Hello all,

I am trying to find out some information on the uniforms the Navy Combat Demolition Units (NCDU's) wore when landing on Omaha beach 6 June 1944. I have surfed the web a bit and can't find a single photo or information on their uniform??? Am also trying to find a photo of the rafts they used to get their explosives to shore (after disenbarking their LCM's). Am in the research phase of of a Dio idea and hit a brick wall . Any information you all can provide will be greately appreciated!!!

P.S. The NCDU's I am looking for were attached to the 146th Combat Engineer Battalion, 29th Infantry Division.

Sean

http://www.navyfrogmen.com/NCDU.html
http://www.specwarnet.com/americas/NCDU.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~dube107/NCDU.htm

http://www.insightmag.com/news/2004/05/28/...rs-683462.shtml

...The first NCDUs had arrived in England in November 1943. By January 1944 all NCDUs were assigned to Rear Adm. John L. Hall's 11th Amphibious Force of Rear Adm. Alan G. Kirk's Western Naval Task Force 122, and attached to the 2nd, 7th and 6th Naval Beach Battalions based at Fowey and Salcombe on England's south coast, and in Swansea, Wales.

In the last weeks before D-Day, NCDUs and combat engineers practiced demolition at the U.S. Assault Training Center situated in the southwest coastal town of Woolcombe. There, the 146th ECB erected realistic models of the different kinds of obstacles the demolitioneers would encounter.

There were a total of 21 NCDUs and units from the 146th and 299th ECBs assigned to Omaha Beach. Five of the 21 NCDUs were held in reserve. Twelve NCDUs and units from the 237th and 299th ECBs were assigned to Utah Beach...

Fantomas,

Thank you much for the web-sights. Lot's of good info. there! It will be a tremendous help. Thanks again!!

Sean

Sean,
I strongly recommend looking up the book "Spearheading D-Day" by Jonathan Gawne. There is an entire and well-detailed chapter on the NCDU's (right down to a break-down of which team was on which landing craft on all beaches).

Hope this helps,

Hey Pete,

Thank you for the info. The book sounds like the exact thing I am looking for! Never would have thought that getting a photo of these units would be so difficult with as much information that's on the web these days. Thanks again!

Sean

Sean,
I'll get around to "finally" hooking up my new scanner this weekend. Send me an email of what you need and I'll see if I can find stuff to scan for you. What will your project look like?

Hey Pete,

I sent the e-mail to you today. Again, thanks for your support!!

Sean