US Navy observers aboard Royal Navy vessels

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cornwallis
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US Navy observers aboard Royal Navy vessels

#1

Post by cornwallis » 29 Apr 2023, 00:27

I am interested to learn more about USN officers aboard Royal Navy warships in the Second World War. One such officer was Lt Cdr J N Opie (3rd) who was aboard Illustrious during the attack on Taranto, there was also another officer aboard HMS Turbulent for two patrols. I would like to hear of more names and the vessels they served in .
My blog can be found here- http://lintonsview.blogspot.com/

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Sheldrake
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Re: US Navy observers aboard Royal Navy vessels

#2

Post by Sheldrake » 29 Apr 2023, 01:42

For the ALLIED Combined Operations in the ETO it was common practice to assign liaison officers to naval forces of allies, in particular for naval gunfire support. This article writes of USMC attachments including a bunch of USMC aviators who flew nightfighter missions with the RAF.https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_ ... /sec5b.htm

Robert O Bare USMC was involved in planning op Overlord from May 1943 and was on Admiral Raqmsey's planning staff. One of his tasks was to select beraches for practice assaults and naval guinfoire suipport. Apparently he was responsble for selecting Slapton Sands, the scene of the unfortunate Ex Tiger.
Two Marine officers were with the British forces in this area.(Britidsh sector of Op Overlord) Captain Herbert C. Merillat, a combat correspondent, was an observer with the Royal Marines in a landing craft, guns, large (LCG). This vessel had the mission of knocking out German pillboxes from close inshore. Colonel Bare, on board the Llangibby Castle, was attached to the British Assault Force J with the 3d Canadian Division, which went ashore near Courselles-sur-Mer. This force landed at 0810 after a naval bombardment that lasted nearly two hours, and it was able to move rapidly inland with fairly light casualties. However, once the Germans were finally convinced that this landing was not a feint for a major landing elsewhere, they launched some heavy counterattacks that prevented the Allies from seizing Caen until nearly a month later, well behind their planned schedule.
https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_ ... 0/sec6.htm


jbroshot
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Re: US Navy observers aboard Royal Navy vessels

#3

Post by jbroshot » 29 Apr 2023, 02:56

Joseph Wellings, Assistant Naval Attache and Observer, was aboard several RN warships before December 7, 1941

Historical Monograph 5: On His Majesty's Service

"Observations of the British Home Fleet from the diary, reports, and letters of Joseph H. Wellings, Assistant U.S. Naval Attaché, London, 1940-41."

https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/usnwc ... ographs/5/

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Sheldrake
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Re: US Navy observers aboard Royal Navy vessels

#4

Post by Sheldrake » 15 May 2023, 10:59

jbroshot wrote:
29 Apr 2023, 02:56
Joseph Wellings, Assistant Naval Attache and Observer, was aboard several RN warships before December 7, 1941

Historical Monograph 5: On His Majesty's Service

"Observations of the British Home Fleet from the diary, reports, and letters of Joseph H. Wellings, Assistant U.S. Naval Attaché, London, 1940-41."

https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/usnwc ... ographs/5/
Brilliant . He makes a vewry prescient comment in September 1940 about the amount of work the USN would need to do if it had to copy the Admiralty and take charge of merchant shipping. Not sure if ASdmiral King knew of or acknowledged the recommendation to study what the Navy wpould need to do to implement a copnvly system,

He was on his way home on HMS Rodney when she was diverted to sink the BIsmarck

LineDoggie
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Re: US Navy observers aboard Royal Navy vessels

#5

Post by LineDoggie » 17 May 2023, 20:31

PBY Catalina Pilot who spotted the Bismarck was USN Ensign Leonard B. "Tuck" Smith flying a RAF Coastal Command PBY Catalina flying boat from 209 Sqn.
"There are two kinds of people who are staying on this beach: those who are dead and those who are going to die. Now let’s get the hell out of here".
Col. George Taylor, 16th Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach

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