to something specific we were messaging about at the time.

The dates on these orders are pretty close to D-Day.

At least some of these boats were helping to guide in the LCTs. Phil Bucklew is mentioned in the O-2-related orders; he was one of the senior US Scouts & Raiders during the war. I suspect that two Combined Operations Pilotage Parties (COPP) men may have been aboard two of these boats - trying to work out which two is a task I've not yet got around to. They'd previously done recce of Omaha Beach; now Bruce Ogden Smith was involved in Task Group 124.3 somewhere, and Logan Scott-Bowden in Task Group 124.4 - I suspect they were "along for the ride" in boats with Scouts & Raiders as an additional source of knowledge for the pilotage.

Operational Order 3-44 (O-1)

Task Group 124.3 Task organization
View attachment 382291

Annex D: Transport and beach area diagram
View attachment 382293

Annex F: LCS(S) employment
This is the annex that includes reference to launching being a joint decision "by the Senior Naval Officer in charge of LCT(DD)s and the Senior Army Officer in charge of DDs".
View attachment 382295

Annex G: Special instructions to Control Vessels
View attachment 382299
View attachment 382300

Operational Order 4-44 (O-2)

Task Group 124.4 Task organization
View attachment 382301

Annex F: LCS(S) employment
No equivalent passage relating to it being a joint decision. Impromptu thought: did the two groups have different procedures in place?
View attachment 382302
View attachment 382303
View attachment 382304

Annex G: Special instructions to Control Vessels
View attachment 382305

View attachment 382306
Click to expand...

Sean Quigley · Nov 5, 2025

Michel Sabarly said: ↑

Hi Sean,

It would help if you could post your fiancée's granfather's full name.

Michel
Click to expand...

Thanks his name was Frank Banas appreciate all the help and information everyone has provided.

Sean Quigley · Nov 5, 2025

Bin There said: ↑

Yes, those are boat numbers. But the format of those numbers varies by the type of mother ship. An assault transport typically had 3 parts; for example, PA-26-13 would be an assault transport (the "PA"), specifically the USS Samuel Chase, APA 26, and boat 13 of that ship.

With LSTs there was much more variation. Mostly I've just seen the LST designation (for example, LST-286 in the attached photo). Once in a while you'll see it similar to an APA with the individual boat number appended (LST 284-2 in the attached photo). Sometimes they completely omitted the "LST" and just painted the ship number (see 317 in the attached photo). And you'll even see some with no markings on the stern at all.

Not enough of the markings are visible in your photo to make an educated guess as to the actual numbers. Maybe someone here can figure them out.

It isn't likely LST 287 carried an LCT to Omaha Beach, though it might very well have carried one on its trip from the US to the UK. The LCTs crossed the Channel on their own bottoms for D-Day, and the deck space in the LSTs was needed for vehicles. If there's an exception for D-Day I am not aware of, I'm sure someone here will be able to correct me.

i assume your photo shows damaged LCVPs aboard the HMS Oceanway (the LSD that was present off Omaha Beach on D-Day). I know it was used to carry damaged craft back to the UK in the days following D-Day. An interesting phots. Thanks. Wish I could be more help.

Good Luck,
Chuck

View attachment 417257 View attachment 417258 View attachment 417259
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics, we know he was detached from LST 287 as she took a British tank unit into I think it was Gold or Sword.

Michel Sabarly · Nov 6, 2025

On D Day LST 287 was Serial 2926 carrying various Britsh units as per Landing Table below:

LST 287 in her D Day livery on a Normandy beach (date unknown):

Michel

Michel Sabarly · Nov 6, 2025

Sean Quigley said: ↑

Thanks his name was Frank Banas appreciate all the help and information everyone has provided.
Click to expand...

Hi Sean,

fold3.com points directly to the individual pages where "Banas, Frank" and "LST-287" are mentioned (in Muster Rolls), but you need to register to see/download them (free temporary registration is possible for one week I believe):
https://www.fold3.com/search?docQuery=(keywords:'"lst-287",banas')

Complete Muster Rolls for LST 287:
US, World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 - Fold3

The same pages (and probably more) are also available, free of charge, from the NARA website, but you have to scan through the pages of each roll (which may contain over a thousand pages each) to find what you need!
https://catalog.archives.gov/search?availableOnline=true&page=1&q="LST-287" banas

Happy hunting!

In any case, this seems to confirm that Frank Banas was indeed on the muster roll of LST 287 at some time.

Please keep us updated on the results of your research.

Michel
[Edit: this topic continued here: GOLD Area LTIN-Hull Number matches for US LST]

Sean Quigley · Nov 7, 2025

Thanks again Michel

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OMAHA BEACH.

S J Davis Member

Michel Sabarly Member

S J Davis Member

Sean Quigley Member

Bin There Active Member

Attached Files:

upload_2025-8-10_23-2-29.jpeg

upload_2025-8-10_23-3-8.jpeg

upload_2025-8-10_23-3-48.jpeg

Michel Sabarly Member

Bin There Active Member

Rob Crane Well-Known Member

Sean Quigley Member

Sean Quigley Member

Michel Sabarly Member

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Sean Quigley Member

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