Western Daily Press (Saturday)
D-Day weather maps set to fetch thousands
ASET of hand-drawn maps used to shape the outcome of D-Day have been discovered and are set to fetch thousands at auction.
The set depicts the air pressure levels across western Europe during the first week of June 1944, including June 5, the original planned date of the landings.
For six months before the invasion, British and American meteorologists, led by Captain James Stagg and Colonel Donald Yates, prepared by studying past weather charts in order to find the perfect conditions for the invasion.
The ideal conditions would involve calm seas and clear skies but as the planned date approached, Captain Stagg noticed a break in the weather for June 6 and brought the information to Supreme Allied Commander and future US President, General Dwight Eisenhower.
Eisenhower set the date for June 6 and the maps remained in the possession of the Royal Navy as the Allies achieved victory in Normandy.
The maps were later presented to Captain David Davidge, a senior meteorologist in the Royal Navy, upon his retirement, before his widow Ruth rediscovered them in 2019.
Now, they are set to fetch between £2,000 and £4,000 at auction with John Rolfe Auctions in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, on April 20.
Mr Rolfe said: “With the 80th anniversary of D-Day fast approaching it truly is an honour to be putting these maps to market. In my career I don’t think I’ve handled such a poignant lot with great historical relevance.
“As for pricing these things, where do we start? These maps are to be sold along with 2,000 other good things in our ‘Quite Remarkable’ sale that starts on April 20.”