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DEWEY, Clarence J.
Canadian 1st Tac. Air Force Police
Box 24, #4
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THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIENIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? CLARENCE JOSEPH DEWEY
What was your squadron, station, unit? 1st. TAC AIRFORCE POLICE
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? We arrived at [illegible] Beach at approx 10 oclock on 6 June 44
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? CPL
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 30 YEARS
Wore you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? OLGA
Did you have any children at that time? NO
What do you do now? FIRE FIGHTE IN THE RCAF
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 1ST OF JUNE 1944
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time? The trip corssing was very rough on 5 June 44. There was much to do to pass the time only sit and wait. But we had lots of Company as there were hundreds of boats doing the same thing
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). The main rumors was that we wouldn't make it across and then on the night of 5 June 44 we were bombed. One killed and one wounded from the RAF Reg. but no other seroius damge.
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Your name C.J. Dewey
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Include any impressions from it. No I didn't keep a diary
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? There were only the two [crossed out] on board [end crossed out] casualites on board and I didn't know them.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?: No
Were you wounded? NO
Do you remember what it was like—that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were so surprised that you felt nothing?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? One of the main things were that we would never make a landing.
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else?
Did you encounter any enemy aircraft or flak? Was your aircraft demaged?
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Your name C.J. Dewey
In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-Day?
Where were you at midnight June 5, 1944? I was about 3 miles off the French Coast.
Where were you at midnight June 6, 1944? We had an assembly area opened up for troops coming in about 2 miles inland
Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-Day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Mr. Gifford C.P.R. Police Winnipeg Mr. Johnny Conrad
PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUB EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM, FULL ACKNOWLEDGMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW;" YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
W.M. Lee Squadron Leader Director of Public Relations (Air) Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario,