rednemesisdog MILITARY WW2 pictures 3

'Countdown to D-Day' was an event held on the excellent Crich outdoor tramway museum in Derbyshire. Nestled in the village of Crich, the tramway museum has built a 1920's-1930's era street scene which was perfect for a World War Two scenario. There is an electric tramline that runs through the museum upon which the extensive collection of vintage trams is displayed.

The premise of the event was to give visitors the experience of being in a small English village in the build-up to D-Day, the allied invasion of France. There were troop movements, vehicle convoys, simulated 'air raids', and the home guard dealt with an unexploded bomb. YANKS represented American Airborne units camped outside the town. Other units attending included the British Oxford and Buckinghamshire Regiment, 6th Airborne Division (Of which 'D' Company is famous for it's coup de main operation to secure a strategic bridge on D-Day, shown in the film 'The Longest Day' and in Steven Ambrose's book 'Pegasus Bridge'), and the 1st Airborne Division (Who landed in Holland in September 1944 for 'Operation Market Garden', shown in the film 'A Bridge Too Far').

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The British display at the crossroads	Part of the tramway museum's street	The Red Lion Pub and ubiquitous military vehicles	Part of the YANKS display


Sarge and the equipment	The ammunition boxes were built by Sarge	The weapons we do not carry at events form part of our display	One of the group's two Dodge Weapons Carrier Trucks


Rocky Getting to grips with life as a soldier	Smiling for some obscure reason	Rocky covers Moore as he reloads	The BAR is a squad support weapon


"Open Fire!"	Rocky was the BAR gunner for the event	Moore takes a shot at the enemy	Rocky and Moore 'blazing away'


At night we decided to pose for the website	Cpl. Kane briefs Moore on setting up the .30 cal	Loading up the .30 calibre machinegun	Rocky moves the BAR to a new position as Moore and Kane take over


A German counterattack brings forth a volley of lead from the YANKS	Rocky covers the .30 cal mg team as they set up	Firepower of the group at work	Re-enforcements arrive into the trench


Adding much - needed firepower	Kane pauses to reload...	... And is hit and killed by a German bullet	The attack over, the YANKS count the cost


After the 'battle', the YANKS return home to fight another day	Paul's response to being asked to wash up!		A very tired Rocky with his 'Baby' - The BAR

Various Other Pictures


506th Veteran 'Wild Bill' Guarnere of Band of Brothers fame and YANKS members, Aldbourne 2002

Click on the picture, on the right, to view the YANKS LHG Home Page
Click on the right for the RND military home page	HERE
Click on the right for Non-WW2 Re-enactment and Living History Pictures	HERE
Click on the right for Recon Photos of YANKS at the 2003 Hands on History Event	HERE
To View the Military Odyssey 2004 Pictures	HERE