Wn78 Grandcamp-Maisy (est)

K.V.U.Gruppe Percée (Omaha Beach) · AOK 7 Normandy · France

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Just to the east of Grandcamp Maisy, set in a bend in the cliff edge is Wn78. The town was rather important to the Germans, a port that was usable for small boats. It had a large fishing fleet that when it was allowed out to fish, was under supervision by the army, so that a boat and crew could not defect to Britain.

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

The area covered.

08 October 2013

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Looking back over Maisy.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

The Allied plan of the area showing barbed wire, mines and gun positions.

Bigot plan

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Google today & NARA about 1945.

Google 1945 NARA

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Under construction was a:
1 x Peilstand/SK (fire control post, probably for Maisy batterie).
2 x R677 casemate for an 8.8cm Pak 43/41. The gun may have arrived but the bunker was not built. In the plan I have added details from a document: An die, Orge. Todt, OBL Cherbourg. Betr:Bauprogress. To the, Todt Organisation, OBL Cherbourg. Re: Construction progress.
Built : 1 x SK/casemate for a 3.7cm Pak 35/36 K.
1 x R612 casemate for an assault gun.
1 x SK casemate for a machine gun with steel roof.
1 x 8.8cm Pak 43/41.
1.x 7.5cm Pak 97/38 (f).
1 x 3.7cm Pak 35/36 k.
3 x L.Gr.W36 5cm mortars.
2 x L.M.G.311(f).
2 x L,M,G 116? (the description is hard to read). Army 1 UFtz, 15 Men. Luft 1 UFtz, 2 Men. Marine 1 Oftz, 1 UFtz, 17 men.
The more I look into these defences and read all the books possible, I find very contradictory information. Some say an SK casemate and others an R624 casemate. I have had great help from Sebastien to try and sort out this position.

SD 12/2004

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

In the background can be seen Wn78, from the low white cliff all the way to the aeroplanes propeller. USAAF F5 P38 Lightnings flew photo reconnaissance missions all the way along the coast from Brittany to Holland, taking images as they went to be used in the D-Day planning and also not to give away where the landings were to be. They had to take two pictures away from Normandy for every one taken there.

SD June 1944

Lightenin6 P-38 F5 of the 7th Photo Recon. Group, USAAF stationed at RAF Mount Farm. You can see the camera in the nose. One both sides.

The pilot of 002, a very clever and cool pilot to fly that low and fast..

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

SK Mg casemate for a 3.7cm Pak 35/36 k. Also a fitting for a L.M.G.311(f). Sat under this house is this very odd casemate aimed to fire east.

08 January 2005 Not mine Google

R624 elevation this is the style of bunker here.

R624 plan this is the style of bunker here..

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Yellow circle left, is the Tobruk, the yellow circle right, is the Vf bunker. The red square is the R612 casemate. This one may have held the 7.5cm Pak 97/38 (f).

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Tobruk Type Ic116 for s.MG.34.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Tobruk Type Ic116 for s.MG.34.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

R612 casemate.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

R612 made of Formstien concrete bricks.

08 January 2005 Not mine Formstien concrete construction.

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

R612 guns embrasure.

08 January 2005 Not mine

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

R612 gun room.

08 January 2005 Not mine

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Vf observation bunker. This could be the observation bunker.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Vf observation bunker with a Tobruk. This bunker may have held the Luftwaffe men and the Marines as air and sea observers.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Vf observation bunker. It looks as though all the ammunition in the area was placed in here and a few American engineers blew the lot up.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Vf observation bunker.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Steel beach defences Tétraèdres.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Steel beach defences Tétraèdres.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

Steel beach defences Tétraèdres.

12 December 2008

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

The last Tobruk by the cemetery and now a war memorial. This may have held a mortar.

12 December 2008 IGNF 1946

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

The Americans landed on Omaha Beach on the morning of the 6th June 1944, it was not until the 8th June that the 5th Rangers and the 116th Inf. linked up with Rudders 2 Rangers. Rudder was then ordered to advance on Maisy. But due to the fact he was wounded and his men decimated by the battle, the 5th Rangers took the lead. They passed down this road from the right (Omaha) and were held up at the bridge, which had not been blown up. At the time the Rangers were not strong enough to capture the bridge due to very heavy firing coming at them from Maisy. The 116th Inf and some attached Sherman tanks continued the advance. One Sherman around this spot was disabled by a mine. The Americans continued up the hill and due to the heroism of one of their men, who single handed followed a trench system and attacked and captured many enemy soldiers. Thus allowing the rest to continue their advance into the town. They said the fighting for the bridge, Wn78 and Maisy town was worse than at Omaha.

Google U.S. M4A1 Sherman Tank

Wn78 Grandcamp Maisy (est)

12 December 2008