Bombarding Normandy
Overview
By mid 1944, the crew of the USS TEXAS (BB-35) knew they would be participating in something big. By May 19, 1944, they would line the decks for inspection by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On the early morning of June 6, 1944, TEXAS anchored off the coast of Normandy, France, where the ship and her crew would deliver a massive barrage of naval gunfire support, softening the defenses of Adolf Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, as allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, taking part in the largest amphibious invasion of Europe in history.
Essential Questions
What was the invasion of Normandy like for the crew of Battleship Texas? What kind of support did the ship offer to those landing on the beaches? How might the experience of those landing on the beaches differ from that of those aboard a ship?
Objectives
Throughout this activity, students will be able to:
- Analysis
Analyze the provided primary and secondary sources related to the invasion of Normandy. - Knowledge
Building on existing knowledge about the invasion while learning about the perspective of those serving aboard Battleship Texas and ashore during the invasion. - Assignment
Using prior knowledge and the provided sources, students will be able to answer the questions included in the activity.
Bombarding Normandy
Using the historic documents and images at the bottom of the page and your own knowledge of D-Day, answer the below questions.
1. What Texas-born figure stepped aboard Battleship Texas to deliver a speech on May 19, 1944? What was his role in the invasion?
2. What kind of message was General Eisenhower sending to the Sailors and Marines?
3. In the speech made by the ship’s own Captain on May 31, 1944, do you feel he was confident in the crew’s readiness and ability?
4. With a crew of about 1,600 men, many would be experiencing combat for the first time during the Normandy invasion. Using the Saturday Evening Post article written by War Correspondent Cecil Carnes, how would you describe Marvin Kornegay’s experience as a 17-year-old sailor from North Carolina serving on Battleship Texas during this period?
5. On June 6, 1944, the primary target of Battleship Texas was Pointe Du Hoc. Who was in command of the US Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion, and where was he from?
6. Describe some of the challenges the soldiers of the 2nd Ranger Battalion faced while scaling the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc.
7. What was another way Battleship Texas supported the 2nd Ranger Battalion?
8. Battleships were named after states. What other two battleships are mentioned in the Steering Aft Log written by three Quartermasters aboard Battleship Texas?
9. What were some of the targets Battleship Texas fired at? Were they all military targets?
10. What were some of the highlights of the day recorded on June 6, 1944?
Eisenhower's address before D-Day
Description
General Eisenhower's address to the armed forces prior to the launching of D-Day on June 6, 1944.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. John E. Robson served on Battleship Texas beginning on October 16, 1943. He was made a MM3c on May 20, 1944, a MM2c on August 1, 1945, and departed from the ship on November 16, 1945. He was a supporter of turning Battleship Texas into a museum and visited regularly for veteran reunions.
Baker's address before D-Day
Description
Captain Baker's address to the crew of Texas on May 31, 1944, prior to the launching of D-Day.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. John E. Robson served on Battleship Texas beginning on October 16, 1943. He was made a MM3c on May 20, 1944, a MM2c on August 1, 1945, and departed from the ship on November 16, 1945. He was a supporter of turning Battleship Texas into a museum and visited regularly for veteran reunions.
Saturday Evening Post clipping
Description
Two pages taken out of the Saturday Evening Post featuring USS Texas.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. Battleship Texas began preparations for the Battle of Cherbourg on June 18, 1944. She departed Plymouth for Normandy, supported with artillery fire, and returned to England on June 25, 1944. She was hit three times and finished repairs for battle damage on July 3, 1944. John E. Robson served on Battleship Texas beginning on October 16, 1943. He was made a MM3c on May 20, 1944, a MM2c on August 1, 1945, and departed from the ship on November 16, 1945. He was a supporter of turning Battleship Texas into a museum and visited regularly for veteran reunions. Magazines often wrote stories about Battleship Texas and her crew. While sometimes inaccurate or sensational, they showed the perceptions of the Homefront, and were collected by civilian and crew alike.
Adverse Wind, Cliffs, Deadly Fire Couldn't Stop the Rangers
Description
Unknown newspaper and date. Article discussed the Rangers scaling cliffs against German defenders.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. John E. Robson served on Battleship Texas beginning on October 16, 1943. He was made a MM3c on May 20, 1944, a MM2c on August 1, 1945, and departed from the ship on November 16, 1945. He was a supporter of turning Battleship Texas into a museum and visited regularly for veteran reunions. Newspapers often wrote stories about Battleship Texas and her crew. While sometimes inaccurate or sensational, they showed the perceptions of the Homefront and were collected by civilian and crew alike.
Davies Steering log
Description
Steering Aft log owned and written by William A. Davies, with contributions from M.J. Barrel (QM3c), M.S. Emslie (QM3c), along with three people titled “Bonds Kids” G.T. Capps (EM2c), D.R. Barnfather (EM2c), and W.B. Cook (MM2c). Log contains three distinct styles of handwriting, belonging to the Quartermasters, and is sourced from their firsthand accounts and reports from the Chaplain’s announcements over the ship P.A. system. Log covers events from June 6, 1944, to June 25, 1944. “EVENTS OBSERVED BY TEXAS ON D-DAY AND THE PERIOD OF DAYS FOLLOWING” written above first entry for June 6, 1944. Back half of the book is blank, and a couple pages in the back of the book have been torn out. Log donated by the Davies Family.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 17, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. Battleship Texas began preparations for the Battle of Cherbourg on June 18, 1944. She departed Plymouth, England for Cherbourg, France, supported with artillery fire, and returned to England on June 25, 1944. She was hit three times and finished repairs for battle damage on July 3, 1944. William A. Davies was a QM2c on Battleship Texas from June 30, 1943, to July 16, 1944. During Operation “Overlord,” Davies, along with M.J. Barrel and M.S. Emslie, both QM3c, kept a log of ship steering from June 6 to June 25, 1944.
Holland 1944/06/10 letter
Description
Letter written to Mr. and Mrs. Holland on June 10, 1944. Envelope: sent from USS Texas on the evening of June 10, 1944, from Normandy, France. Features a red and blue border.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. Herman W. Holland joined the crew of Battleship Texas on February 24, 1944, as F1c, made EM3c on June 1, 1944, and transferred to Lide Beach, New York on March 5, 1946, for discharge. Ephriam Dickson was the executive director of Battleship Texas Foundation from June 1995 to February 1999. In addition to his duties, he conducted extensive research on and heavily collected items for the crew of Battleship Texas. He later donated his collection back to BTF.
Wounded Rangers Battleship Texas
Description
Houston Chronical copy of a Navy photo of wounded Rangers inside Casemate 3 on Battleship Texas. At left is sailor standing with a cigarette. To his right is a Ranger sitting in a chair with his legs crossed (center of picture). At right is sailor sitting wearing a pair of sound powered headphones and an wounded Ranger on a cot looking at the camera. In the background, peacoats are hanging on a rod against the outboard bulkhead of the ship. On the back of the image, handwritten is "USS Texas / (battleship)" , "1966", "9", and "Wounded US Rangers from the Nomand beaches - in battle - / dressing station aboard USS Texas, 7 June 1944." which is circled. Stamped ink is "SUN NOV 61966" and "RETURN TO: CHRONICLE FILES". At bottom is a photo caption from a newspaper glued to the back of the photo -the caption refers to captured German and Italian soldiers who were housed on the Battleship Texas as POWs at D-Day. Below that, is stamp crediting the Navy Department and giving the National Archives photo number as 80-G352918,
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944.
Wounded rangers carried aboard Texas
Description
Dozens of men on deck watching as rangers are carried onto the ship and towards the camera. Caption starts with "(WX12-June 15)-WOUNDED RANGERS CARRIED ABOARD BATTLESHIP TEXAS..." Back is stamped with date "JUN 20 1944"
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944.
Wounded American Rangers Carried Aboard Battleship
Description
Unknown newspaper, 1944. Features a large image of Rangers brought aboard USS Texas as men gather on main deck and superstructure.
Context
Battleship Texas began preparations for Operation “Overlord,” the invasion of Northern France, on April 22, 1944. She departed Belfast for Normandy on June 3, supported the landings from June 6 to June 16, and returned to England on June 18, 1944. John E. Robson served on Battleship Texas beginning on October 16, 1943. He was made a MM3c on May 20, 1944, a MM2c on August 1, 1945, and departed from the ship on November 16, 1945. He was a supporter of turning Battleship Texas into a museum and visited regularly for veteran reunions. Newspapers often wrote stories about Battleship Texas and her crew. While sometimes inaccurate or sensational, they showed the perceptions of the Homefront and were collected by civilian and crew alike.
