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NEWIN, Harry James
Canadian R.C.A.F. 625 Sqd.
BOX 25, #2
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17651 F/L H.J. Newin
Possible Excerpt p.2 RCAF
THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OP NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name? HARRY JAMES NEWIN
What was your squadron, station, unit? 625 SQD #1 GROUP AT KELSTERN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out] AT [end crossed out] IN THE EARLY AM 5 JUNE, 44 TOOK PART IN A BOMBING RAID ON LARGE COASTAL GUNS IN THE [crossed out] EAST OF CAEN AREA [end crossed out] AREA WEST OF CAEN.
What was your rank on June 6, 1944. F/ SGT
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 24
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? N/A
Did you have any children at that time? NONE
What do you do now? AIR/OBS/NAV 436 [?(T)?] SQN , DOWNSVIEW, ONT.
When did you know that you were to be part of the invasion? DID NOT REALLY [inserted] KNOW [end inserted] UNTIL WE RETURNED [inserted] TO BASE [end inserted] FROM BOMBING IN THE AREA [crossed out] EAST [end crossed out] WEST OF CAEN
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 THE RETURN TRIP NOTICED LARGE CONCENTRATIONS OF SHIPPING BENEATH US. THIS CAUSED US TO SUSPECT THE INVASION HAD STARTED.
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). DO NOT RECOLLECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF RUMOURS. AT THAT TIME CONCENTRATED ON JOB AT HAND AND JUST LIVING FROM DAY TO DAY.
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Your name F/L H.J. NEWIN
Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? Include any impressions from it. WE ARRIVED BACK IN THE EARLY HOURS OF 5 JUNE 44 AND IMMEDIATELY ON ARRIVING BACK PROCEEDED ON 6 DAYS LEAVE. DID NOT ACTUALLY KNOW THE INVASION WAS ON UNTIL WE BOUGHT A PAPER ON THE TRAIN.
Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? NOT THAT I RECOLLECT.
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties?:
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
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Your name F/L HJ. NEWIN
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? TAKING PART IN A BOMBING RAID ON COASTAL GUNS IN AREA WEST OF CAEN
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? ON [inserted] 6 DAYS [end inserted] LEAVE.
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? NIL, THE OTHER MEN I FLEW WITH WERE MEMBERS OF THE R.A.F.
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 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.