The John Bannister Collection - D-Day and Militaria
Lot 1042:
Description
Collection of orders and plans associated with the preparation of and actual naval invasion of Northern France, in June 1944, known as Operation Neptune. Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day (a term that most associate with this invasion), it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations for the Allied victory on the Western Front. The collection of documents range from as early as January 1944 to July 1944. Many of these documents likely refer to Operation Tiger, a major full-scale rehearsal for Utah Beach assault during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Conducted From April 22nd through the 30th 1944 it involved around 30,000 American troops from U.S. Force “U” which was part of the 7th core. The location was slapped in sands in Devon, England, chosen because of its gravel beach, backing land, and nearby lagoon that closely resembled Utah beach in Normandy’s Cotentin peninsula. This exercise simulated every phase from embarkation to channel crossing to naval bombardment and amphibious landing using live ammunition for realism under general Dwight D Eisenhower’s orders. Exercise tiger encountered multiple failures including friendly fire an attack of German E boats on the nights of April 27th and 28th with the sinking of several LST’s period overall there is a accepted figure of 749 American servicemen that were killed in the operation comma much more than we’re actually killed on the Utah beach invasion of the Normandy coast period. The value of this operation is immense in that it allowed allied forces to learn from these costly mistakes and make the invasion of the Normandy coast a success. The documents in this grouping, served as the essential tactical foundation for the final planning phase of Operation NEPTUNE, issued to high-ranking personnel just weeks before the June 6th invasion.
1) Operation Overlord Logistical Plan. A Top Secret U.S. Navy Logistical Plan for U.S. Naval Forces participating in Operation OVERLORD, short-titled LOGPLAN-1c, dated May 16, 1944. This is a primary source document from the immediate pre-D-Day planning phase, issued from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe (likely Admiral Stark or one of his subordinates), detailing the massive logistical undertaking. The internal pages show a detailed Table of Contents and a list of participating units, including Navy (USN), Army (USA), and various British units and vessels, specifying personnel and equipment allocations (e.g., LCI(L)s, LSTs, SCs, and various Task Forces). The document itself appears to be an 89-page carbon copy, typed front and back on thin, aged paper, held in a brittle manila folder with a metal clasp binder. The cover and introductory pages are heavily age-toned with visible wear, tears, and chipping around the edges, particularly on the cover, confirming its wartime use and storage. The overall condition is fragile but complete, with clear, legible text throughout. Dimensions 13”x8”. 2) The second part of this group consists of US/UK Naval Operations. A more varied mix of material than the first part of the lot, this subgroup consists of primary source documents detailing the joint U.S. Navy and Royal Navy logistical and command efforts surrounding the D-Day Invasion (Operation Overlord/Neptune) in 1944. The collection highlights the integrated nature of the Allied naval forces operating out of Great Britain. Key American documents include a SECRET U.S. Naval Communication (27 March 1944), issued by COMGUNFIRE SUPPORT CRAFT, which formally places U.S.-manned LCGs (Landing Craft Gun) and LCFs (Landing Craft Flak) into active duty status in preparation for the cross-channel assault. Also present is a COMNAVEU (U.S. Naval Forces in Europe) Bulletin (1 July 1944), based in London, requesting personal narratives and reports from participants in the Assault Phase (June 6-17, 1944) to create a full historical record. British operational context is provided by documents signed by D. P. G. Cameron concerning the transfer of personnel and stores for the LCF Group in August 1944, citing locations like Salcombe, Devon, and detailing logistics for British officers. The presence of an original “OCEAN NEWS” newspaper fragment and a charming 1 March 1944 Invitation Dance card from H.M.S. VALKYRIE adds poignant color to the everyday lives of the sailors involved in the combined operations. The documents are aged paper, showing expected heavy wear, severe yellowing, and some visible water or burn damage (particularly on the SECRET dispatch), indicative of field use and storage, but remain historically intact. Approximately 48 document pages in this subgroup. The archive beautifully illustrates the combined operational structure that was essential for the success of D-Day, where U.S. and U.K. forces were completely integrated, especially in logistical and command areas. Part of the John Bannister Collection. John acquired over a lifetime of collecting. Please see photos.
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