HISTORICAL CONTEXT

16 Air Formation Signals landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The unit was attached to 15082 GCI, Royal Air Force, a Ground Control Intercept Unit. Once ashore in Normandy 15082 GCI set up radar equipment so that it could detect enemy aircraft before they attacked the Allied landing area. 16 Air Formation Signals was responsible for providing ground communications.

The unit was attached to US forces as the Americans did not have available the technical equipment or the trained personnel to maintain and operate the required equipment.

They unit's personnel were due to land around 09:00 but due to the strength of German opposition they were told to stand off until matters improved. They eventually landed at 17:00.

The unit sustained a number of casualties to personnel and lost much of their equipment as they landed, which meant they were not operational until 10 June 1944.