Box 024, folder 47: Richard Osborne MacLean

Box 24, #47

MacLEAN, Richard Osborne

Canadian 1st Can. Airb. 6th British Air

[inserted][underlined] Can Ext. [end underlined] 1stCan/3rBge. PARA [end inserted]

For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BETTWEEN 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? RICHARD OSBORNE MACLEAN

What was your unit and division? 1st Cdn Para Bn. 6th British Airborne

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? VARAVILLE, FRANCE AT APPROX 1240 AM JUNE 6/44

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? SERGANT

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20 YRS.

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? JOAN PATRICIA.

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? Oil and Gas Dist. For Cdn Petro Fina Ltd LACHUTE, QUE.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 3 WEEKS BEFORE D-DAY

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? WE LEFT FROM WINCHESTER AIRPORT, TEN MEN TO A PLANE, REMEMBER VERY WELL THE TRIP AS IT WAS A SMALL PLANE AND IT WAS HOT AND THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE TRIP I EVER MADE.

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). DUE TO THE 3 WEEKS BRIEFING BEFORE D-DAY AND THE EXACT KNOWLEDGE OF OUR OBJECTIVE, OUR ONE AND ONLY THOUGHT WAS TO CARRY OUT OUR ATTACK EXACTLY AS PLANNED. NEVER THINKING FOR ONE MINUTE WE MAY NOT BE DROPPED ON TARGET OR THAT WE WOULD DROP IN WATER.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name [underlined] R.O. MACLEAN [end underlined]

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

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? MANY

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? YES. THE FIRST CASUALTIES WE HAD WAS A 88 GUN HITTING [crossed out] AND [end crossed out] AND OLD FARM HOUSE WE WERE IN. KILLING 5, WOUNDNG ANOTHER 10 - WHOM I HELPED TO ATTEND TO.

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? I was slightly wounded later -

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? YES - MANY FUNNY THINGS HAPPENED BUT IT WOULD BE HARD TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE AT THIS TIME

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? MANY. FOR ONE WAS [underlined] OUR V.C. WINNER CPL TOPHAM OF TORONTO. [end underlined] IN THE HEROIC MANNER IN WHICH HE CARRIED OUT HIS DUTIES AS OUR COMPANY FIRST AID MAN. ALSO A SGT. H. MORGAN. M.M. WHO RESCUED A AIRMAN WHOM HAD BEEN SHOT DOWN IN FRONT OF OUR LINES. DISREGARDING THE HEAVY ENEMY FIRE.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name [underlined] R.O MACLEAN [end underlined]

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? THE MOST STUPID WAS OUR WALKING UP TO OUR TARGET OR OBJECTIVE. I SUPPOSE. HOPING TO FIND GERMANS ALL SET TO SURRENDER.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? WE LEFT THE AIRPORT SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? BOIS-DE-[insert]Bavent[end inserted] SOMETHING - " ABOUT 25 MILES FROM WHERE WE HAD LANDED.

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? I CAN LIST MANY OF OUR OWN UNIT, BUT CANNOT SUPPLY ADDRESSES. [crossed out] Capt. [end crossed out] MAJ John HANSON, MTL Sgt. HARVEY MORGAN '' Cpl. B. Thompson '' Pte. John Chamlmers " Capt. Donald Proulx, Cornwall ONT. THESE ARE ABOUT THE ONLY ONES OF OUR CO OF THE D-DAY. ORIGINALS

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.

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Can this Cpl. Topham (p.2) VC winner be tracked down & interviewed? cpl. [underlined] did not go to France until 1 month after D-Day. [end inserted] address in: 153 alameda ave. apt 5 Toronto 12