D-Day: 70th Anniversary

70 years ago today brave Allied servicemen undertook the largest sea and airborne invasion in history: D-Day: June 6th, 1944. This was the Allied invasion of Normandy, France and a significant turning point in the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.

US landing craft approaches Omaha Beach on D-Day: June 6th, 1944
US landing craft approaches Omaha Beach on D-Day: June 6th, 1944

These men dropped from the sky and stormed the beaches of France to open a door to peace and freedom for western Europe. Sadly many were lost in battle.

D-Day June 6th, 1944 Allied Land, Sea and Air Assets (Image Source: BBC Education)
D-Day June 6th, 1944 Allied Land, Sea and Air Assets (Image Source: BBC Education)

They were not alone though. From the sea, ships of the Allied navies provided fire support and overhead they had dedicated protection from RAF and USAAF aircraft. The sight of fighters and bombers flying over the beaches en masse must have been reassuring as the troops tried to get off those beaches.

RAF Supermarine Spitfires over Juno Beach on D-Day: June 6th, 1944 (Artist: Anthony Saunders)
RAF Supermarine Spitfires over Juno Beach on D-Day: June 6th, 1944 (Artist: Anthony Saunders)
RAF Hawker Typhoon with D-Day stripes markings (RAF Museum - Hendon 2012)
RAF Hawker Typhoon with D-Day stripes for easy recognition (RAF Museum – Hendon 2012)
Martin B-26 Marauder "Dinah Might" at Utah Beach (Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont) in 2012
Martin B-26 Marauder “Dinah Might” at Utah Beach (Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont) in 2012
USAAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt "Touch of Texas" with D-Day stripes June 1944
USAAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “Touch of Texas” with D-Day stripes June 1944
RAF North American P-51B Mustang from No.2 Army Cooperation Squadron D-Day June 1944
RAF North American P-51B Mustang from No.2 Army Cooperation Squadron
USAAF Douglas A-20 Havoc in D-Day markings June 1944
USAAF Douglas A-20 Havoc in D-Day markings (the stripes where to help with identification for the troops below)
RAF Coastal Command Bristol Beaufighter in action June 1944
RAF Coastal Command Bristol Beaufighter in action June 1944
Great shot of a USAAF Lockheed P-38 Lightning with D-Day stripes 1944
Great shot of a USAAF Lockheed P-38 Lightning with D-Day stripes

Honour the fallen. Their sacrifice was great and should never be forgotten.

A crashed USAAF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt on the beach at Bernieres-sur-Mer, France June 1944
A crashed USAAF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt on the beach at Bernieres-sur-Mer, France June 1944
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9 thoughts on “D-Day: 70th Anniversary”

  1. USAAF Spitfire Mk. VC JK707 served with 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, which supported the landing at Salerno operating out of Milazzo, an airfield on the north coast of Sicily. The Spitfire was reportedly shot down by “firendly fire” from US naval anti-aircraft gunners, October 1943, Salerno, Italy.

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    1. Thanks for that information. I should have realised! I was grabbing images from my collection to quickly put this together and slipped up. Removed now as it doesn’t belong here. Regards Deano

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  4. This may not be the appropriate place to ask the questions, but one has to begin somewhere. Does anyone know where I could find a list of all the troop units, by country, involved in the D-Day landings. I am speaking here of all of the army, navy and air combat units directly involved in the landings.

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