Box 024, folder 20: Raymond J. Goeres

GOERES, Raymond J.

Canadian R.C.A.F.

Box 24, #20

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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? RAYMOND JOSEPH GOERES

What was your squadron, station, unit? RAF #101 SQN. LUDFORD MACNA LINCS, #1 GROUP BOMBER COMMAND

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? APPROX. MIDNIGHT JUNE 4-5 FLYING. CALAIS-PARIS-ORLEANS -CHERBOURG. Rectangle.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? FIL

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? SYLVIA

Did you have any children at that time? CERTAINLY NOT!

What do you do now? SAME THING RCAF ONCOURSE FIS TRENTON

When did you know that you were going ot be a part of the invasion? BRIEFINGS P.M. OF 4 o 5

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? On previous evening we were quite sure it was D-Day We bombed heavy gun implacements in Calais area. That was our 30th trip. So when we were to do another sortie to complete tour following evening we were sure it was D-Day. But still speculation until we landed.

What we the rumors on board the boat, ship or place 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). Briefings by CO & Wing Co were pointed. This made us suspicious. They assured us following day (assault had taken place) that they were not sure it was D-Day themselves. This was later co-oberated. The tee-off was we carried [?no?] bombs this 31st sortie & flew the rectangular pattern in 3 above so knew something was happening. SPOOF.

Your name FIL R.J. GOERES

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Include any impressions from it. No

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? One Sqn a/c missing if I remember correctly

Do you remember any conversations you had with tnem 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? N/A

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? Yes. looking back our sortie which consumed 7-8hrs, it was deadly monotonous- We still weren't sure it was D-Day. It was a super-natural feeling. No activity whatsoever.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic w simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes, because of [crossed out][illegible][end crossed out]no load we got Lanc up to 27,000', highest for us was 3000'

Did you encounter any enemy aircraft or flak? aircraft deaged? No. We thought we had sighted an enemy a/c. but it was brief we didn't even see allied a/c though we knew later they were there

Your name FIL R.J. GOERES

In times of great people generally show how either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-Day? No.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Somewhere between Calais and Paris at about 23000' climbing

Where were you at midight on June 6, 1944? In London!!! (screened.)

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? No.

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW;" YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.

THANK YOU JOR YOUR HELP.

W.M. Lee Squadron Leader Director of Public Relations (Air) Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario.