Local man in vital D-Day role

Today is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, the Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy in 1944.

But for the weather forecast, the landings would have taken place a day earlier. And it was a local man, Commander Henry Curry of Buerton, who played a vital role in that weather forecast, possibly the most important piece of forecasting in the 20th Century.

Henry Curry, then in the Royal Navy, was a meteorologist posted way out in the Atlantic Ocean, a perilous position because as soon as his weather data was radioed back to Britain, U-boats would be alerted to his ship's location.

A couple of years ago, AudlemOnline interviewed Henry Curry, a recording which is available as a podcast. It's a fascinating tale covering not only the D-Day weather forecast but other war-time experiences, including a couple of hair-raising encounters with snakes in South Africa and India.

Whilst out in the Atlantic exactly 70 years ago, Henry and a small group of colleagues decided to go for a swim. The captain of the corvette gave permission but said the ship would have to continue zig-zagging but would return to pick up the swimmers.

While alone, in the middle of the ocean, one of the group observed that it wasn't too bad as they were only five miles from land. Unfortunately, that nearby land was below them!

Click here to listen to the podcast.

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