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Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2019 6:15 pm
by Temujin
The attached documents below are “map traces” for Operation Neptune, Juno Beach.

For the “non military researcher”.....a “map trace” was made on very thin vellum, that you could see thru. The “trace” was the key positions, routes, code names, etc etc that the units were tasked to take, or move to, or locate enemy positions etc. The “trace” was placed OVER a real map of the area, then you looked thru the trace, to termine the location of the item using the real map.

Map traces were easy to copy (so many soldiers or leaders would have a copy) and EASY to destroy, if you thought you might be captured. Also, it left the original map “unmarked” and you could have multiple “traces” with different things on them to look at using the same map.

If you look at the trace’s below, you will see a “cross type mark” around the corners of the map, with numbers on them. This was so you could position the “trace” accurately on the map. The crosses and numbers referred to the “grid lines” on the original map. So if one of the crosses said 04, 86......that meant you placed the cross on the two grid lines......the vertical line being O4.....and the horizontal line being 86

Feel free to post questions if you need more help
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Re: Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:10 am
by ccamfield
Ahhh... I am guessing all the artillery plans I've seen were also map traces.

Thank you for the very educational post!

Re: Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:12 am
by Temujin
ccamfield wrote:
Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:10 am
Ahhh... I am guessing all the artillery plans I've seen were also map traces.

Thank you for the very educational post!
Probably. In fact these traces locate many of the Artillery positions (Mary, Jane, Dorothy) during the landings and afterwards. I’ll post up a map trace that shows “ALL” the positions planned for supporting services during the landings next

Re: Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2019 11:14 am
by Temujin
This map trace shows the planned position of all support services during the landings. You can see everything from the proposed positions of Field Medical services to the position of Heavy and Light Anti aircraft. Also the position of the various Infantry Brigade rally points....example “KNEE” and inside the main position the “sub positions” of the various Battalions etc etc. You can see “DIV REAR” (this is the back up Division HQ’s if they DIV MAIN was incapacitated) position.....and right beside that the HQ’s of Beach Operations........lots of info on this map trace

On all these maps, remember this was the “planning” and may have changed on site, if the position wasn’t available for some reason, but generally the “planning maps” are followed if at all possible.
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Re: Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:34 am
by Temujin
Here are a few more “map traces” that show you the disposition of enemy troops and defences (minefields) on D Day
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Re: Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:12 pm
by Temujin
Thought I would add this map trace. It is from HQ RCE 3 Division Engineers War Diaries. It indicated locations of “potential airfield”
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Re: Juno Beach - Map Traces

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2019 7:51 pm
by Temujin
The Map Trace below is interesting, as it not only shows the “travel routes”, both UP and DOWN, but shows Various airfields that the Allies used. They are marks B3, B4, B5, B10.........which would be off interest to those your are researching the Air Component of the D Day landings and follow up
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Source: http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocih ... eel_t10533