LST (530) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 20 text:

T GOING INTO FRANCE FROM THE 530 L FULL LOAD I i. -11+ 3' 1' Wigs. s ,l 'ff X. . if ' ' Lb,,'ys..,,,'1.g,.xs . Lx , YN :sl I J 1 mNkYfH0Bi,,,.,- -M 4, r X A' r-7 . ' ' ' ' :LQ M7 H' : ' 'Je 3515 - 'ff' W-.1 'T , . p Tw -1 A 44. In- .. p-,M-p 'W ' - ' J ' ' , T-U-., ... --Pts ,, ... X - f fy- A il -Y h, O 'i's'a ..4-..... 'f+'7 'i ifgg i 'ff 9,'..r-Q... L -Z f S i' 4 'F 'W ' , Q, A N- A is 'W N 4 X., , , ,I M --vs.: . S,-U ATM? '..... M- is--A M' - , M- U '4 ' a ' , ' W .,- -es-es ,Q I ws., 1 fn A ' - '--, 1 s wlygf, fh7.M:..,. .M c f- - e I., -.f I , gr, .. wg, ,.... 'A' -'H yr -M A - . is ag . ! .K f,N tl. ts- 'mx' K ' .1. - 'Gsm ,sg , -3.87 ,Aw TWD, , , - 2.4, sl. , 47 --M .r4.g..xs+-vw,-f.f--f 2 . .1-. -ws -W T ON THE BEACH L GERMAN PRISONERS COMING ABOARD A , ' - -fir-9 -. in ff . R i N 3' X... K- ...N , - K 'A si x I L I x - sw. i ' '44 s...,, -. N. 1- K' .is , . .Mc ' . -c '.frwf. ,pusr'X ,.-.x W through which 530 passed, namely' that we did have a charmed life. A strafing ME crashed a quarter of a mile off the port bow, sadly into a sister ship. Ships blew up over mines, or were strafed merci- lessly, or broached on the beach. Combat troops and tanks oil'-loaded on Gold beach at low tide and struck out for Caen where counter- attacks had already started. As the evening saw the beach sprinkled with dead, and the fighting moved inland several miles, we eased our way through sunken ships, mines, and other ships still waiting to unload, and headed back to Eng- land for another load, carrying German POWI's and some badly wounded British and Canadians. Air attacks made the night a try- ing one but the turnaround was made in record time. In Tilbury, London, a message from Admiral L. Nesmith, Royal Navy, commended 530 for her rapid discharge of duty thusly: Your ship is highly commended for the outstandingly rapid and effective manner with which she has accomplished her part in the invasion and return to British shores for her next assignment. Godspeed and good luck. I could

Page 19 text:

Vie learned how to handle the ship in various tides, how to trim her ballast fast, and we knew at the time that everything learned and drilled those days meant not only good prospects for accom- plishing the mission effectively. but also better chances of survival on the mean side of the Channel. I was briefed on June 3rd along with all the other C.O.'s in the area: the sealed 530 swung around her buoy upstream waiting to hit France on June Sth. A bad blow which tore away many barrage balloons and chilled the soldiers who had to sleep out on deck de- layed the operation until the 6th. Nerves tensed but thank God I can write now that 530's participation in the D-Day invasion of Nor- mandy subsequently went off with- out a flaw. Wie lay off Gold Beach, Normandy, at night after a chan- nel crossing during which the 682's back was broken by a mine, and sporadic attacks by ME,s and a sprinkling of E boats kept all hands at General Quarters for many long hours. Tracer fire at first appeared to be surely seeking us out but at last it is possible to say what I never dared admit to myself during all the bad times , n S' YW P,,,,.....,.....- '-Lf. vii ,at 'W .l 'L T WOUNDED J, OFF-LOADING IN THE MUD T WELL BEACHED L GERMAN PRISONERS . s, 'Q ' light:-K t Wig ff ij S-nfl

Page 21 text:

only pass this along to the crew by reprinting it for the bulletin board and posting my own heartfelt con- gratulations to all hands for the way in which they had executed their jobs. The 530 had made a good record and an excellent name for herself by virture of her crew's performance. Un ,lune 7th Messrs. Bromfielfl and Sinnett, along with five LCYP crews coxwained by 'iPop Moore, Viade, Peters, Parker and Barber parted company with the mother ship for troop carrying duty dur- ing build-up period along the Nor- mandy coast. Ensign Sinnett and his crew subsequently participated with distinction in the daring Rhine crossing, thereby extending the scope of 530's record. There- after until Mid-December the ship crossed and re-crossed the English Channel on duty as troop, tank, ammunition, and cargo carrier for the Army, building for herself a record of quick turnarounds in all kinds of weather, and earning the commendation of flotilla and fleet commanders. Final news of orders to proceed to the Pacific via the U.S.A. came shortly before Christ- mas in 1944, which was celebrated with gusto in the harbor of Ply- . 35, X T CHANNEL CROSSING 1 ROVER Boys IN CHERBOURC c1,f, I M, W1 V - gf I Vi' ac' fr 1 ,P , 1 f. f ff ss i 5 , ff' mf ,,,i,-:iv-rt f, t t ' fl it X.. , ,ws 5 N I Q, , -Rss is at fs , Q s, - A sc sc R Q - -f' f- f 1' fy, Wg. ugly ,X t V ,A .W ,, x , is -r ,xv 1, C .t S, i' ,, 1, ,Q K,