The tempo of the war intensified at the start of the second quarter of 1944. April saw a return of bombing missions over the Ploiesti oil fields in Romania used by the German forces. Meanwhile, Allied forces massing in England were beginning their final preparations for the amphibious landing on France in June.
In late April, Exercise Tiger took place along the Slapton shoreline in southwestern England. The eight-day exercise was designed as a dress rehearsal to prepare U.S. Army forces for landing at Utah Beach in France. Disaster came when German S-boats snuck into the waters and sunk two Landing Ship Tanks, killing an estimated 700 sailors and soldiers in the exercise.
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About Ronald P. May
About Ronald P. MayAuthor, Historian, Public Speaker, and Preserver of Life Stories
Ron holds a Masters’ Degree in World War II Studies from Arizona State University. He is the author of four published books: three of them feature stories of World War II veterans and his most recent book highlights World War II Landmarks in Indiana.
Ron May is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania and lives in Westfield, Indiana with his wife, Glenda. He was a Lutheran Pastor for 25 years and a Navy Reserve Chaplain for 22 of those years. Ron currently serves as the Chaplain at Hoosier Village Retirement Center Community in Zionsville, Indiana. He is also a personal historian specializing in helping veterans preserve their military service stories. Ron does public speaking engagements focused on World War II history and veteran stories. He also portrays himself as America’s most beloved war correspondent, Indiana native Ernie Pyle, reflecting on his wartime experiences through a dramatic first-person presentation.