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HILLOCK, Frank Wm.
Canadian R.C.A.F.
Box 24, #29
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SOPR.
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.
Wing Commander W/C 3 AIR DIV
What is your full name? FRANK WILLAM HILLCOCK
What was your squadron, station, unit? CO. 143 WING RCAF
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? TYPHOON FIGHTER BOMBERS OPERATING FROM HURN- NEAR BOURNEMOUTH- MOVED TO FRANCE 21 JUN - B9 LANTHEUIL
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? WING COMMANDER
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? DORILDA AFFLECK - HALIFAX
Did you have any children at that time? NO
What do you do now? SASO- 5 AIR DIV HQ VANCOUVER
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? JAN 44
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? VERY PLEASANT- GOOD FOOD AFTER CONCENTRATION CAMPSONLY FLEW OVER BEACHES AND ATTACKED GUN POSITIONS ON "D" DAY ALSO BEFORE AND AFTER
What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut teethe effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire when the troops came in). Nil- KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING INVASION HAD BEEN ON FOR TWO WEEKS.
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Your name
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? Yes
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?! USUAL
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? JUST A NORMAL OPERATION EXCEPT FOR MENTAL BUILD-UP AND BEING FIRST LARGE SCALE JOINT OPERATION ON CONTINENT SINCE FALL OF FRANCE AND POSSIBLEY DIEPPE
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? NO
Did you encounter any enemy aircraft or flak? Was your aircraft demaged? Yes-NO
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Your name
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?
NO
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? IN HANGER AT HURN BIEFING GROUND CREW ON INVASION AND WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? IN BED
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?
PLEASE LST US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOU& 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 FOR YOUR HELP.
W.M. Lee Squadron Leader Director of Public Relations (Air) Air Force Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario.