ryan_box023-tld_f45_02

2040107 LAC J. Backosti
nothing
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR,
PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT
JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE
ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? John BACKOSTI
What was your squadron, station, unit?
H.M.C.S. "Prince HENRY"
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
BETWEEN La Havre & Cherbourg - 0600 June 6/44
What was your rank on June 6, 1944 ?
Acting Leading Stoker
What was your age on June 6, 1944?
29 yrs
Were you married at that time?
yes
What is your wife's name?
Mildred
Did you have any children at that time ?
yes 1 boy.
What do you do now?
[crossed out] [illegible] [end crossed out]A.E. TECH. in R. C. A F. 436 sqdn.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the
invasion? Jan 5 1944. left Victoria B.C.
for Scotland. June 2nd in Southampton
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? we knew
Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had Invasion was
or how you passed the time? to be France.
We left Cowes at 2100 June 5th/44. for France. The
channel was not very rough. We talked most of the night
of what we would do when we return home. Wrote
letters
What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which
you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the
effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and
planned to set it afire when the troops came in).
We told that there will be 6 battleships, 22
Cruiser's, 93 destroyers, 5,000 planes & 6 thousand smaller
ships, that all the beaches were lined with
mines & other traps