D-Day 80th Anniversary

[Grey Havoc]

D-Day: Moving and spectacular 80th anniversary commemorations

Watch: Moving and spectacular D-Day commemorations

www.bbc.com

D-Day: King and world leaders attend emotional D-Day events

The King and Prince of Wales both made speeches, praising the "bravery and sacrifice" of those who "served at that critical time".

www.bbc.com

D-Day 80th anniversary: What's on in Northern Ireland?

Events are being held in towns and cities across NI to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

www.bbc.com

D-Day: The Kent veteran who campaigned for a memorial

Commemorations are held at the memorial that Albert Figg, from Canterbury, campaigned to build.

www.bbc.com

Jersey remembers D-Day heroes on 80th anniversary

Tributes for D-Day heros from Jersey who "gave their lives for our freedom".

www.bbc.com

What was the role of Northern Ireland soldiers on D-Day?

Hundreds of soldiers from Ireland lost their lives in the battles across northern France.

www.bbc.com

Wren, 103, given Legion d'honneur by France's Emmanuel Macron

Christian Lamb was given the Legion d'honneur at a commemoration event in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy.

www.bbc.com

D-Day: What happened during the Normandy landings of 1944?

The King, Queen and Prince of Wales joined veterans to mark the Normandy landings' 80th anniversary.

www.bbc.co.uk

D-Day: 10 things you might not know about the Normandy invasion

In June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded Nazi-occupied France.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ilkeston historian joins WW2 vehicle convoy for D-Day anniversary

Kieran Tonge will be joining hundreds of other WW2 vehicles taking the trip to Normandy.

www.bbc.com

D-Day veterans recall their roles in operation

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy, which led to the end of World War two.

www.bbc.com

How French winemakers outwitted the Nazis

From hiding their best bottles to providing secret intel to Allied forces, French winemakers played an essential role in the French Resistance, which helped pave the way for D-Day.

www.bbc.com

The rural pub where Eisenhower and Patton made D-Day plans

Plans for the Normandy landings were made by senior US commanders in a back room of a Cheshire pub.

www.bbc.com

The Irish lighthouse keeper who gave D-Day the go-ahead

Maureen Sweeney's weather report from Blacksod Lighthouse in Mayo helped persuade Allied commanders.

www.bbc.com

'They gave us freedom' - D-day veterans celebrated in Normandy

Colourful events are taking place to commemorate D-Day, but the ongoing conflict in Ukraine casts a shadow of war over Europe.

www.bbc.com

'We must keep war veterans' stories alive' - Suffolk historian

Taff Gillingham speaks of the importance of keeping the memory of what happened on D-Day alive.

www.bbc.com

Bristol man embarks on 243-mile charity walk for D-Day veterans

Dave Westall says he was inspired to do the walk by a chance meeting with a 99-year-old who served in Normandy.

www.bbc.com

D-Day 80th anniversary: Veterans fight back tears in Auld Lang Syne singalong

It was only after the 15 D-Day veterans had made it safely on to a square overlooking the shores of Arromanches that the music sounded and they started to sing.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Veteran who saw flag raised at Iwo Jima dies aged 102 on way to D-Day commemorations

Robert Persichitti, who served with US Navy in the Pacific, died onboard a ship sailing to Normandy events

www.telegraph.co.uk

Watch: Moment British paratroopers have passports checked after D-Day drop in France

Soldiers landing in Normandy for 80th anniversary commemorations produce travel documents at temporary customs check

www.telegraph.co.uk

French town renames street to honour British D-Day troops

Normandy town of Tracy-sur-Mer pays tribute to Royal Marines who came ashore on June 6, 1944 and liberated the town

www.telegraph.co.uk

The terrible fate of SAS heroes who landed in France ahead of D-Day

Operation aiming to blunt movement of German reinforcements was a success but the price was the capture and murder of 33 of them

www.telegraph.co.uk

What happened on D Day? Heroes share their remarkable tales

80 years on, four surviving heroes share their remarkable stories

www.telegraph.co.uk

Still driving at 100: a D-Day veteran’s wartime motoring experiences

Aged 20 when the invasion took place, John Roberts went on to have a love affair with Lagonda cars, having bought his first for £150

www.telegraph.co.uk

Princess Anne honours soldiers as parachutists recreate D-Day landings

The Princess Royal hailed the “unwavering determination” of the allied forces as hundreds of parachutists jumped over Normandy on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Why the British story of D-Day must be properly told

Blockbuster films by Spielberg and co put a US victory spin on D-Day, overlooking British forces. The new Churchill centre will change that

www.telegraph.co.uk

The French seaside resort sacrificed to keep D-Day secret

Le Touquet, a chic playground for the great and the good, was hit by some 2,000 Allied bombs in an elaborate game of smoke and mirrors

www.telegraph.co.uk

This is no longer the Britain the D-Day generation fought to save

This has become a country where people applaud when their liberties are taken away from them. Would they even recognise us?

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Grey Havoc]

Live updates: D-Day 80th anniversary in Normandy, Biden, Macron, Zelensky, Prince William attend

World leaders visited the beaches of Normandy on Thursday to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpaaaVddp7k

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVAEJsN7cHE

 

[klem]

"Happy are they who died in great battles"- (Charles Péguy).

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes-2

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes-3

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes-4

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes-5

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes-6

 

[Justo Miranda]

Stripes-7

 

[GTX]

At D-Day ceremony, American veteran hugs Ukraine's Zelenskyy and calls him a savior

An American veteran and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared an emotional moment at a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion to liberate France in World War II.

apnews.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

D-Day absence an extraordinary own goal from the Conservatives

Rishi Sunak’s decision to leave the most poignant event in Europe early was always likely to be spotted.

www.bbc.com

How Rishi Sunak made biggest political misstep of general election

As Tory leader misses another defining global event, voters are left to wonder if he lacks ‘natural instincts on these things’

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[pedrospe]

D-Day absence an extraordinary own goal from the Conservatives

Rishi Sunak’s decision to leave the most poignant event in Europe early was always likely to be spotted.

www.bbc.com

How Rishi Sunak made biggest political misstep of general election

As Tory leader misses another defining global event, voters are left to wonder if he lacks ‘natural instincts on these things’

www.telegraph.co.uk

I don't know what he was thinking, in leaving such important event, given the turmoil europe is facing.

 

[pedrospe]

D-Day: Moving and spectacular 80th anniversary commemorations

Watch: Moving and spectacular D-Day commemorations

www.bbc.com

D-Day: King and world leaders attend emotional D-Day events

The King and Prince of Wales both made speeches, praising the "bravery and sacrifice" of those who "served at that critical time".

www.bbc.com

D-Day 80th anniversary: What's on in Northern Ireland?

Events are being held in towns and cities across NI to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

www.bbc.com

D-Day: The Kent veteran who campaigned for a memorial

Commemorations are held at the memorial that Albert Figg, from Canterbury, campaigned to build.

www.bbc.com

Jersey remembers D-Day heroes on 80th anniversary

Tributes for D-Day heros from Jersey who "gave their lives for our freedom".

www.bbc.com

What was the role of Northern Ireland soldiers on D-Day?

Hundreds of soldiers from Ireland lost their lives in the battles across northern France.

www.bbc.com

Wren, 103, given Legion d'honneur by France's Emmanuel Macron

Christian Lamb was given the Legion d'honneur at a commemoration event in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy.

www.bbc.com

D-Day: What happened during the Normandy landings of 1944?

The King, Queen and Prince of Wales joined veterans to mark the Normandy landings' 80th anniversary.

www.bbc.co.uk

D-Day: 10 things you might not know about the Normandy invasion

In June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded Nazi-occupied France.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ilkeston historian joins WW2 vehicle convoy for D-Day anniversary

Kieran Tonge will be joining hundreds of other WW2 vehicles taking the trip to Normandy.

www.bbc.com

D-Day veterans recall their roles in operation

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy, which led to the end of World War two.

www.bbc.com

How French winemakers outwitted the Nazis

From hiding their best bottles to providing secret intel to Allied forces, French winemakers played an essential role in the French Resistance, which helped pave the way for D-Day.

www.bbc.com

The rural pub where Eisenhower and Patton made D-Day plans

Plans for the Normandy landings were made by senior US commanders in a back room of a Cheshire pub.

www.bbc.com

The Irish lighthouse keeper who gave D-Day the go-ahead

Maureen Sweeney's weather report from Blacksod Lighthouse in Mayo helped persuade Allied commanders.

www.bbc.com

'They gave us freedom' - D-day veterans celebrated in Normandy

Colourful events are taking place to commemorate D-Day, but the ongoing conflict in Ukraine casts a shadow of war over Europe.

www.bbc.com

'We must keep war veterans' stories alive' - Suffolk historian

Taff Gillingham speaks of the importance of keeping the memory of what happened on D-Day alive.

www.bbc.com

Bristol man embarks on 243-mile charity walk for D-Day veterans

Dave Westall says he was inspired to do the walk by a chance meeting with a 99-year-old who served in Normandy.

www.bbc.com

D-Day 80th anniversary: Veterans fight back tears in Auld Lang Syne singalong

It was only after the 15 D-Day veterans had made it safely on to a square overlooking the shores of Arromanches that the music sounded and they started to sing.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Veteran who saw flag raised at Iwo Jima dies aged 102 on way to D-Day commemorations

Robert Persichitti, who served with US Navy in the Pacific, died onboard a ship sailing to Normandy events

www.telegraph.co.uk

Watch: Moment British paratroopers have passports checked after D-Day drop in France

Soldiers landing in Normandy for 80th anniversary commemorations produce travel documents at temporary customs check

www.telegraph.co.uk

French town renames street to honour British D-Day troops

Normandy town of Tracy-sur-Mer pays tribute to Royal Marines who came ashore on June 6, 1944 and liberated the town

www.telegraph.co.uk

The terrible fate of SAS heroes who landed in France ahead of D-Day

Operation aiming to blunt movement of German reinforcements was a success but the price was the capture and murder of 33 of them

www.telegraph.co.uk

What happened on D Day? Heroes share their remarkable tales

80 years on, four surviving heroes share their remarkable stories

www.telegraph.co.uk

Still driving at 100: a D-Day veteran’s wartime motoring experiences

Aged 20 when the invasion took place, John Roberts went on to have a love affair with Lagonda cars, having bought his first for £150

www.telegraph.co.uk

Princess Anne honours soldiers as parachutists recreate D-Day landings

The Princess Royal hailed the “unwavering determination” of the allied forces as hundreds of parachutists jumped over Normandy on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Why the British story of D-Day must be properly told

Blockbuster films by Spielberg and co put a US victory spin on D-Day, overlooking British forces. The new Churchill centre will change that

www.telegraph.co.uk

The French seaside resort sacrificed to keep D-Day secret

Le Touquet, a chic playground for the great and the good, was hit by some 2,000 Allied bombs in an elaborate game of smoke and mirrors

www.telegraph.co.uk

This is no longer the Britain the D-Day generation fought to save

This has become a country where people applaud when their liberties are taken away from them. Would they even recognise us?

www.telegraph.co.uk

I hope we all be here, in the 100th anniversary of the d-day event.

 

[Justo Miranda]

At D-Day ceremony, American veteran hugs Ukraine's Zelenskyy and calls him a savior

An American veteran and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared an emotional moment at a ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion to liberate France in World War II.

apnews.com

A number of the German troops defending the beaches were actually Russian volunteers, possibly some of them Ukrainians.

 

[zjz]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVU5kQ8O6uI

 

[zjz]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB70YryKyhw

 

[TinWing]

I don't know what he was thinking, in leaving such important event, given the turmoil europe is facing.

In all seriousness, it’s more important to apply critical analysis to a historical bloodbath like D-Day than to attend an unquestioning commemoration. The Normandy invasion occurred at a time when the Italian campaign was a protracted disaster. In truth, Operation Overlord wasn’t particularly well planned or well lead and the much less bloody Operation Dragoon in Southern France should have been given precedence. The deception Operation Ironside was actually a much better alternative to Normandy, which lacks natural harbors, as compared the sheltered Garonne estuary, and the port of Bordeaux, which could have been taken intact with minimal casualties.

From the perspective of 2024, the mindless and slavish obedience to authority displayed by all sides, both Allied and Axis, in 1944 should be questioned instead of commemorated. The 80th D-Day commemoration was incredibly embarrassing, especially considering the one incident that nobody feels comfortable talking about.

 

[pedrospe]

In all seriousness, it’s more important to apply critical analysis to a historical bloodbath like D-Day than to attend an unquestioning commemoration. The Normandy invasion occurred at a time when the Italian campaign was a protracted disaster. In truth, Operation Overlord wasn’t particularly well planned or well lead and the much less bloody Operation Dragoon in Southern France should have been given precedence. The deception Operation Ironside was actually a much better alternative to Normandy, which lacks natural harbors, as compared the sheltered Garonne estuary, and the port of Bordeaux, which could have been taken intact with minimal casualties.

From the perspective of 2024, the mindless and slavish obedience to authority displayed by all sides, both Allied and Axis, in 1944 should be questioned instead of commemorated. The 80th D-Day commemoration was incredibly embarrassing, especially considering the one incident that nobody feels comfortable talking about.

Let's not forget, that if it wasn't for D-day, and all those brave men that fought there, the war in Europe, probably wouldn't have ended in 1945, D-day was the start of the fall of Germany forces in France which led to their demise in other countries as well, so D-day was very important and should be remembered and respected.

 

[zjz]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBPI4VZa8yg

 

[Scott Kenny]

I was a little surprised, they actually sang the Airborne's sarcastic marching cadence in front of the politicians. "Glory, glory, what a helluva way to die"

 

[fightingirish]

View: https://youtu.be/tEsL4B_qDs4?si=glVfPYRbaZ_g1zPw

 

[1635yankee]

In all seriousness, it’s more important to apply critical analysis to a historical bloodbath like D-Day than to attend an unquestioning commemoration. The Normandy invasion occurred at a time when the Italian campaign was a protracted disaster. In truth, Operation Overlord wasn’t particularly well planned or well lead and the much less bloody Operation Dragoon in Southern France should have been given precedence. The deception Operation Ironside was actually a much better alternative to Normandy, which lacks natural harbors, as compared the sheltered Garonne estuary, and the port of Bordeaux, which could have been taken intact with minimal casualties.

From the perspective of 2024, the mindless and slavish obedience to authority displayed by all sides, both Allied and Axis, in 1944 should be questioned instead of commemorated. The 80th D-Day commemoration was incredibly embarrassing, especially considering the one incident that nobody feels comfortable talking about.

The Germans, from all I've read, did not expect any invasion to occur without quick access to harbors, so they had those areas better defended; attacking where there was a higher likelihood of strong German defenses may not have been terribly wise. This is part of the reason the German high command were fooled by the "bodyguard of lies" disinformation campaign: it's always easier to fool people by providing evidence in support of their prejudices.

While their may have been tactical or operational reasons supporting Operation Dragoon over Overlord, there were strategic reasons supporting Overlord: Paris was emotionally and strategically important, it was closer to the UK, providing much easier access to air assets and logistics, and it was a more direct and quicker threat to Germany proper. Going from the south of France to Germany would require traveling farther, possibly (after a quick look at a topo map) channeled by Alps on the east and the mountainous Haute-Loire on the west.

Not having Overlord would let the Germans resist for longer, and give them more time to murder civilians, something that was high on their list of war aims. Politically, it would also give more time for the USSR to move westward, something that was anathema to the Western Allies.

 

[Justo Miranda]

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[Justo Miranda]

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[Justo Miranda]

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[Justo Miranda]

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[Justo Miranda]

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[Justo Miranda]

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[Justo Miranda]

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[Grey Havoc]

From last week:

80 Years Ago This Very Moment..... - History, Politics And Current Affairs

 

[zjz]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnVUlNG-H3Q

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKf9FFH1hKM

 

[Grey Havoc]

Airspeed Horsa & Waco CG-4: They sure got Stripes.

D-Day plus 80 years, my friends.A sole Waco CG-4 and four Horsa gliders their job done. More info, if you are interested.(PhotosNormandie)

elpoderdelasgalaxias.wordpress.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Stan Smith, RNVR midshipman who helped to get tanks safely ashore on D-Day – obituary

He later transferred to the RAF and oversaw the dispersal of oil following the Torrey Canyon disaster in 1967

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Colonial-Marine]

It saddens me that this past 80th anniversary is the last "big one" that any veterans of that historic day will be around for. With their passing much is lost. We should all appreciate the organizations that have gone out of their way to record their accounts.

 

[Grey Havoc]

1943 ANOTHER REORGANISATION

D Day and beyond

The ability to support the Allied Forces on D Day was improved by the formation of 3 new Bomb Disposal Squadrons made up of Flights from the existing organisation. These were formed as follows:

5137 Sqn RAF BD. Sqn Ldr D Strachan Commanding
6220 Flt (from 5133)
6225 (from 5134)

5138 Sqn RAF BD. Sqn Ldr A Dykes Commanding (ex 5134)
6214 Flt (from 5132)
6228 (from 5135)
6337 (Origin unknown but could have been specially formed for D Day)

5139 Sqn RAF BD. Sqn Ldr K Scammel Commanding
6205 Flt (from 5131)
6206 (from 5131)
6210 (from5132)

The first BD Flight to embark for the beaches of Normandy was 6225 Flt commanded by Flt Lt Cartwright. On D Day +1 at 04.00 hours, 6225 Flt encountered ememy action when the landing craft they were in, No 390 was shelled by the German Shore Batteries and and E Boat at the port of Le Havre. The landing craft sank within two minutes. Seven men were killed, 6 hospitalised and one taken prisoner. In this incident, 90% of the equipment belonging to 6225 Flt was lost. The survivors were picked up by another landing craft and set ashore at MIKE/NAN beaches on June 8.

6225 Flight was non operational but by July 4 1944, having had personnel replaced and new equipment issued the Flight was able to make a successful landing on the Normandy beaches under their previous CO Flt Lt Cartwright.

On D Day + 2, 6220 Flight embarked for Gray-Sur Mer where the temporarily merged with the survivors of 6225 Flight.

As the Allied bridgehead strengthened and the Allied advances were being pushed home, more RAF BD Flights landed in Normandy with a formidable task ahead of them. The flights that went to Normandy after D Day cleared minefields and German bomb dumps (some were booby trapped) that had been left by the retreating German Forces.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Watch: Spitfire crash-lands after pilot turned on empty fuel tank

Vintage fighter comes within moments of tipping over completely before flopping back down in incident at Pitsford Airfield

www.telegraph.co.uk

The Grace Spitfire​

Known in airshow circles as the Grace Spitfire, ML407 was restored to flight by Nick Grace, the design engineer. After Mr Grace died in a car accident in 1988 his wife Carolyn took over flying the aircraft until 2017. The Spitfire is now owned by their son Richard following Carolyn’s death in a car accident last year.

ML407 was delivered to the RAF in April 1944 and saw out the last year of the Second World War in frontline service, shooting down the first German aircraft to be destroyed on D-Day, the start of the liberation of occupied Europe.

Earlier this year the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight suffered its first-ever fatal accident after a single-seat Spitfire Mark IX, flown by Sqn Ldr Mark Long, crashed shortly after take-off at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.