Box 024, folder 61: Roderick H. McPhatter

McPHATTER, Roderick H. Canadian 31 Minesweeping Flotilla

Box 24, #61

[inserted] RCN Possible exerpt [end inserted]

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? Roderick Harding McPhatter

What was your squadron, station, unit? HMCS CARAQUET - [crossed out] SR OFFICER [end crossed out] 31st Minesweeping Flotilla

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? OMAHA BEACH I beleive - Western Task Force - approx 0500 hrs.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Ldg Coder What was your age on June 6, 1944? 21 Were you married at that time? No What is your wife's name? VIOLET Did you have any children at that time? NO What do you do now? RCAF - Clerk Accounts. (Flight Lientenant) When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? See page attached

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 crossing was comparatively quiet, relatively calm as far as I was concerned. Our talk was mostly about getting back as it seemed to be the popular belief amongst our flotilla that the lead ship was as good as written off. As we neared the coast & heard the [?distance?] offshore we were, all talk seemed to cease in the wireless office.

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship, 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). Cannot recall any wild rumours circulating on board at all at that particular time.

Your name Roderick McPhatter

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Include any impressions from it. Please - this was not in the rules.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? No 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?

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes. I recall hailing one of the landing craft on its way back and asked how things were going. The chap turned thumbs down and we thought my God, all this for nothing.

Did you encounter any enemy aircraft or flak? Was your aircraft damaged?

Your name Roderick McPHATTER

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? PORTLAND BILL - ENGLAND Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Anchored off the coast of FRANCE

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? Not off-hand

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUE 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.

We had a fair idea that we were going to take part in the invasion when, being a minesweeper we were sent accross to England. After this it was a combination of duties etc that could only mean we were going to be part of the invasion force. This was not actually confirmed until 48 hrs before the actual invasion. I knew serveral weeks prior as the operaton books were given to me to correct by the signals officier, when the CO discovered this I was removed from my mates and spent the next 9 days down in the officiers flat where I was served my meals & also slept. Looking back I can only say - the hotel service was wonderfull. I believe an army regular claims the distinction of being the only enlisted man to know of the operation, nothing was ever mentioned about the incident concerning myself but I think I could legally dispute his claim.