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From the S&S archives:
Correspondents relive scenes of D-Day

By Ted Stoil, S&S staff correspondent
European edition, Tuesday, June 7, 1949
Gerald Waller / S&S
Neil Sullivan, who covered the D-Day landings as a cameraman for Pathe News, looks out from the seawall at the Normandy beachhead five years later. Purchase reprint
Gerald Waller / S&S
Children and adults join up to pay tribute to those who took part in the Normandy landings in June, 1949, the fifth anniversary of D-Day. Purchase reprint
Gerald Waller / S&S
Remembering the dead at ceremonies in Normandy marking the fifth anniversary of D-Day. Purchase reprint
Gerald Waller / S&S
Visitors to the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy stop at an information sign. Purchase reprint
Gerald Waller / S&S
A B17 flies over the Normandy invasion beaches to drop a wreath on the fifth anniversary of D-Day in June, 1949. All five members of the plane's crew took part in the invasion in an aerial support role. Purchase reprint

CAEN, June 6 (S&S) — Forty-five American newspapermen who landed with the invasion forces on D-Day today revisited their landing sites along the Normandy coast,

The newsmen have been billeted in Caen in what they call "Happy Press Camp No. 1." They arrived from the U.S. three days ago.

The camp, located in a long one-story shed, received its name because its menu now includes, instead of Spam and powdered eggs, fresh meat, hors d'oeuvres and crepe suzettes as well as the ever-present Calvados and wine.

The correspondents also agreed that the camp's public information representative, Jim Tierney of American Overseas Airlines, which is sponsoring the tour, could give them more leeway than they enjoyed on their original visit, since he was not plagued with security headaches and worrying over the possibility of his guests wandering into the arms of a German patrol.

Transportation, always a problem for the correspondents, provided no difficulty on this visit. A fleet of fast cars was available, and each newsman was taken to his own private sector of the invasion beach.

The newsmen were scheduled to leave tonight for Paris and then a tour of Allied battle sites in Europe.

Meanwhile, flags of France and her allies flew in the villages from Deauville to Cherbourg. Top-ranking Allied officials participated in programs at St. Aubin sur Mer and Bernieres, at St. Mere Eglise and Ranville — ceremonies similar to those held yesterday at the two American beach heads, Omaha and Utah.

Today's observance at Ste. Mere Eglise was for the U. S. Army in general., but for the 82d Abn Div in particular. Men of the 82d parachuted into the town shortly after midnight on D-Day and made it the first to be taken by the liberators.

The little war-ravaged town staged a parade with a French navy band and a squad of "paratroopers" ranging from 5 to 7 years of age. The youngsters, in cutdown U.S. uniforms, helmets and boots, chewed gum American-style as they were reviewed by visiting American officers.

Present also were men of the RAF and French soldiers with a group of American Legionnaires from Paris. Mayor A. Renaud proudly displayed the city's "modernized" coals of arms. The centuries-old format has been changed — a couple of billowing parachutes, stars, and the date of the landing having been added.

In Ranville today, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, who commanded ground troops in the invasion, paid high tribute to the British airborne forces who died in the assault.

Many of the men who died in the jump and the subsequent fighting are buried in a British military cemetery at Ranville. About 100 Britons, many with sons buried there, attended the ceremonies.

"We are alive today only because of those more worthy than we — those who paid the supreme sacrifice," Montgomery said.

Later Montgomery attended services at St. Aubin sur Mer.

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