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The events were covered up at the time, partly for reasons of morale, partly for reasons of security. Some of the officers lost were 'Bigots', entrusted with knowldge of the details of the invasion, including where and when. A large naval operation was undertaken to recover their bodies and ensure they dd not carry any useful documentation on them. This obviously had to be done in secrecy.
After the war (indeed, maybe after the invasion and before the end of the war), the US admitted the disaster, and IIRC, various generals visited the area to lay wreaths at sea. Indeed, I've read books published in the 50s which relate the disaster and the subsequent board of enquiry.
Many years later, a local treasure-hunter called Ken Small was curious about the amount of ordnanace and US military ephemera he was digging up. He investigated and 'discovered' the disaster. He published this as 'new' information in a book called 'The Forgotten Dead'. He then met US veterans and lobbied to get memorials (including the Sherman on Slapton Sands) set up and publicly approved, which was much appreciated.
All I'm saying is that the events were necessarilly covered up before the invasion, then revealed, then forgotten. There was no conspiracy to cover them up for years - people just forgot about it. I'm glad that it's now remembered and marked, but there was no cover up.
It is tragic and ironic to reflect that the casualties in Tiger (744?) far outweighed those on Utah beach, which the exercise was designed to prepare for.
Cheers,
Martin Clements
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