Box 024, folder 30: Walter J. Hurtick

HURTICK, Walter J. Canadian R.C.A.F. BOX 24, #30

RAF

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? WALTER JOHN HURTICK

What was your squadron, station, unit? RAF SQN 524, CROMER.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? N/A

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? FLYING OFFICER

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28

Ware you married at that time? YES

What is your wife's name? MURIEL MAE HURTICK

Did you have any children at that time? NO

What do you do now? IN THE R.C.A.F. (SGT ADMIN)

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? APPROXIMATELY 2100 HRS 5 JUN 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?

It was a clear night - conversation was limited. Our chief concern that night and morning was ensuring we had the proper identification calls, and reply; also ensuring the proper identification cartridges were in the Very pistol.

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). NO RUMORS.

Your name Walter John Hurtick

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

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? Yes P/o KRAHN [inserted] and [end inserted] CREW

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?: [crossed out] N/A [end crossed out] [illegible] We had been briefed [inserted] NOT [end inserted] to converse over the VHF until P/o KRAHN was ready to make his photo graphic run over Ostend harbour. As the run started, we noticed shore batteries opening up and before we had a chance to warn them, the enemy scored a direct hit.

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? NO

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? NO

Your name Walter John Hurtick

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? AT CAMP -

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? ON PATROL SOUTH OF THE STRAITS OF DOVER

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 FOR YOUR HELP.

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