In 1943, the government set up a training area to acts out what D-Day landings would be like on a beach in Devon-Slapton, hundreds of families were forced to leave their homes. American army officers set up site in the-now- derelict town of Slapton sands and used the houses as their shelters, training on the beaches. A 25 mile area was cordoned off for their use.
THE DISASTER
In the early hours of April 28th 1943 German E-boats were sailing off the coast of Slapton and began to shoot at the American officers, as they were on a D-day run through they thought it was all part of the training. 3 ships were hit and sunk and hundreds of men perished in fire and water. 10 times more American's died than they did on Utah beach, Normandy, France.
The government covered the fatal day up and it was covered up for almost 30 years, the villagers moved back into Slapton after the war with no clue of the blood shed on their beaches. Now there is a memorial set up for the American soldiers that lost their lives and a thank you message for the villagers that were forced to leave their homes.
THE DISASTER
In the early hours of April 28th 1943 German E-boats were sailing off the coast of Slapton and began to shoot at the American officers, as they were on a D-day run through they thought it was all part of the training. 3 ships were hit and sunk and hundreds of men perished in fire and water. 10 times more American's died than they did on Utah beach, Normandy, France.
The government covered the fatal day up and it was covered up for almost 30 years, the villagers moved back into Slapton after the war with no clue of the blood shed on their beaches. Now there is a memorial set up for the American soldiers that lost their lives and a thank you message for the villagers that were forced to leave their homes.