Page 2

LL (7) Leisure City Florida / FLA -1

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-Day

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 Joseph B Carpenter
What was your unit and division?
644th Bomb Squadron , 410th Bomb Group APO 410 N.Y. N.Y.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time ?
We flew over and bombed Carenton France about noon. We hit the Marshall
Yards + had excellent results. We bombed at about 3,000 feet.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Flight Officer - Pilot
What was your age on June 6, 1944?
24
Where you married at that time? no
What is your wife's name ? -none
Did you have any children at that time? -no
What do you do now?
I am a M/Sgt stationed at Homestead Air Force Base, Homestead Florida. I am
an operations Supervisor assigned to the 524 Bomb Sq. 379 Bomb wing
S.A.C.
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion?
When the flights for the day were posted on the squadron bulletin
board. My crew was listed.

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 ?
I was a pilot of an A-20 attack bomber. Therefore I had no conversation. I remember
all the invasion craft and smoke on the ground from the gunfire. This was
my sixth mission + I was really anxious to fly it as I knew our guys were
down there + I wanted to help them.

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 charmed to set it afire when
the troops came in ).
I heard no rumors.