My first thread - Normandy Relics

**Steve83** · 07-09-2010, 07:24 AM

by Steve T

Hi and welcome to the forum

Some superb finds you have there. When you get back to England we'll have to go somewhere together.....swop notes

Check out the finds I have made in the uk in this forum. I also have some vids up of me digging up stuff on youtube......search for vids by ww2relichunter.

Steve T

PS A few of the forum members have been digging a US army medical dump near Evesham. Get back over to England and come with us !

Hi Steve,

I'm hoping to meet up with like minded people when I return so I'll take you up on that! I do a lot of detecting over here on my own, I have one or two mates who come across from the UK every now and then for a dig and I got digging with a friend over here about once or twice a month, then a French mate, digging with him can be an experience!

I'll be moving back to the Stratford area so Evesham isn't far for me, I hadn't a clue there were US troops based in that area though.

I have been making research on RAF Airfields in the area, and one or two other "possibles", after seeing some of the photos on here it seems there's some great items to be found in the UK still.

Stay in touch,

Steve

**Vegard T** · 07-09-2010, 09:08 AM

Amazing finds, where did you find the Fallschirmjäger helmet?

**herrzark** · 07-09-2010, 12:47 PM

great pics

**Steve83** · 07-09-2010, 08:07 PM

Pte John H Moyer Anti Tank Section, HQ 325th Glider Infantry, 82nd Airborne, wounded in action during a German counter attack on June 9th 1944...

**Steve83** · 07-09-2010, 08:18 PM

Full set of T5 Parachute harness buckles, parachute material and M3 Knife from Ste Mere Eglise DZ in 2008.

**martynv4** · 07-13-2010, 05:12 AM

Fantastic finds Steve. For the fact that those buckles came from that particular DZ would have made their identification alot easier i suppose. If they'd turned up anywhere else in the world they may easily have been mis-identified as just webbing items. Great work there!

Were all the buckles found in the same location or did you have to complete the set from more than one 'chute?

Keep posting, you're doing some great work there!

Martyn.

**Steve83** · 07-13-2010, 09:16 AM

Hi Martyn,

Yes they all came from the same harness as far as I can tell, usually when you find a harness it is just a yellowy/green ball of thread with buckles wrapped up in it, the harness' were cut off generally as it was quicker than unbuckling them. the M3 or M2 knife was usually used, guys were in a rush to shed the harness/chute and any other heavy kit, especially those who landed in the marsh areas near La Fiere. The knife and buckles were found in the same area about 4" below the surface in a square metre or so of ground, about 50 metres from the railway line between DZ 'O' and DZ 'T'. Definitely 82nd Airborne, more than likely 505th PIR.

All the best,

Steve

**martynv4** · 07-13-2010, 10:17 AM

Now then Steve, I'm getting my brother to get a photo of a memorial I stumbled across at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham. I can't remember if it was for the 505th or the 504th(???) that had been camped there just prior to their departure for the landings. Strange how these things turn about. If it is 505th, I'll post it and that will just add to the history for you.

By the way, on the other side of the grounds at Wollaton is another memorial for a POW camp that was there!

Martyn.