81 years later, LST 393 pays tribute to ‘humongous effort' of D-Day
The museum hopes to help visitors better appreciate the scale of the D-Day invasion and its importance.
'D-Day was one of the most anticipated events of World War II. All of the Allied nations knew it was coming, but they didn't know exactly when and exactly where,' John Stephenson, a museum board member, said. 'It took a world to defeat the enemies of freedom and that's what they did. It was a humongous effort.'
Muskegon event to commemorate D-Day with ship tours, reenactment
The offensive began 81 years ago Friday in Normandy, France. The LST 393 was one of many ships in the waters off Omaha Beach and served a crucial role. It landed on the third day of the invasion, June 9, 1944.
'An LST like this one, LST 393, they built 1,051 of these in three years during the war. LST means Landing Ship Tank. To its sailors, it meant 'large slow target.' But it was designed and very successfully performed the job of bringing heavy equipment,' Stephenson said. 'D-Day was supposed to happen in May, but they held it back a month because they didn't have enough LSTs.'
Twenty-eight tanks were loaded through giant doors on the bow of the flat-bottom ship.
'It could carry anything. Trucks, bulldozers, artillery, you name it, to a defended shore,' Stephenson said.
The LST 393 served for many years after the war as a car freighter. Only two similar LSTs remain in a military configuration.
D-Day veterans return to Normandy for 81st anniversary
The museum is planning a variety of events to mark the 81st anniversary, including a screening of the D-Day episode of the Band of Brothers mini-series inside the ship at 8 p.m. Friday.
On Saturday, an event will honor Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan. World War II reenactors will demonstrate tactics used.
'Historic airplanes will attack the ship and the reenactors will defend it,' Stephenson said.
A flyover is planned as part of Air Raid Muskegon around 12:45 p.m.
'We want people to remember, and we want people to experience a little bit what went on during D-Day,' Stephenson said.
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