European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Mapping out Portsmouth museum tells the Story of invasion buildup by Nancy l. Torner . Bureau when a Gigantic Wall map was delivered to Southwick House in april 1944, few outsiders suspected that the building which overlooks the Portsmouth Harbor on the South coast of England was the planning Hub for an Allied invasion of Normandy. A to minimize speculation about activities inside the georgian mansion the map which was used to plot the Progress of a Day was commissioned from toy makers and included other map sections that depicted the entire coastline from Northern Norway to the Spanish Frontier. Internal Security was so tight that the two workmen and the naval officer who installed the map were incarcerated in the House until after the a Day invasion began. It was in this map room that Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower supreme Allied commander planned for and gave the command to launch the a Day invasion. A tape of this historic event can be heard at Southwick House which is open to the general Public this year and visitors also can View the 18-by-20-foot Wall map preserved in its original position. There also is a special exhibition on the stories behind the invasion plans the history of has Dryad which is the British military Complex where Southwick House is located and a display from the Royal naval museum titled the War room at Portsmouth a Southwick House features the original a Day Wall map. A images of  Southwick House is open most Days from 9 30 . To 5 . Until sept. 30. However the House will be closed june 4-5 for private festivities and could be closed on Short notice at other times according to the Portsmouth tourist information Center. Visitors can Call ahead at 0705 214284. If calling from outside the United kingdom dial the appropriate International code followed by 44 705 214284. Access to Southwick is by shuttle bus Only from the town of Southwick. A single admission of 3 pounds about $4.56 for adults and 1.50 pounds about $2.28 for children includes the bus fare and entry to the House As Well As entry to the old brewhouse in the town of Southwick where there is a special exhibition of wartime Village life that includes photographs artefacts and audio visual presentations. A a a replica of the historic map room also can be seen at the a Day museum in Portsmouth on the Clarence Esplanade overlooking the English Channel. The museum was built in 1984 to explain the significance of world War ii and How it affected everyone involved said Stephen Brooks museum curator. A 4 x to 7e actually Tell the Story of the a buildup to a Day in a series of a v Tableaux and Combine the National local and International Story a Brooks said. Many of the exhibits Are interactive and most items Are authentic such As a Landing Craft that was used in the a Day invasion that people can to climb into Brooks said. Other exhibits allow visitors to step into a German Bunker walk into a Dakota aircraft during a Parachute drop and View an air raid shelter and an invasion preparation area. A a we re trying to recreate the personal atmosphere a Brooks said. A the museum had a what happened at the United kingdom ports by Nancy l. Torner . Bureau Weymouth England a More than 7,000 ships of All descriptions sailed for Normandy on a Day. Most . Ships embarked from Portland Harbor Weymouth Bay and smaller ports to the West said Andy Hoskins research coordinator for the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. A Small number of american Craft including about 17 . Coast guard cutters and infantry transports that carried an Clement of the . 1st div also left from Poole and smaller ports Between pole and Weymouth. Ships for the main assault on Omaha Beach were based primarily in Weymouth and Portland Hoskins said. Ships destined for Utah Beach were based primarily in Torquay Fowey and Plymouth. The . Navy set up Headquarters in the Royal hotel on Weymouth a Esplanade and took Over the Royal naval base has Grasshopper on the North Side of Weymouth Bay. British Canadian and other Allied ships primarily embarked for the sword Gold and Juno beaches from Poole and ports to the East Hoskins said. The initial invasion Fleet consisted of six battleships two of them american 23 cruisers three of them american 122 destroyers 34 of them american 98 mine sweepers nine of them american and hundreds of frigates Small combat Craft and Landing Craft filled with men tanks and other equipment according to de a. Howard a former school teacher and Weymouth historian. The coast of France had been heavily mined by the germans to prevent invasion and min sweeping flotillas led the Way across the English Channel Clearing lanes for the invasion Fleet. Minesweepers initially sailed june 4, Only to be called Back because of bad weather. Each min sweeping flotilla was accompanied by a battleship. Meanwhile Allied ships already had begun leaving their individual ports to converge at a Point just South of the Isle of Wight. Most . Flotillas pulled into Portland Harbor and Weymouth Bay for shelter from the storm causing locals to remark that the ports were so thick with ships that they could have walked from Portland to Weymouth on the decks. 40 a stars and stripes commemorative edition june 6, 1994