The 2012 D-Day Conneaut Challenge Coin "The Deadly Skies" is the fourth in the commemorative coin program highlighting the significant events of the Normandy Invasion. Inspired by elements involving aircraft and their role in the blockbuster D-Day movie, “The Longest Day”, the coin captures two signature events highlighted in the film and the exciting role that aircraft plays at D-Day Conneaut.
Depicted on the axis side of the coin is a Focke-Wulf 190 piloted by Josef “Pips” Priller in his signature #13 designation as he attacked the British beachhead known as Sword Beach. Yet this moment made famous in the book and movie was not the only actions of the Luftwaffe on that Day of Days as additional fighters from units stationed around Normandy scored numerous air to air victories against allied fighters and bombers.
Also little known was a Luftwaffe bomber unit, Kampfgeschwader 54, which made several attacks along the coast line on D-Day. Surrounding Priller’s strafing run scene is the phrase “Horrido Wieder Ein Luftsieg” meaning roughly the equivalent of “Tallyho - Another Air Victory!” Also notable is the Luftwaffe Pilots Badge separating the signature “Gott Mit Uns” (God’s with Us) and the June 6th date and location of the battle in Normandy.The allied side too takes it’s inspiration from The Longest Day as Hawker Typhoons serving throughout the morning of D-Day were cast to their primary role of ground support.
These tank busting rocket carrying planes of the Royal Air Force were instrumental in breaking up German reinforcing or reaction forces on the move within Normandy. The allied airforce dominance in the air proved to be one of the key elements to inland victory and throughout the breakout campaign that followed beyond the hedgerows.
Featured on the 2012 coin are the names of the signature fighter planes of the allies on D-Day: the P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightening, Hawker Typhoon, Supermarine Spitfire and the P-51 Mustang. The Mustang, contrary to popular belief was more prevalent in the RAF than in the American contingent at that time and was flown in great numbers by Australian and exiled Czechoslovakian pilots throughout the war.
As a result it’s only fitting to honor their contributions on this particular coin with the appearance of their national flags. Depicted upon the allied coin face in celebration of the 68 anniversary of D-Day, (LXVIII), and our 13th year (XIII) of D-Day Conneaut is a Kubelwagon, perhaps the same vehicle as driven by Werner Pluskat, lying in flames behind a French church after being strafed by an allied fighter.
A Tiger tank and a German troop carrier narrowly escape the attack to fight another day. Major Pluskat, commanded the 352nd Artillery of the German 352nd Infantry Division during Allied invasion. He was the first German officer who saw the Allied invasion fleet on June 6, 1944, survived the beach landing, and was ordered to leave the area before the area he commanded was overwhelmed.
Finally, the RAF cap emblem serves to separate the dates of this years’ coin designed honor the fighter planes and the pilots that flew them on that longest day, June 6th 1944.
