D Day Anniversary - 70 Years
- Thread starter GazHyde
- Start date
Inside the BBMF Dak today. Paul B
The sound of Merlin engines has once again filled the skies of Normandy as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, accompanied by an RAF Typhoon painted with invasion stripes made a symbolic flypast over Pegasus Bridge in Normandy, close to the site of the first Airborne Landings in 1944.
The sound of Merlin engines has once again filled the skies of Normandy as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, accompanied by an RAF Typhoon painted with invasion stripes made a symbolic flypast over Pegasus Bridge in Normandy, close to the site of the first Airborne Landings in 1944.
Well Gaz you beat me to it, this was going to be my project for this evening. I was thinking how apt it was for "our " Frankie to be over hear representing all those young men from the other side of the pond, USA and CANDA, who died a long way from home along side all the brave men from this side too. My dad wasn't in Normandy but he spent his war in North Africa and Burma which had their own horrors. He passed away 4 years ago at 94. We should never forget! Bless them all.
I meant to post it up earlier today, and in one of those stupid paradoxes I didn't because I ran out of time. Something we have the luxury to take for granted I guess!
A photo from stolen from my Facebook feed showing the scale of what went on...
It's really hard to imagine the enormity of the scale of the operation, that's an awesome picture Gaz.
The numbers are eye watering. I got these stats from the Royal British Legion website.
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D-Day was the biggest seaborne invasion and the greatest military campaign the world has seen.
Allied troops landed in Normandy156,115
American (Omaha & Utah beaches + airborne)73,000
British (Gold & Sword beaches + airborne)61,715
Canadian (Juno Beach)21,400
Airborne troops (included in figures above)23,400
Aircraft supporting the landings 11,590
Sorties flown by allied aircraft14,674
Aircraft lost 127
Naval vessels in Operation Neptune6939
Naval combat ships1213
Landing ships and landing craft4126
Ancillary craft736
Merchant vessels864
Personnel in Operation Neptune 195,700
American52,889
British112,824
Other allied4988
By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.
As well as the troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day, and those in supporting roles at sea and in the air, millions more men and women in the Allied countries were involved in the preparations for D-Day. They played thousands of different roles, both in the Armed Forces and as civilians.
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D-Day was the biggest seaborne invasion and the greatest military campaign the world has seen.
Allied troops landed in Normandy156,115
American (Omaha & Utah beaches + airborne)73,000
British (Gold & Sword beaches + airborne)61,715
Canadian (Juno Beach)21,400
Airborne troops (included in figures above)23,400
Aircraft supporting the landings 11,590
Sorties flown by allied aircraft14,674
Aircraft lost 127
Naval vessels in Operation Neptune6939
Naval combat ships1213
Landing ships and landing craft4126
Ancillary craft736
Merchant vessels864
Personnel in Operation Neptune 195,700
American52,889
British112,824
Other allied4988
By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.
As well as the troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day, and those in supporting roles at sea and in the air, millions more men and women in the Allied countries were involved in the preparations for D-Day. They played thousands of different roles, both in the Armed Forces and as civilians.
We shall remember you! Thanks to all that participated world wide to insure we have the freedom we enjoy today!
For those who haven't seen this story it's shows the strength, reserve and spirit is still alive and strong for these guys.
D-Day: Hove veteran disappears for Normandy trip
Staff had not been able to get Bernard Jordan on to an accredited tour to Normandy, but he made his own way there
An 89-year-old WW2 veteran disappeared from his nursing home without saying where he was going and went to France for the D-Day commemorations.
The former mayor of Hove, Bernard Jordan, left the home at 10:30 BST on Thursday, and was reported missing to Sussex Police that evening.
Staff later discovered he had joined other veterans in France and was safe and well at a hotel in Ouistreham.
Earlier, it was believed care home staff stopped him going to the events.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27735086
D-Day: Hove veteran disappears for Normandy trip
Staff had not been able to get Bernard Jordan on to an accredited tour to Normandy, but he made his own way there
An 89-year-old WW2 veteran disappeared from his nursing home without saying where he was going and went to France for the D-Day commemorations.
The former mayor of Hove, Bernard Jordan, left the home at 10:30 BST on Thursday, and was reported missing to Sussex Police that evening.
Staff later discovered he had joined other veterans in France and was safe and well at a hotel in Ouistreham.
Earlier, it was believed care home staff stopped him going to the events.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-27735086
Brilliant!! Just been reading this on MSN home page. What a man.
If the Nazi's couldn't stop him what the hell did they expect they could do? JIM
D-Day 70th anniversary celebrations end in spectacular style with huge daytime fireworks display.
I always get a tad emotional when thinking about exactly what that generation did for us...
I had a great relationship with wonderful grandparents and admired and respected my grandad ..Sgt Maurice Wimshurst..he was BEF and served in Burma ,Italy (monte casino) and was also involved in the D-day landings..as well as numerous other campaign's..
Honestly not a day passes when he doesn't cross my mind at least once or of my nan working in a munitions factory throughout the war..
We enjoy the freedom we have today because of the heroic efforts and sacrifices of those young men and women..
Lest we forget
Thanks Nan and Grandad..
I had a great relationship with wonderful grandparents and admired and respected my grandad ..Sgt Maurice Wimshurst..he was BEF and served in Burma ,Italy (monte casino) and was also involved in the D-day landings..as well as numerous other campaign's..
Honestly not a day passes when he doesn't cross my mind at least once or of my nan working in a munitions factory throughout the war..
We enjoy the freedom we have today because of the heroic efforts and sacrifices of those young men and women..
Lest we forget
Thanks Nan and Grandad..
- Veteran Bernard Jordan, 89, sneaked out of The Pines care home in Hove
- Donning war medals under a raincoat, he joined his comrades on a coach
- Police listed former mayor as missing person - until he turned up in France
- Today he returned to hero's welcome in Portsmouth on cross-channel ferry
- He said: 'I will be in some trouble with the care home, but it was worth it'
A 93-year-old World War II veteran returned this week to a battlefield in western France the same way he first arrived 70 years ago: He parachuted in, this time carrying an American flag.
Jim "Pee Wee" Martin joined parachuters from around he world in a jump Thursday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy by Allied forces. He completed a tandem jump onto Utah Beach in western France.
Seventy years earlier, he touched down the night before D-Day, landing in enemy territory. This time, he was greeted by smiling faces and a phalanx of cameras.
As a member of the 101st Airborne Division, Martin parachuted over Utah Beach as the Allied forces bid to retake France and, eventually, the rest of Europe from Nazi Germany. They actually touched down in enemy-controlled territory at night, before what's referred to as D-Day.
Thursday's jump was fun, but no comparison to 1944, Martin told news reporters, "because there wasn't anybody shooting at me today."
