World War II Tail Gunner Recalls Bombing Mission On D-Day and Plans to Attend Premiere of The Americans on D-Day Film

WW2-Reflections, a division of Labyrinth Media
& Publishing Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland plans to show

 the battle tour film to American Legion Post #43

in Hollywood on April 27th

U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Mort Schecter
flew in the B-24 like this one above.

Northridge CA - “When we flew over the English Channel, there
were a million ships in the water, and I have yet to meet any of
those guys who were on those ships,” said 85-year old retired
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Morton (Mort) Schecter, Northridge,
CA, who flew as united STates Army Air Corps tail gunner in a
B-24 Liberator warplane, the most produced U.S. military aircraft
during World War II. He was assigned to the 467th Bomb Crew
and 791^st Bomb Squadron in England. “I’m lucky to still be here,”
he said.

Schecter, who flew 35 missions out of England, is amongst the
American Veteran heroes, who flew on D-Day June 6, 1941.
Schecter and his son plan to attend the premiere showing of the
new battle tour film The Americans on D-Day, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
(Cocktails 6:00 - 7:00 pm), Cabaret Room, American Legion Post
#43, 2035 N Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA., 90068.

“We were never shot down, but we did crash-land with six 1,000
pound bombs on board. We flew the first mission on D-Day and
bombed at 3:30 in the morning, and it was the easiest mission,
because we never saw any fighters or opposition. Then on June 8^th,
two days later, we went to Germany, we couldn’t drop our bombs
due to a malfunction. When we aborted the mission, we returned,
but the plane landed on its belly in the field after the landing gear
struts broke. We landed with the bombs onboard, which did not go
off. So I’m still here, he said.”

Schecter said he had an angel on his shoulder that day, and still has
his list of the missions he flew. “Actor Jimmy Stewart was in our

division, and he flew 28 missions. He entered the service as a buck
private and when he died he was a General,” he said.

This is WW2-Reflections’ first tour film for its parent company,
Labyrinth Media & Publishing Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland. Labyrinth

specializes in WW II battlefield tour DVDS for the U.S. Market.

“We are thrilled to have the chance to recognize American Heroes
of D-Day this year, on the 65th Anniversary of Normandy, and
what better place to do it than at the historical American Legion
Post 43 building," said Producer and Director Richard Lanni,
WW2-Reflections, Dublin, Ireland.

"The Americans on D-Day" -- which will be on sale Online in
April -- makes extensive use of smart graphics and veterans'
recollections, as well as invaluable assistance from Dale Dye,
a retired U.S. Marine captain who founded Warriors Inc.,
which specializes in training actors for war-themed film
and television productions."

"The Americans on D-Day" provides an exciting insight into one
of the most pivotal events of the 20th century," Dye said. "I'm
really proud to have a hand in this effort to provide a foxhole-level
view of what happened in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

"I've seen a lot of tour videos that purport to give viewers an insight
into what gallant Americans endured and accomplished on D-Day,
but this one really hits the mark," Dye said.

Ellwood von Seibold, battlefield guide of "The Americans on D-Day,"
donning American and sometimes German uniforms, hops into an early
model Army Jeep much like Gen. George Patton rode in, to show viewers
what soldiers endured in one of America's bloodiest battles.

"If you can't afford a trip to tour the battlefields of Normandy, just get
a copy of 'The Americans on D-Day' and you'll get a stirring look at
events that changed the course of World War II in Europe," said Dye,
a highly decorated Vietnam veteran who lives in Los Angeles and has
worked with Tom Hanks and other celebrities on award-winning
productions including "Band of Brothers" and "Saving Private Ryan."

The production crew shot its first interview in 2007 with Howard
Manoian, a veteran of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne who landed
in Normandy on D-Day and returned many years later to live in the
country that he helped liberate.

"With the addition of archive footage and stills we have turned this
interview into a short biographical documentary under the title of
'A Soldier's Journey,' which we also hope to launch for the 65th
anniversary," Lanni said.

Manoian was recently named a recipient of the Chevalier de la
Légion d'Honneur by the French government. He will be presented
with the award in June at St. Mere Eglise, where U.S. paratroopers
suffered heavy losses during the Normandy invasion.

Veterans who would like to RSVP to the event on April 27, 2009
need to call 323-851-3030 and leave your name, your city and
phone number. Media must RSVP with MAYO 818-340-5300.

[Editor's note: EPK DVD with extras like uniforms and weapons
|used are available upon request. For more information contact
Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, call 818-340-5300, or email:
Publicity@mayocommunications.com or visit:
www.mayocommunications.com.

(Press Clips are available at:

http://www.ww2-reflections.com/the-americans-on-d-day-press.html)

(EPK at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJIjD-MaRJw&feature=channel_page)

Related story with Singer Rod Stewart, who's generosity is global:

Vets 'touched' as Rod's £7500 gift makes D-Day trip possible

hellomagazine.com - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎

A group of D-Day veterans are to travel to the 65th commemoration of the Normandy landings courtesy of Rod Stewart. The Maggie May singer offered £7500 to ...

It's Rod to the rescue as he donates cash to send D-Day vets to ...

Daily Mail - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎

Rod Stewart led a roll call of politicians, celebrities and generous members of the public backing the Daily Mail's campaign to send the D-Day veterans to ...

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New Film on 65th Anniversary of D-Day Coming

Image by Mike Forster

WW2-Reflections, Chooses
MAYO Communications     

MAYO Communications, a full service entertainment
and public relations agency based in Los Angeles, has
been retained to promote “The Americans on D-Day.”

It Is the first battlefield tour film of WW2-Reflections,
a division of Labyrinth Media & Publishing Ltd. of
Dublin, Ireland. Labyrinth specializes in WW2 battlefield
tour DVDs for the U.S. market. "The Americans on D-Day"
coincides with the 65th anniversary of D-Day and the
Normandy invasion.

The film's presenter, Ellwood von Seibold, tells the  story
with smart graphics and extensive use of veterans'
recollections, as well as invaluable assistance from Dale
Dye, a retired U.S. Marine captain who founded Warriors,
Inc. – which specializes in training actors for war-themed
film and television productions.

Dye was in France preparing for his forthcoming production,
"No Better Place to Die."  "We are thrilled that he has
supported this tour film," Producer Richard Lanni said.

"We wanted to show a snapshot of that 'Day of Days'
through the individual soldier's eye," Lanni said.
"Ellwood, who is an incredible 62-years-old, put on
all the different uniforms, allowed himself to be
suspended on a rope ladder over a cliff, ran out of
the freezing water on Omaha Beach at 6.30 a.m.,
crawled through hedgerows and shinned up trees."

The production shot its first interviews in 2007 with
Howard Manoian, a veteran of the U.S. Army 82nd
Airborne who landed in Normandy on D-Day and
returned many years later to live in the country
that he helped liberate.

"With the addition of archive footage and stills
we have turned this interview into a short
biographical documentary under the title of
'A Soldier's Journey,' which we also hope to
launch for the 65th anniversary," Lanni said.

(Clips available at: ww2-reflections.com)

Manoian was recently named a recipient of the
Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French
government. He will be presented with the award
in June at St. Mere Eglise, where U.S. paratroopers
suffered heavy losses during the Normandy invasion.

For more about MAYO Communications contact
Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade call 818-340-5300,
or email:
Publicity@mayocommunications.com or
visit: www.mayocommunications.com. 

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