D-Day Celebrated on Film - The 65th Anniversary - World War II Tail Gunner Recalls Bombing Mission on Voice of America
President Obama is expected to attend ceremonies marking the anniversary of D-Day, and his great-uncle, Charles Payne, 84, who helped liberate a German concentration camp in 1945, plans to travel to France with a Veteran delegation
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 4, 2009 -- "We were never shot down, but we did crash-landed with six 1,000 pound bombs on board," said 85-year-old retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Morton (Mort) Schecter, Northridge, CA, who flew as a United States Army Air Corps tail gunner in a B-24 Liberator warplane. Schecter was interviewed by Voice of America (VOA) on this 65th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.
President Obama is expected to attend ceremonies marking the anniversary of D-Day, and his great-uncle, Charles Payne, 84, who helped liberate a German concentration camp in 1945, plans to travel to Normandy with a Veteran delegation. The presidential entourage is expected for D-Day commemorative events in Normandy, France and a trip is planned for Germany, too.
"We flew the first mission on D-Day and bombed at 3:30 in the morning, and it was the easiest mission, because we never saw any fighters or opposition," he said. "Then on June 8th, two days later, we went to Germany, we couldn't drop our bombs due to a malfunction. When we aborted the mission, we returned, but the plane landed on its belly in the field after the landing gear struts broke. We landed with the bombs onboard, which did not go off. So I'm still here, he said."
"When we flew over the English Channel, there were a million ships in the water, and I have yet to meet any of those guys who were on those ships," said Schecter, who was assigned to the 467th Bomb Crew and 791st Bomb Squadron in England. "I'm lucky to still be here."
Schecter, who flew 35 missions out of England, is amongst the American Veteran heroes, who flew on D-Day June 6, 1941. Schecter and his son and Grandson recently attended the premiere showing of the new battle tour film The Americans on D-Day (www.TheAmericansonDDay.com), at the American Legion (AL) Post #43, Hollywood, CA. The AL has endorsed the film and has a link on its website, where $5 will be donated to paralyzed veterans of California for each DVD sold Online there.
Ellwood von Seibold, battlefield guide of "The Americans on D-Day," donning American and sometimes German uniforms, hops into an early model Army Jeep much like Gen. George Patton drove, to show viewers what soldiers did in one of America's bloodiest battles. He is also featured in an interview with Voice of America headline: "Film Recalls Heroism of D-Day" at http://tinyurl.com/qbnffz.
"If you can't afford a trip to tour the battlefields of Normandy, just get a copy of 'The Americans on D-Day' and you'll get a stirring look at events that changed the course of World War II in Europe," said Dye, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran who lives in Los Angeles and has worked with Tom Hanks and other celebrities on award-winning productions including "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan."
The production crew shot its first interview in 2007 with Howard Manoian, a veteran of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne who landed in Normandy on D-Day and returned many years later to live in the country that he helped liberate.
"With the addition of archive footage and stills we have turned this interview into a short biographical documentary under the title of 'A Soldier's Journey,' which we also hope to launch for the 65th anniversary," Lanni said.
Manoian was recently named a recipient of the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by the French government. He will be presented with the award on June 6, 2009 at St. Mere Eglise, where U.S. paratroopers suffered heavy losses during the Normandy invasion. President Obama is expected to attend the commemoration ceremonies of D-Day after his Middle-East Tour.
This is WW2-Reflections' first tour film for its parent company, Labyrinth Media & Publishing Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland. Labyrinth specializes in WW II battlefield tour DVDS for the U.S. Market.
"We are thrilled to have the chance to recognize American Heroes of D-Day this year, on the 65th Anniversary of Normandy, and what better place to do it than at the historical American Legion Post 43 building," said Producer and Director Richard Lanni, WW2-Reflections, Dublin, Ireland.
"The Americans on D-Day" -- which is sells for $24.99 is available at the official site: www.TheAmericansOnDDay.com "It would make a great Father's day gift for Dad or Dad's Dad," said Lanni, who is working on his second of four series of films on WW II.
The film makes extensive use of smart graphics and veterans' recollections, as well as invaluable assistance from Dale Dye, a retired U.S. Marine captain who founded Warriors Inc., which specializes in training actors for war-themed film and television productions.
"'The Americans on D-Day' provides an exciting insight into one of the most pivotal events of the 20th century," Dye said. "I'm really proud to have a hand in this effort to provide a foxhole-level view of what happened in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
"I've seen a lot of tour videos that purport to give viewers an insight into what gallant Americans endured and accomplished on D-Day, but this one really hits the mark," Dye said.
[Editor's note: EPK DVD with extras like uniforms and weapons used are available upon request. For more information contact Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, call 818-340-5300, or email: Publicity (at) mayocommunications (dot) com or visit: www.mayocommunications.com.
Press Clips are available at: www.TheAmericansOnDDay.com or Blog: http://tinyurl.com/asavgj]
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