9:53 a.m. ET, June 6, 2024
What it’s like riding in a World War II-era amphibious vehicle
From CNN’s Saskya Vandoorne and Melissa Bell in Arromanches-les-Bains, France
It’s been a perfect day for a “duck” ride on the shores of Normandy.
These World War II-era DUKWs — amphibious vehicles that became known more fondly as “ducks” — helped bring in around 40% of all supplies that came ashore on the beaches of Normandy starting on D-Day until mid-July.
They were crucial in bringing weapons and equipment straight from ships far from the coast, all the way up to the advancing front lines — so much so that the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, regarded them as as “one of the most valuable pieces of equipment produced by the United States during the war.”
CNN’s Mark Esplin, Melissa Bell and Saskya Vandoorne are seen on board a World War II-era DUKW on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Obtained by CNN
Eighty years on, the ducks are back off the coast of Normandy. Many are maintained by civilians like Denis Le Priol, who’s owned his for 30 years. He works year round and at great expense to keep his duck in working order. Every year on the anniversary of the largest amphibious landing in history, Le Priol brings his duck down to Arromanches-les-Bains — one of the beaches where British forces landed — “out of a duty of memory”
“A lot of people died for our freedom and I need to help the young generation understand what happened here,” he said.
He said his favorite part is taking kids on board to pique their interest in what happened here.
“No amount of school books can achieve that,” he says.
Source link : https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/europe/live-news/d-day-80-anniversary-06-06-24-intl/index.html
Author :
Publish date : 2024-06-06 12:05:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.