Query: D-Day normandy invasion

Relevant passages:
101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion <=SEP=> 101st SS Heavy Panzer Battalion  (in German Schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 101, commonly abbreviated as s.SS-Pz. Abt. 101) was one of the Waffen-SS's elite armored units, acting as a 'fire brigade' and a crack assault unit on all fronts.

121st Engineer Battalion (United States) <=SEP=> The 121st Engineer Battalion was one of the first American units to land in Normandy on D-Day during World War II.

151st Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 151st Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service during World War II in Belgium and France in 1940, and later in North Africa, Tunisia and Sicily, and later in Normandy in mid-1944 and North-western Europe. The brigade was part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division, and for most of its existence consisted of three battalions of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) the 6th, 8th and 9th.

17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen <=SEP=> The 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen was a German Waffen-SS panzergrenadier division that saw action on the Western Front during World War II.

185th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 185th Infantry Brigade (185 Bde) was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army raised during World War II that participated in the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944, fighting in the Normandy Campaign and the subsequent campaign in North-West Europe with the 3rd British Infantry Division.

1944 <=SEP=> 1944 (MCMXLIV)was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (dominical letter BA), the 1944th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 944th  year of the 2nd millennium, the 44th  year of the 20th century, and the  5th   year of the 1940s decade.

1944 in France <=SEP=> Events from the year 1944 in France.

1944 in poetry <=SEP=> Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).

1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers <=SEP=> The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers was a specialisied armoured formation of the British Army active in World War II. It was formed in mid-1943 and its structure was three Assault Regiments of the Royal Engineers. It was assigned to the 79th Armoured Division in preparation for the Normandy invasion of 6 June 1944. The unit comprised armoured vehicles modified for specialist roles (also known as Hobart's Funnies), intended to assist with the landing phase of the operation.

203rd General Hospital <=SEP=> The United States Army's 203rd General Hospital was activated on February 10, 1941, to meet anticipated military medical needs of a country preparing for war.  Initially, the group was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, as a subsidiary of the base hospital there, and its primary function was to train medical technicians as army hospital  and clinic support staff.In 1942 the 203rd, commanded by Colonel James H.

2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade <=SEP=> The 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade was composed of the 6th, 10th and 27th Canadian Armoured Regiments and saw service in north-west Europe during the Second World War, landing in Normandy on D-Day and remaining in combat up to VE-Day.

323d Air Expeditionary Wing <=SEP=> The 323d Air Expeditionary Wing (323 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.

37th Armored Regiment <=SEP=> The 37th Armor is an armor (tank) regiment of the United States Army. It is often remembered as the successor to the 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, commanded by then by Lieutenant Colonel  Creighton Abrams (Abrams tank) during World War II.

392d Strategic Missile Wing <=SEP=> The 392d Strategic Missile Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 20 December 1961.During World War II, its predecessor unit, the 392d Bombardment Group was an Eighth Air Force B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group stationed in England, stationed at RAF Wendling.

3rd Division (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, known at various times as the Iron Division, 3rd (Iron) Division, Monty's Iron Sides or as Iron Sides; is a regular army division of the British Army. It was created in 1809 by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsular War, and was known as the Fighting 3rd under Sir Thomas Picton during the Napoleonic Wars.

401st Air Expeditionary Group <=SEP=> The 401st Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to be activated or inactivated at any time as needed. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.The group was first activated as the 401st Bombardment Group during World War II. The 401st entered combat with VIII Bomber Command, flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresser from RAF Deenethorpe.

436th Airlift Wing <=SEP=> The 436th Airlift Wing (436 AW) is an active United States Air Force unit.  It is assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, and is based at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.Known as the "Eagle Wing", the 436 AW consists of the operations, logistics, support, and medical groups; in addition to 12 divisions and two detachments. The wing has over 4,000 active-duty military and civilian employees.

448th Supply Chain Management Wing <=SEP=> The 448th Supply Chain Management Wing, a wing of the Air Force Sustainment Center of Air Force Material Command serves as the Air Force's supply chain manager headquartered at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.The wing was first activated in the reserve as the 448th Bombardment Wing in 1949 when Continental Air Command converted its reserve flying organizations under the wing base organization system.

457th Air Expeditionary Group <=SEP=> The United States Air Force's 457th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command. The 457 AEG may be activated or inactivated at any time.Its last assignment was to the United States Central Command Air Forces, being stationed at RAF Fairford, England, for duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

458th Air Expeditionary Group <=SEP=> The 458th Air Expeditionary Group (458 AEG) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. As a provisional unit, the 458 AEG may be activated or inactivated at any time.The last known activation of the unit was at Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport, 26 km NW of Constanţa, Romania.

4th Cavalry Regiment (United States) <=SEP=> The 4th Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry regiment, whose lineage is traced back to the mid-19th century. It was one of the most effective units of the Army against Indians on the Texas frontier. Today the regiment exists as separate squadrons within the U.S. Army. The 1st Squadron of the 4th Cavalry's official nickname is "Quarterhorse", which alludes to its 1/4 Cav designation.

50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division <=SEP=> The 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that saw distinguished service in World War II. Pre-war, the division was part of the Territorial Army and the two Ts in the divisional insignia represent the two boundaries to its recruitment area, the rivers Tweed and Trent, the old boundaries of Northumbria.

51st (Highland) Division <=SEP=> The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the Great War from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as the Highland Division and later 51st (Highland) Division from 1915. The division's insignia was a stylised 'HD' inside a red circle.

62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion <=SEP=> The 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion was formed in 1942 at Fort Bliss, Texas. The 62nd served in the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. They received a unit citation for their activities on D-Day at Omaha Beach. Elements of the unit were transported ashore by USS LCT-209.

69th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 69th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army in World War II. It was a 2nd Line Territorial Army unit and during the Battle of France served with the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division a division which suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded.

6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne infantry division of the British Army.

6th Airborne Division advance to the River Seine <=SEP=> The 6th Airborne Division advance to the River Seine occurred in August 1944, in the later stages of Operation Overlord following the German Army's defeat in the Falaise pocket, during the Second World War.The British 6th Airborne Division was one of the first Allied units to arrive in Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and successfully secured the left flank of the invasion zone.

6th Airlanding Brigade (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 6th Airlanding Brigade was a airborne infantry brigade of the British Army during the Second World War. Created during May 1943, the brigade was composed of three glider infantry battalions and supporting units, it was assigned to the 6th Airborne Division.During the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944, the brigade took part in Operation Mallard, holding the southern flank of the bridgehead over the Orne River.

6th Beach Group <=SEP=> The No. 6 Beach Group was a unit of the British Army during the Second World War. It was responsible for organising the units landing on Sword Beach in the Normandy landings on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The Beach Group was tasked with establishing dumps of equipment and supplies including ammunition, petrol and vehicles.

709th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) <=SEP=> The 709th Static Infantry Division was a German Army static division in World War II. It was raised in May 1941 and used for occupation duties during the German occupation of France in World War II until the Allied invasion. It was on the Normandy coast when the invasion fell, and thus fought in the Battle of Normandy. The division was trapped in the Cotentin Peninsula and destroyed in the defense of Cherbourg.

79th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist armoured division of the British Army created during World War II. The division was created as part of the preparations for the Normandy invasion of 6 June 1944, D-Day. The division operated armoured vehicles modified for specialist roles, intended to assist with the landings on the beaches.

7th Canadian Infantry Brigade <=SEP=> The 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, along with the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade and the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, formed the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, which was a Canadian Army formation during World War II. The division arrived in the United Kingdom in 1940 and spent three years in garrison duties and training in preparation for the assault landings on Juno Beach in Normandy on 6 June 1944.

82nd Airborne Division <=SEP=> The 82nd Airborne Division is an active duty airborne infantry division of the United States Army, specializing in parachute assault operations into denied areas. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is part of the XVIII Airborne Corps.The 82nd Division was constituted in the National Army on 5 August 1917, shortly after the American entry into World War I, and was organized on 25 August 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia.

8th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 8th Armoured Brigade was an armoured brigade of the British Army formed in August 1941, during the Second World War and active until 1956. The brigade was formed by the renaming of 6th Cavalry Brigade, when the 1st Cavalry Division based in Palestine (of which it was part) converted from a motorised formation (having been horse-mounted until January 1940) to an armoured unit.

92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery <=SEP=> The 92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was a British Army mobile light anti-aircraft regiment of the Royal Artillery that was raised and active during the Second World War.The 92nd (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery was created in November 1941 from the 7th Battalion, Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire). Most of the men in the unit were conscripts who came from Cheshire, Lancashire, Liverpool and other areas of Merseyside.

9th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) <=SEP=> The 9th Infantry Brigade was a Regular Army infantry brigade of the British Army that saw active service during both World War I and World War II.

ADSEC <=SEP=> ADSEC or ADSEC/COMZ represents "The Advance Section, Communications Zone", European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA), which was formally activated at Bristol in February 1944.  It is commonly referred to as simply "ADSEC".  This was a U.S. Army logistical agency, the first on the Continent.  Upon its creation ADSEC was attached to the U.S. First Army, and gradually took over the Communications Zone activities.

Aaron Bank <=SEP=> Colonel Aaron Bank (November 23, 1902 – April 1, 2004) was an officer of the United States Army, and the founder of the US Army Special Forces, commonly called "Green Berets". He is also famous for his exploits as an OSS officer during World War II, parachuting into France to coordinate and activate the French Resistance and organizing an operation intended to capture Adolf Hitler.

Albert Coady Wedemeyer <=SEP=> General Albert Coady Wedemeyer (July 9, 1897 – December 17, 1989) was a United States Army commander who served in Asia during World War II from October 1943 to the end of the war.  Previously, he was an important member of the War Planning Board which formulated plans for the Invasion of Normandy.

Allies of World War II <=SEP=> The Allies of World War II, called the United Nations from the 1 January 1942 declaration, were the countries that opposed the Axis powers together during the Second World War (1939–1945). The Allies promoted the alliance as seeking to stop German, Japanese and Italian aggression.The anti-German coalition at the start of the war (1 September 1939) consisted of France, Poland and Great Britain, soon to be joined by the British Commonwealth (Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa).

American airborne landings in Normandy <=SEP=> The American airborne landings in Normandy were the first United States combat operations during Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy by the Western Allies on June 6, 1944. Around 13,100 paratroopers of the U.S. 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions made night parachute drops early on D-Day, June 6, followed by 3,937 glider troops flown in by day.

Anthony Brooks <=SEP=> Major Anthony Morris "Tony" Brooks (4 April 1922 – 19 April 2007) was a British undercover agent in World War II. He received the Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, Croix de guerre, and Légion d'honneur for his work as a leader of a group sabotaging German reinforcements prior to and during the Normandy invasion. He later worked for the Foreign Office, and MI5 and MI6.

Australian contribution to the Battle of Normandy <=SEP=> The Australian contribution to the Battle of Normandy involved more than 3,000 military personnel serving under British command. The majority of these personnel were members of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), though smaller numbers of Australians serving with the Royal Navy and British Army also participated in the fighting prior to and after the Allied landings on 6 June 1944.

Battle of Bloody Gulch <=SEP=> The Battle of Bloody Gulch took place near Hill 69 (U.S. Army designation) approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Carentan in Normandy, France on June 13, 1944, between elements of the German 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division and 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, and the American 501st, 502nd and 506th, Parachute Infantry Regiments (PIR) of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, reinforced by elements of the U.S. 2nd Armored Division.

Beach groups <=SEP=> During the Second World War the Allies realised the need for the landing zone of an amphibious assault to be organised for the efficient passage of follow on forces. The British formed such units from all three services - the Royal Navy (Commandos), British Army and the Royal Air Force, with the Army component comprising Infantry, Engineers, Ordnance, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Medical and Service Corps.The equivalent U.S. units were called Beach Battalions.

Beachhead <=SEP=> A beachhead is a temporary line created when a military unit reaches a landing  beach by sea and begins to defend the area while other reinforcements help out until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. The term is sometimes used interchangeably (both correctly and incorrectly) with bridgehead and lodgement. Beachheads were very important in operations such as Operation Neptune, the Korean War (especially at Inchon), and the Vietnam War, among many other examples.

Bedford, Virginia <=SEP=> Bedford is an incorporated town located within Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,622.

Ben Schwartzwalder <=SEP=> Floyd Benjamin "Ben" Schwartzwalder (June 2, 1909 – April 28, 1993) was a Hall of Fame football coach at Syracuse University, where he trained such future National Football League stars as Jim Brown, as well as the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, Ernie Davis.Schwartzwalder played center at West Virginia University, despite weighing only 146 pounds, and was an all-campus wrestler in 1930 in the 155 pound weight class. He was captain of the football team in 1933.

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein <=SEP=> Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC (/məntˈɡʌmərɪ əv ˈæləmeɪn/; 17 November 1887 – 24 March 1976), nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General", was a senior officer of the British Army.He saw action in the First World War as a junior officer of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. At Méteren, near the Belgian border at Bailleul, he was shot through the right lung by a sniper.

Bob Whinney <=SEP=> Captain Reginald Fife "Bob" Whinney DSC & Two Bars (8 February 1909 – 1992) was a Royal Navy officer who specialised in anti-submarine warfare during World War II. Whilst in command of the W-class destroyer HMS Wanderer he helped destroy three German U-boats. For his war services he received the Distinguished Service Cross with two Bars.

Bombing of Normandy <=SEP=> The Bombing of Normandy during the Normandy invasion was meant to destroy the German communication lines in the Norman cities and towns.  However, very few Germans occupied these municipalities.  German troops were mostly located outside these areas. On 9 July 1944, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery demanded a massive air assault against Caen in hopes of clearing the way for an attack the following morning. Four hundred and fifty heavy aircraft participated, dropping 2,500 tons of bombs.

British Army <=SEP=> The British Army is the United Kingdom's principal land warfare force. The force was initially administered by the War Office from London, which in 1964 was subsumed into the Ministry of Defence. The professional head of the British Army is the Chief of the General Staff.The full-time element of the British Army is referred to as the Regular Army and has been since the creation of the reservist Territorial Force in 1908.

Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial <=SEP=> The Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Saint-James, Normandy, France, near the northeastern edge of Brittany. It contains the remains of 4,410 of World War II American soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the Normandy and Brittany campaigns of 1944. Along the retaining wall of the memorial terrace are inscribed the names of 498 of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of soldiers who have been found.

Brécourt Manor Assault <=SEP=> The Brécourt Manor Assault (6 June 1944) during the U.S. parachute assault of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of small-unit tactics and leadership in overcoming a larger enemy force.

Calais <=SEP=> Calais (/ˈkæleɪ/ CAL-ay, traditionally /ˈkælɨs/; French pronunciation: ​[kaˈlɛ]; Picard: Calés; Dutch: Kales) is a town and major ferry port in northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's prefecture is its third-largest city of Arras. The population of the metropolitan area at the 2010 census was 126,395.

Camper and Nicholsons <=SEP=> Camper and Nicholsons are the oldest leisure marine company in the world. The company was originally a shipyard in Gosport, today Camper and Nicholsons has become a yacht and marina management company.

Chalgrove Airfield <=SEP=> Chalgrove Airfield (ICAO: EGLJ) is a former Second World War airfield in Oxfordshire, England. The airfield is located approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) north-northeast of Benson; about 42 mi (68 km) north-northwest of London.Opened in 1943, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces. During the war it was used primarily as a combat reconnaissance airfield.

Charles Durning <=SEP=> Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor, with appearances in over 200 movies, television shows and plays. Durning's memorable roles included The Sting (1973) and Dog Day Afternoon (1975), along with the comedies The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Tootsie (1982), and To Be or Not to Be (1983).

Charles N. DeGlopper <=SEP=> Charles Neilans DeGlopper (November 30, 1921–June 9, 1944) was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the highest award of the U.S. military, for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the World War II Battle of Normandy.A Grand Island, New York native, DeGlopper was the only soldier from the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment to receive the Medal of Honor.

Christchurch Airfield <=SEP=> For the World War II use of this facility, see RAF ChristchurchChristchurch Airfield was located southeast of the A337/B3059 intersection in Somerford, Christchurch, Dorset, England.It was a civil airfield starting from 1926, then it was used during World War II by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force. After the war the airfield returned to civilian use and the airfield complex was then demolished in 1966.

Cotentin Peninsula <=SEP=> The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France.  It extends north-westward into the English Channel, towards Great Britain. To its west lie the Channel Islands and to the southwest lies the Brittany Peninsula.The peninsula lies wholly within the department of Manche, in the region of Lower Normandy.

D-Day: The Great Crusade <=SEP=> D-Day:The Great Crusade is a historical operational wargame that covers the Normandy Campaign of World War II from 6 June 1944 to 6 July 1944. The game is intended for two players but can be played solitaire or with four players as well.

D-Day (game) <=SEP=> D-Day is a board wargame published by Avalon Hill first in 1961 and later re-released in 1965, 1971, 1977 and 1991.An operational/strategic simulation of the Western Front between June and September, 1944, the game simulates the invasion by the Allies of France while it was occupied by the Axis Powers.

D-Day (military term) <=SEP=> In the military, D-Day is the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. The best known D-Day is June 6, 1944—the day of the Normandy landings—initiating the Western Allied effort to liberate mainland Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II. However, many other invasions and operations had a designated D-Day, both before and after that operation.The terms D-Day and H-Hour are used for the day and hour on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated.

D-Day (video game) <=SEP=> D-Day is a real-time strategy war-game, that is set during and after the Normandy D-Day landings in 1944. The game features fully rendered 3D viewable from different angles. The player can take control of up to 60 different units, from snipers, to flamethrower units, and can take control of wheeled and tracked units. It is considered a sequel to Desert Rats vs.

D-Day Dodgers <=SEP=> The D-Day Dodgers is a term for those Allied servicemen who fought in Italy during the Second World War, which also inspired a popular wartime soldier's song (Roud Folk Song Index no.

D-Day Museum <=SEP=> The D-Day Museum is located in Southsea, Portsmouth in Hampshire, England. Opened in 1984 by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, it tells the story of Operation Overlord during the Normandy D-Day landings. The museum  houses the Overlord embroidery and the display involves a film show including original footage and archive film.The D-Day Museum is home to the Overlord Embroidery and was specially built to hold it.

D-Day naval deceptions <=SEP=> Operations Taxable, Glimmer and Big Drum were tactical military deceptions conducted on 6 June 1944 in support of the Allied landings in Normandy. The operations formed the naval component of Operation Bodyguard, a wider series of tactical and strategic deceptions surrounding the invasion. Small boats, along with aircraft from RAF Bomber Command, simulated invasion fleets approaching Cap d'Antifer, Pas-de-Calais and Normandy.

DD tank <=SEP=> DD or Duplex Drive tanks, nicknamed "Donald Duck tanks", were a type of amphibious swimming tank developed by the British during the Second World War.

Dean Rockwell <=SEP=> Dean Ladrath Rockwell (25 May 1912 in Cass County, Michigan – 8 August 2005  in Ann Arbor, Michigan ) was a decorated World War II group commander in the D-Day invasion, an Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling coach, and a college football coach.After graduating from Eastern Michigan University in 1935, Rockwell taught and coached track, wrestling and football at several Michigan high schools.

Disinformation <=SEP=> Disinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. It is an act of deception and false statements to convince someone of untruth.

Don P. Moon <=SEP=> Don Pardee Moon (April 18, 1894 – August 5, 1944) was a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy, who fought in the invasion of Europe.  He was born in Kokomo, Indiana, USA.  He married and had four children.

Donald Malarkey <=SEP=> Technical Sergeant Donald G. Malarkey (born July 31, 1921) is a former non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army during World War II.  Malarkey was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Scott Grimes.

Douve <=SEP=> The Douve or Ouve is a river, 79 kilometres in length, which rises in the commune of Tollevast, near Cherbourg in the department of Manche. Ouve is considered its old name (Unva in ancient texts): Ouve appears to have been misspelled over the course of time as "Douve river" and then as "River of the Douve" (Douve literally means Ditch).

Dwight Shepler <=SEP=> Dwight Shepler (1905-1974) was an American naval officer and painter.Dwight Shepler was born August 11, 1905 in Everett, Massachusetts. He graduated from Williams College in 1928, as well as studying in Boston Museum School of Fine Art. In 1942 he received a commission from the US Navy’s officer-artist program and was soon sent into the South Pacific.In 1943 he went to Londonderry, Northern Ireland (October 1943) and England and took part in the 1944 Normandy invasion as an artist.

E Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (United States) <=SEP=> Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the "Screaming Eagles", is one of the best-known companies in the United States Army. Their experiences in World War II are the subject of the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers based on the book of the same name by historian Stephen Ambrose.

Earls Colne Airfield <=SEP=> Earls Colne Airfield (ICAO: EGSR) is a former Royal Air Force station in Essex, England. Earls Colne has a CAA Ordinary Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P860), issued to Bulldog Aviation Limited. The airfield is located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) southeast of Halstead, approximately 5 mi (8.0 km) east-northeast of Braintree; about 45 mi (72 km) northeast of LondonOpened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces.

Eighth Air Force <=SEP=> The Eighth Air Force (8AF) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Forces Strategic – Global Strike, one of the air components of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

Erich Marcks <=SEP=> Erich Marcks (6 June 1891 – 12 June 1944) was a German general of artillery in the Second World War. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Ernest T. Cragg <=SEP=> Ernest Thorpe Cragg (January 19, 1922 – March 9, 2006) was a Major General in the United States Air Force.

European theatre of World War II <=SEP=> The European Theatre of World War II, also known as the European War, was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe, from Germany's and the Soviet Union's joint invasion of Poland in September 1939 until the end of the war with the Soviet Union conquering much of Europe along with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945 (V-E Day).

Exercise Tiger <=SEP=> Exercise Tiger, or Operation Tiger, was the code name for one in a series of large-scale rehearsals for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, which took place on Slapton Sands or Slapton Beach in Devon. Coordination and communication problems resulted in friendly fire deaths during the exercise, and an Allied convoy positioning itself for the landing was attacked by E-boats of Germany's Kriegsmarine, resulting in the deaths of 946 American servicemen.

Filthy Thirteen <=SEP=> The Filthy Thirteen was the name given to the 1st Demolition Section of the Regimental Headquarters Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, of the United States Army, which fought in the European campaign in World War II.

First United States Army <=SEP=> The First Army is the oldest and longest established field army of the United States Army, having seen service in both World War I and World War II, under some of the most famous and distinguished officers of the U.S. Army. It now serves as a mobilization, readiness and training command.

Frank D. Peregory <=SEP=> Frank D. Peregory was a United States Army technical sergeant who posthumously received the United States military's highest decoration for bravery in combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II. In a previous incident, he also received the Soldier's Medal for rescuing another soldier from drowning. Peregory grew up in a large family in Virginia and although he was only 15 years old, in 1931 he lied about his age in order to join the Virginia Army National Guard.

Free France <=SEP=> Free France and its Free French Forces (French: France Libre and Forces françaises libres) were the government-in-exile led by Charles de Gaulle during the Second World War and its military forces that continued to fight against the Axis powers as an Ally after the fall of France.

Fritz Witt <=SEP=> Fritz Witt (27 May 1908 – 14 June 1944) was a German Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS who served with the 1.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler before taking command of the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend. Witt was killed by an allied naval barrage in 1944.

Garrison H. Davidson <=SEP=> Garrison Holt Davidson (April 24, 1904 – December 25, 1992) was a United States Army officer, combat engineer, commander, and military educator from the 1920s through World War II and into the Cold War-era. Commissioned as one of the youngest generals during World War II, he achieved the rank of lieutenant general before his mandatory retirement from the Army in 1964, Davidson served as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy from 1956 to 1960.

George Reginald Starr <=SEP=> George Reginald Starr DSO MC (6 April 1904 – 2 September 1980) was a British mining engineer and one of the Special Operations Executive's best secret agents during World War II.

Glider Badge <=SEP=> The Glider Badge was a qualification badge of the United States Army.  According to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, the badge was awarded to personnel who had "been assigned or attached to a glider or airborne unit or to the Airborne Department of the Infantry School; satisfactorily completed a course of instruction, or participated in at least one combat glider mission into enemy-held territory.

Gold Beach <=SEP=> Gold, commonly known as Gold Beach, was the code name for one of the five areas of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. Gold, the central of the five areas, was located between Port-en-Bessin on the west and La Rivière on the east. High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant that the landings took place on the flat section between Le Hamel and La Rivière, in the sectors code-named Jig and King.

H-hour (D-day) <=SEP=> H-hour was the name given to the airborne assault in the Battle of Normandy.  It included the American 101st Airborne Division and 82nd Airborne Division With the British 6th Airborne Division. This took place about three hours before the main beach landings on the Normandy.  The Airborne invasion consisted of over 50,000 men and around 1,200 planes and gliders.

HMCS Kitchener (K225) <=SEP=> HMCS Kitchener was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Kitchener, Ontario. The vessel was originally named HMCS Vancouver but was renamed in November 1941 before the ship was launched.

HMCS Stormont (K327) <=SEP=> HMCS Stormont was a River-class frigate that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic, but saw service in the Arctic Ocean. She was named for Stormont, Ontario. After the war she was turned into the luxury yacht Christina O. She continues to sail.Stormont was ordered October 1941 as part of the 1942–1943 River-class building program. She was laid down on 23 December 1942 by Canadian Vickers Ltd.

HMNB Portsmouth <=SEP=> Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth (HMNB Portsmouth) is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy, (the others being HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport). Portsmouth Naval Base is part of the city of Portsmouth; it is located on the eastern shore of Portsmouth Harbour, north of the Solent and the Isle of Wight.

Hans von Salmuth <=SEP=> Hans Eberhard Kurt von Salmuth (11 November 1888 – 1 January 1962) was a German general during World War II. A lifelong professional soldier, he served his country as a junior officer in World War I, a staff officer in the inter-war period and early World War II, and an army level commander. General von Salmuth commanded several different armies on the Eastern Front and his final command was the Fifteenth Army in France during and shortly after the D-Day invasion.

Harbor <=SEP=> A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences), or haven, is a body of water where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use.Harbors can be natural or artificial. An artificial harbor has deliberately constructed breakwaters, sea walls, or jettys, or otherwise, they could have been constructed by dredging, and these require maintenance by further periodic dredging.

History of Normandy <=SEP=> Normandy was a province in the North-West of France under the Ancien Régime. Initially populated by Celtic tribes in the West and Belgic tribes in the North East, it was conquered in 98 AD by the Romans and integrated into the province of Gallia Lugdunensis by Augustus. In the 4th century, Gratian divided the province into the civitates which constitute the historical borders.

History of Poole <=SEP=> The history of Poole, a town in Dorset, England, can be traced back to the founding of a settlement around Poole Harbour during the Iron Age. The town now known as Poole was founded on a small peninsula to the north of the harbour. Poole experienced rapid growth as it became an important port following the Norman Conquest of England.

History of the British Army <=SEP=> The history of the British Army spans over three and a half centuries and numerous European wars, colonial wars and world wars.

History of the Royal Marines <=SEP=> The Corps of Royal Marines, the infantry land fighting element of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, was formed as part of the Naval Service in 1755. However, it can trace its origins back as far as 1664, when English soldiers first went to sea to fight the Dutch.Early in their history, Marines were responsible for leading and repelling boarding attacks on the lower deck, while harassing the enemy from the upper decks with effective musket fire.

History of the United States <=SEP=> The date of the start of the history of the United States is a subject of constant debate among historians. Older textbooks start with the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 and emphasize the European background,  or they start around 1600 and emphasize the American frontier.

Invasion of Normandy <=SEP=> The Invasion of Normandy was the invasion by and establishment of Western Allied forces in Normandy, during Operation Overlord in 1944 during World War II; the largest amphibious invasion to ever take place.D-Day, the day of the initial assaults, was Tuesday 6 June 1944. Allied land forces that saw combat in Normandy on that day came from Canada, the Free French forces, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Invasion stripes <=SEP=> Invasion stripes were alternating black and white bands painted on the fuselages and wings of World War II Allied aircraft, for the purpose of increased recognition by friendly forces (and thus reduced friendly fire incidents) during and after the Normandy Landings.

Jagdgeschwader 26 <=SEP=> Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) Schlageter  was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and executed by the French for sabotage in 1923.

Jimmy Chappell <=SEP=> James William Chappell (25 March 1915 – 3 April 1973) also known as Jim Chappell and Jimmy Chappell, is a former ice hockey player who mainly played in the English National League (ENL). However, he is best remembered for playing for the Great Britain national ice hockey team which won the gold medal at the 1936 Winter Olympics. He is a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

John C. Whitehead <=SEP=> John Cunningham Whitehead (April 2, 1922 – February 7, 2015) was an American banker and civil servant, and a board member of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation (WTC Memorial Foundation) and, until his resignation in May 2006, chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.

John D. Bulkeley <=SEP=> John Duncan Bulkeley (August 19, 1911 – April 6, 1996) was a Vice Admiral in United States Navy and was one of the most decorated naval officers. Bulkeley received the Medal of Honor for actions in the Pacific Theater during World War II.  He was also the PT boat skipper who evacuated General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor in the Philippines and commanded at the Battle of La Ciotat.

John Desmond Bernal <=SEP=> John Desmond Bernal FRS (/bərˈnɑːl/; 10 May 1901 – 15 September 1971) was one of the United Kingdom's best-known and most controversial scientists. Known as "Sage" to friends, Bernal is considered a pioneer in X-ray crystallography in molecular biology. He published extensively on the history of science.

John Howard (British Army officer) <=SEP=> Major (Reginald) John Howard DSO (8 December 1912 – 5 May 1999) was a British Army officer who led a glider-borne assault on two bridges between Bénouville and Ranville in Normandy, France on 6 June 1944 as part of the D-Day landings during the Second World War. These bridges spanned the Caen Canal and the adjacent River Orne (about 500 yards to the east), and were vitally important to the success of the D-Day landings.

Joseph Beyrle <=SEP=> Joseph R. Beyrle (August 25, 1923 – December 12, 2004) is thought to be the only American soldier to have served with both the United States Army and the Soviet Army in World War II.  Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Beyrle graduated from high school in 1942 with the promise of a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, but enlisted in the army instead.

Joseph T. Dawson <=SEP=> Joseph T. Dawson (1914 – November 28, 1998) was an officer in the U.S. 1st Infantry Division during World War II.

Joseph Zimmermann <=SEP=> Joseph Zimmermann (1912 – March 31, 2004) was an engineer, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin who invented the first answering machine, called the Electronic Secretary.  Zimmermann graduated from Marquette University in 1935 with a degree in electrical engineering.  He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II and was among the first soldiers to land on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, as part of the D-Day invasion.

José M. Cabanillas <=SEP=> José M. Cabanillas (September 23, 1901 – September 15, 1979), was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who as an Executive Officer of the USS Texas participated in the invasions of North Africa and the Battle of Normandy (also known as D-Day) during World War II.

Juno Beach <=SEP=> Juno or Juno Beach was one of five beaches of the Allied invasion of German occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The beach spanned from Courseulles-sur-Mer, a village just east of the British beach Gold, to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, just west of the British beach Sword.

Juno Beach Centre <=SEP=> The Juno Beach Centre or, in French,   Centre Juno Beach,  is a museum located in Courseulles-sur-Mer in the Calvados region of Normandy, France.

Keith Douglas <=SEP=> Keith Castellain Douglas (24 January 1920 – 9 June 1944) was an English poet noted for his war poetry during the Second World War and his wry memoir of the Western Desert campaign, Alamein to Zem Zem. He was killed in action during the invasion of Normandy.

La Madeleine, Manche <=SEP=> La Madeleine is a hamlet of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont village in North-western France which was one anchor point of the Utah Beach landings on the Dday invasion of Hitler's Fortress Europa, 6 June 1944. Geographically, the village was the edge of the allied right flank along the left bank of the river Douve estuary.On La Madeleine beach stands a museum dedicated to the Utah Beach landing.

Landing craft <=SEP=> Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force (infantry and vehicles) from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during World War II.

Lashenden (Headcorn) Airfield <=SEP=> Lashenden (Headcorn) Airfield (ICAO: EGKH) is a private airfield in Kent, England. The airfield is located 8 NM (15 km; 9.2 mi) south of Maidstone; about 32 miles (51 km) southeast of LondonOpened in 1943 during the Second World War, RAF Lashenden became a prototype for the temporary Advanced Landing Ground airfields that were built in France after D-Day, when the need for advanced landing fields became urgent as the Allied forces moved east across France and Germany.

Leonard Lomell <=SEP=> Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell (January 22, 1920 – March 1, 2011) was a highly decorated former United States Army Ranger who served in World War II.  He is best known for his actions in the first hours of D-Day at Pointe du Hoc on the coast of Normandy, France.

Lepe, Hampshire <=SEP=> Lepe is a small settlement on the Solent in the English county of Hampshire. It is located at the mouth of the Dark Water, and is the site of the Lepe Country Park, which runs from Stanswood Bay to the  mouth of the Beaulieu River.

List of Allied forces in the Normandy Campaign <=SEP=> This is a list of Allied forces in the Normandy Campaign between 6 June-25 August 1944. Primary combat units are listed here; unit articles may contain a complete order of battle.

List of historians <=SEP=> This is a list of historians.The names are grouped by order of the historical period in which they were living and producing works, which is not necessarily the same as the period in which they specialize.Chroniclers and annalists, though they are not historians in the true sense, are also listed here for convenience.See also: List of historians by area of study, List of historians of the French Revolution, English historians in the Middle Ages

List of invasions <=SEP=> This is a list of invasions ordered by date. An invasion is a military action consisting of armed forces of one geopolitical entity entering territory controlled by another such entity.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning <=SEP=> The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is a World War II American fighter aircraft.  Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament.

London Controlling Section <=SEP=> The London Controlling Section (LCS) was a secret department established in September 1941, under Oliver Stanley, with a mandate to coordinate Allied strategic military deception during World War II. The LCS was formed within the Joint Planning Staff at the offices of the War Cabinet, which was presided over by Winston Churchill as Prime Minister.At first the department struggled to have any impact, and Stanley spent time away from the office due to his wife's terminal illness.

London Stansted Airport <=SEP=> London Stansted Airport (IATA: STN, ICAO: EGSS) is an international airport located at Stansted Mountfitchet in the local government district of Uttlesford in Essex, 48 km (30 mi) northeast of Central London and 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the Hertfordshire border.Stansted is a base for a number of major European low-cost carriers, being the largest base for low-cost airline Ryanair with over 100 destinations served by the airline.

Lynchburg, Virginia <=SEP=> Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 75,568. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City".

Merville Gun Battery <=SEP=> The Merville Gun Battery was a coastal fortification in Normandy, France, in use as part of the Nazis' Atlantic Wall built to defend continental Europe from Allied invasion. It was a particularly heavily fortified position and one of the first places to be attacked by Allied forces during the Normandy Landings commonly known as D-Day.

Miles Dempsey <=SEP=> General Sir Miles Christopher Dempsey, GBE, KCB, DSO, MC (15 December 1896 – 5 June 1969) was a senior officer of the British Army who served in both the First World War and Second World War. During the Second World War he commanded XIII Corps for the invasions of Sicily and Italy and later the British Second Army during the Battle of Normandy and throughout the rest of the campaign in North-western Europe. Dempsey was a career infantryman who made his reputation in active service.

Military history of Canada during World War II <=SEP=> The Second World War officially began on 1 September 1939, with the German invasion of Poland. Britain and France declared war on the Third Reich, two days later, on 3 September 1939. One week later, on 10 September 1939, Canada likewise declared war on Germany, the country's first independent declaration of war and the beginning of Canada's participation in the largest combined national effort in its history.

Military history of the United Kingdom during World War II <=SEP=> Britain, along with most of its dominions, Crown colonies, and British India, declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939. War with Japan began in 1941, after it attacked British colonies in Asia. The Axis powers were defeated by the Allies in 1945.

Mission Albany <=SEP=> Mission Albany was a parachute combat assault at night by the U.S. 101st Airborne Division on June 6, 1944, part of the American airborne landings in Normandy. It was the opening step of Operation Neptune, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France, Operation Overlord.

Mission Boston <=SEP=> Mission Boston was a parachute combat assault at night by the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on June 6, 1944, part of the American airborne landings in Normandy. Boston was a component of Operation Neptune, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France, Operation Overlord.

Mission Chicago <=SEP=> Mission Chicago was a pre-dawn glider-borne combat assault in the American airborne landings in Normandy, made by elements of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division on the early morning of June 6, 1944. It was part of Operation Neptune, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France, Operation Overlord. Originally slated to be the main assault for the 101st Airborne, the glider operation instead became the first reinforcement mission after the main parachute combat assault, mission Albany.

Mission Detroit <=SEP=> Mission Detroit was a pre-dawn glider-borne combat assault in the American airborne landings in Normandy, made by elements of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division on the early morning of June 6, 1944. It was part of Operation Neptune, the assault portion of the Allied invasion of France, Operation Overlord. Originally slated to be the main assault for the 82nd Airborne, the glider operation instead became the first reinforcement mission after the main parachute combat assault, Mission Boston.

Mission Hackensack <=SEP=> Mission Hackensack was one of several follow up landing and supply operations flown during the D-Day invasion (June 6, 1944-August 1944) during World War II. It was the final glider assault of Operation Neptune into France that delivered the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR) to the 82nd Airborne Division shortly after daybreak on June 7.

Mk III helmet <=SEP=> The Mk III Helmet was a steel military combat helmet first developed for the British Army in 1941 by the Medical Research Council. First worn in combat by British and Canadian troops on D-Day, the Mk III was used alongside the Brodie helmet for the remainder of the Second World War. It is sometimes referred to as the "turtle" helmet by collectors, because of its vague resemblance to a turtle shell, as well as the 1944 pattern helmet.

Mulberry harbour <=SEP=> A Mulberry harbour was a portable temporary harbour developed by the British in World War II to facilitate rapid offloading of cargo onto the beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy.

National D-Day Memorial <=SEP=> The National D-Day Memorial is a war memorial located in Bedford, Virginia. It serves as the national memorial for American D-Day veterans.

Nazi Germany <=SEP=> Nazi Germany or the Third Reich (German: Drittes Reich) are common English names for the period of history in Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a dictatorship under the control of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Under Hitler's rule, Germany was transformed into a fascist totalitarian state which controlled nearly all aspects of life.

No. 175 Squadron RAF <=SEP=> No. 175 Squadron RAF was a part of Second Tactical Airforce No. 83 Group RAF in support of World War II Normandy landings, and supported the allied advance through France Holland and Belgium on into Germany. The squadron was active from under canvas on temporary landing grounds in a matter of days after the D-Day landings. The squadron initially flew Hawker Hurricane fighters and was later outfitted with Hawker Typhoons prior to the invasion.

Norman conquest of England <=SEP=> The Norman conquest of England was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army of Norman, Breton, and French soldiers led by Duke William II of Normandy, later styled as William the Conqueror.William's claim to the English throne derived from his familial relationship with the childless Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor, who may have encouraged William's hopes for the throne. Edward died in January 1066 and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson.

Normandy <=SEP=> Normandy (/ˈnɔrməndi/; French: Normandie, pronounced [nɔʁ.mɑ̃.di], Norman: Normaundie, from Old French Normanz, plural of Normant, originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical region of France corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy.Since 1956, Normandy has been divided into two administrative regions: Lower Normandy and Upper Normandy; the regions will be merged into one single region effective 1 January 2016.

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial <=SEP=> The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II cemetery and memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, that honours American troops who died in Europe during World War II.

Normandy Campaign <=SEP=> The Battle of Normandy or Normandy Campaign includes the following: Operation Overlord – The Western Allied campaign in France from June 6 – August 25, 1944 The Invasion of Normandy, or "Operation Neptune" – The initial part of Overlord, from June 6 – mid-July 1944 The Normandy landings on June 6, 1944Operation Cobra, the breakout from Normandy, starting on July 25, 1944The "Battle of Normandy" is the official term for the British, French and Canadian military campaign lasting from June 6 – September 1, 1944.

Normandy Veterans' Association <=SEP=> The Normandy Veterans Association is an association of ex-servicemen who served in the 1944 Normandy invasion.The association was represented in the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, the last official engagement as the association planned to dissolve in November 2014.

Normandy landings <=SEP=> The Normandy landings (codenamed Operation Neptune) were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termed D-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the liberation of German-occupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control, and contributed to the Allied victory on the Western Front.Planning for the operation began in 1943.

Northumberland Hussars <=SEP=> The Northumberland Hussars is a British Territorial Army Squadron equipped with FV107 Scimitar and FV103 Spartan armoured reconnaissance vehicles. The squadron is part of The Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY), a Formation Reconnaissance Regiment. The 'Hussars' are based in Newcastle upon Tyne and are part of the 15th (North East) Brigade of the 2nd Division.On mobilisation, the 'Hussars' would reinforce one of the regular formation reconnaissance regiments.

Oklahoma D-Day <=SEP=> Oklahoma D-Day is the world's largest scenario game of paintball that recreates events of World War II, held at Oklahoma's D-Day Adventure Park in Wyandotte, Oklahoma every June.The game was created by Dewayne Convirs, and was first held in 1997 - with attendance of 135 players.  The following year was more popular, with 335 players participating.

Olin E. Teague <=SEP=> Olin Earl "Tiger" Teague (April 6, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was a notable World War II veteran and congressional representative for Texas's 6th congressional district for just under 33 years, from 1946 to 1978. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Omaha Beach <=SEP=> Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II. Omaha is located on the coast of Normandy, France, facing the English Channel, and is 8 kilometres (5 mi) long, from east of Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to west of Vierville-sur-Mer on the right bank of the Douve River estuary.

Operation Atlantic <=SEP=> Operation Atlantic (18–21 July 1944) was a Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War. The offensive, launched in conjunction with the British-led Operation Goodwood, was part of an ongoing effort to seize the French city of Caen and vicinity from German forces.

Operation Bodyguard <=SEP=> Operation Bodyguard was the code name for a World War II deception plan employed by the Allied states before the 1944 invasion of north-west Europe. The plan was intended to mislead the German high command as to the time and place of the invasion.

Operation Cobra <=SEP=> Operation Cobra was the codename for an offensive launched by the First United States Army seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy Campaign of World War II. American Lieutenant General Omar Bradley's intention was to take advantage of the German preoccupation with British and Canadian activity around the town of Caen, in Operation Goodwood, and immediately punch through the German defenses that were penning in his troops while the Germans were distracted and unbalanced.

Operation Dragoon <=SEP=> Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on 15 August 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the United States Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up primarily of the French First Army. The landing caused the German Army Group G to abandon southern France and to retreat under constant Allied attacks to the Vosges Mountains.

Operation Fortitude <=SEP=> Operation Fortitude was the code name for a World War II military deception employed by the Allied nations as part of an overall deception strategy (code named Bodyguard) during the build-up to the 1944 Normandy landings.

Operation Ironside <=SEP=> Operation Ironside was a Second World War military deception. Undertaken by the Allies in 1944, the operation threatened an invasion of France, along the Bay of Biscay, in support of the invasion of Normandy. Ironside formed part of the Operation Bodyguard deception strategy.Planning for Ironside fell to the London Controlling Section, with the operation carried out via double agents.

Operation Overlord <=SEP=> Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day). A 1,200-plane airborne assault preceded an amphibious assault involving more than 5,000 vessels.

Operation Tonga <=SEP=> This article summarises British airborne operations during the Normandy landings.

Operation Tractable <=SEP=> Operation Tractable was the final offensive conducted by Canadian and Polish Army troops, supported by one brigade of British tanks, as part of the Battle of Normandy. The goal of this operation was to capture the strategically important French town of Falaise, and following that, the smaller towns of Trun and Chambois.

Otto Špaček <=SEP=> Otto Špaček (7 March 1918 – 24 September 2007) was a Czechoslovakian World War II fighter pilot who fought against Nazi Germany in Great Britain and France.Špaček was born in Brzice in Bohemia. His parents were teachers.  He served an apprenticeship as an electrician.  After flying school, he joined the Czechoslovak Air Force in the 1930s.He fled to Poland after the Nazi invasion in June 1939, and then escaped to France, where he served with French Air Force in 1940.

Overlord <=SEP=> An overlord in the English feudal system was a lord of a manor who had subinfeudated a particular manor,  estate or fee, to a tenant. The tenant thenceforth owed to the overlord one of a variety of services, usually military service or serjeanty, depending on which form of tenure (i.e. feudal tenancy contract) the estate was held under.

Overlord embroidery <=SEP=> The Overlord embroidery was commissioned by Lord Dulverton in 1968 and made by the Royal School of Needlework from designs by artist Sandra Lawrence. It commemorates the D-Day invasion of France during World War II.It tells the story of Operation Overlord which was the code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. The embroidery begins telling the story well before the invasion, with war-time production and The Blitz.

Paddy (pigeon) <=SEP=> Paddy (Pigeon number NPS.43.9451) was an Irish carrier pigeon awarded the Dickin Medal after being the fastest pigeon to arrive back in England with news of the success of the D-Day invasion, out of hundreds dispatched. He flew 230 miles across the English Channel in four hours and fifty minutes, the fastest recorded crossing, and was awarded the medal on 1 September 1944, just under three months after the crossing.

Pas-de-Calais <=SEP=> Pas-de-Calais (French pronunciation: ​[pɑ d(ə) kalɛ]) is a department in northern France. Its name is the French equivalent of the Strait of Dover, which it borders.

Pegasus Bridge <=SEP=> Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge (a type of movable bridge), that was built in 1934, that crossed the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham, in Normandy, France.Also known as the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, it was, with the nearby Ranville Bridge over the river Orne, a major objective of the British airborne troops during Operation Deadstick, part of Operation Tonga in the opening minutes of the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 during the Second World War.

Penarth <=SEP=> Penarth is a town in the Vale of Glamorgan (Welsh: Bro Morgannwg), Wales,  5.2 miles (8.4 km) south west from the city centre of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff and lying on the north shore of the Severn Estuary at the southern end of Cardiff Bay.

Percy Hobart <=SEP=> Major General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart KBE, CB, DSO, MC (14 June 1885 – 19 February 1957), also known as "Hobo", was a British military engineer noted for his command of the 79th Armoured Division during World War II. He was responsible for many of the specialised armoured vehicles ("Hobart's Funnies") that took part in the invasion of Normandy and later actions.

Philip Vian <=SEP=> Admiral of the Fleet Sir Philip Louis Vian GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars (15 July 1894 – 27 May 1968) was a Royal Navy officer who served in both World Wars.Vian specialised in naval gunnery from the end of World War I, and subsequently received several appointments as gunnery officer. In the early 1930s, he was given command of a destroyer, HMS Active, and, later, various destroyer flotillas.

Pointe du Hoc <=SEP=> Pointe du Hoc (French pronunciation: ​[pwɛ̃t dy ɔk]) is a promontory with a 100 ft (30 m) cliff overlooking the English Channel on the coast of Normandy in northern France. During World War II it was the highest point between Utah Beach to the west and Omaha Beach to the east. The German army fortified the area with concrete casements and gun pits. On D-Day (6 June 1944) the United States Army Ranger Assault Group assaulted and captured Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs.

Poole <=SEP=> Poole /puːl/ is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is 33 kilometres (21 mi) east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The local council is Borough of Poole and was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council. The borough had a population of 147,645 according to the 2011 census, making it the second largest settlement in Dorset.

RAF Andrews Field <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Andrews Field or more simply RAF Andrews Field (also known as RAF Andrewsfield and RAF Great Saling) is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) east-northeast of Great Dunmow Essex, England.Originally designated as Great Saling when designed and under construction, the base was renamed as "Andrews Field" in honor of United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) General Frank M. Andrews, who was killed in an airplane crash in Iceland in May 1943.

RAF Chelveston <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Chelveston or more simply RAF Chelveston is a former Royal Air Force station located on the south side of the A645 (former A45 road), 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Wellingborough, near the village of Chelveston in Northamptonshire, England. During the Second World War the airfield was occupied by both the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces.

RAF Deenethorpe <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Deenethorpe or more simply RAF Deenethorpe is a former Royal Air Force station located 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Corby, Northamptonshire, England.

RAF Fairford <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Fairford or more simply RAF Fairford (IATA: FFD, ICAO: EGVA) is a Royal Air Force (RAF) station in Gloucestershire, England which is currently a standby airfield and therefore not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in 1991.

RAF Fulbeck <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Station Fulbeck or more simply RAF Fulbeck is a former Royal Air Force station located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and 10.9 miles (17.5 km) west of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England.The airfield is located about 106 miles (171 km) north-northwest of London and was opened in 1940 when it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces.  During the war it was used primarily as troop carrier airfield for airborne units.

RAF Glatton <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Glatton or more simply RAF Glatton is a former Royal Air Force station located 10 miles (16 km) north of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.

RAF Great Ashfield <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Great Ashfield or more simply RAF Great Ashfield is a former Royal Air Force station located 10 miles (16 km) east of Bury St. Edmunds and 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Great Ashfield, Suffolk, England.Great Ashfield Airfield is still in private use although much reduced in size. It was originally a Royal Flying Corps grass landing strip on this site in World War I, and before the USAAF arrived the RAF had been using it for training, during that period it was known as RAF Elmswell.

RAF Thruxton <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Thruxton or more simply RAF Thruxton is a former Royal Air Force station located 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Andover, Hampshire and about 66 miles (106 km) southwest of London.Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces.During the war Thruxton was used primarily as a combat fighter airfield.However, paratroops who participated in the Bruneval raid (Operation Biting) in which German radar technology was captured took off from here in Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bombers on the evening of 27 February 1942.

RAF Wendling <=SEP=> Royal Air Force Station Wendling or more simply RAF Wendling is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) north west of East Dereham, Norfolk, England.Opened in 1942, it was used by both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).

RAF battle honours <=SEP=> Battle Honours are awarded by the Sovereign to Royal Air Force squadrons to commemorate the squadron's role in a particular operation.This practice was inherited by the RAF from its Army and Navy predecessors upon its creation in 1918.  Several squadrons therefore carry honours awarded when they were a part of the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service.

Raymond Harvey <=SEP=> Raymond Harvey (March 1, 1920 – November 18, 1996) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who served during World War II and the Korean War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 9, 1951.

Richard C. Hottelet <=SEP=> Richard Curt Hottelet (September 22, 1917 – December 17, 2014) was a Brooklyn-born American broadcast journalist for the latter half of the twentieth century.Hottelet was the last surviving journalist from the original World War II-era group of Murrow's Boys, journalists tutored and/or encouraged by Edward R. Murrow at CBS.

Richard Rohmer <=SEP=> Honorary  Lieutenant General Richard Heath Rohmer OC CMM OOnt DFC CD QC (born January 24, 1924) is a Canadian aviator, lawyer, adviser, author and historian.Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and spent some of his early youth in Pasadena, California as well as in western Ontario at Windsor and Fort Erie.

Richard Winters <=SEP=> Richard D. "Dick" Winters (21 January 1918 – 2 January 2011) was an officer of the United States Army and a decorated war veteran.

Robert G. Cole <=SEP=> Lieutenant Colonel Robert George Cole (March 19, 1915 – September 18, 1944) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the days following the D-Day Normandy invasion of World War II.

SS Clara Barton <=SEP=> SS Clara Barton (Hull Number 636) was a Type EC2-S-C1 Liberty ship built by the California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. She was named after Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross.The ship was laid down on 19 July 1942, then launched on 25 August 1942. The ship survived the war only to suffer the same fate as nearly all other Liberty ships that survived did; she was scrapped in 1970.

SS Empire Javelin <=SEP=> SS Empire Javelin was an Infantry Landing Ship or "LSI (Large)" in service with the UK in the latter part of the Second World War.  Launched on 25 October 1943, she was a United States Maritime Commission C1-S-AY1 subtype, one of thirteen similar ships built by Consolidated Steel Corporation.  SS Empire Javelin served as a troop ship in Operation Overlord, including "D-Day" on 6 June 1944.

SS President Roosevelt (1921) <=SEP=> USS Joseph T. Dickman (APA-13) was a Harris-class attack transport that served with the US Navy during World War II.

Sainte-Mère-Église <=SEP=> Sainte-Mère-Église is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France.

Silent Raiders <=SEP=> Silent Raiders is a 1954 low budget American war film directed, starring and co-produced by Richard Bartlett. It was the first film of the L&B Production Company, consisting of Earle Lyon and Richard Bartlett.

South Alberta Regiment <=SEP=> The South Alberta Regiment (SAR) was a Canadian infantry regiment which served in the Second World War.  The unit was created in 1924 and mobilized in 1940 as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division.

Staffordshire Yeomanry <=SEP=> The Staffordshire Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal Regiment) was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1794 following Prime Minister William Pitt's order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain from foreign invasion, the Staffordshire Yeomanry began as a volunteer cavalry regiment. Future Prime Minister Robert Peel was an officer in the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry in 1820.It first served overseas at the time of the Boer War.

Start Bay <=SEP=> Start Bay is the bay in the English Channel in Devon, England between the River Dart's estuary and Start Point.  On the coast, from south to north, are Hallsands, Beesands, Torcross, the Slapton Sands, Strete, Blackpool Sands and Stoke Fleming.  The South West Coast Path covers much of the coastline.

Strategic bombing <=SEP=> Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating the enemy by destroying their morale or their economic ability to produce and transport materiel to the theatres of military operations, or both.

Suzanne David Hall <=SEP=> Suzanne David Hall (born January 23, 1927 in Cherbourg, France from Étienne and Désirée LeDoux David) was a spy for the French resistance during World War II. While training to become an opera singer, she relayed messages that helped bring about the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Sword Beach <=SEP=> Sword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of German-occupied France that commenced on 6 June 1944. Stretching 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, the beach was the easternmost landing site of the invasion.

Terence Otway <=SEP=> Lieutenant Colonel Terence Brandram Hastings Otway DSO, (15 June 1914 – 23 July 2006) was an officer in the British Army, best known for his role as commander of the paratroop assault on the Merville Battery on D-Day.

The Battle of Normandy leaders <=SEP=> The following is a list of leaders in the Battle of Normandy.

The Fight for the Sky <=SEP=> The Fight for the Sky is a short propaganda film commissioned by the US government to highlight the victories of the Allied air forces over Europe prior to the Normandy invasion.Opening with shots of aerial combat over Europe the film turns to footage of the airmen acting casually in their base in East Anglia, reading newspapers, playing ping pong, and listening to the radio.

The Longest Day (book) <=SEP=> The Longest Day is a book by Cornelius Ryan published in 1959, telling the story of D-Day, the first day of the World War II invasion of Normandy. It includes details of Operation Deadstick, the coup de main operation by gliderborne troops to capture both Pegasus Bridge and Horsa Bridge before the main assault on the Normandy beaches.

The Longest Day (game) <=SEP=> The Longest Day is the name of a 1980 board wargame designed by Randall Reed and published by Avalon Hill. It simulates the D-Day invasion, Allied build-up and subsequent Normandy breakout, with scenarios for the attack on Cherbourg, the Cobra Offensive, the Mortain Counterattack and the Falaise Pocket.It is a "monster game" meaning the map is very large, and there are 1,600 game pieces.

The National WWII Museum <=SEP=> The National WWII Museum, formerly known as the National D-Day Museum, is a museum located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, at the corner of Andrew Higgins Boulevard and Magazine Street. It focuses on the contribution made by the United States to victory by the Allies in World War II, and the Battle of Normandy in particular. It was designated by the U.S.

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. <=SEP=> Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III (generally known as Theodore, Jr.) (September 13, 1887 – July 12, 1944) was an American government, business and military leader. He was the eldest son of President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Roosevelt.Roosevelt was instrumental in the forming of the American Legion in 1919 following his valiant service in the United States Army during World War I.

Trafford Leigh-Mallory <=SEP=> Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, KCB, DSO & Bar (11 July 1892 – 14 November 1944) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. Leigh-Mallory served as a Royal Flying Corps pilot and squadron commander during World War I. Remaining in the newly formed RAF after the war, Leigh-Mallory served in a variety of staff and training appointments throughout the 1920s and 1930s.During the pre-Second World War build-up, he was Air Officer Commanding (AOC) No.

USATC S160 Class <=SEP=> The United States Army Transportation Corps S160 Class is a class of  2-8-0 Consolidation steam locomotive designed for use in Europe during World War II for heavy freight work. A total of 2,120 were built and they worked on railroads across the world, including Africa, Asia, all of Europe and South America.

USS Augusta (CA-31) <=SEP=> USS Augusta (CA-31) (originally CL-31) was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy, notable for service as a headquarters ship during Operation Torch, Operation Overlord, Operation Dragoon, and for her occasional use as a presidential flagship carrying both Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman under wartime conditions (including at the Newfoundland Conference).

USS Brant (AM-24) <=SEP=> USS Brant (AM-24) was a Lapwing-class minesweeper in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named by the U.S. Navy for the brant, a small goose.Brant was launched 30 May 1918 by Sun Shipbuilding Co., Chester, Pennsylvania; sponsored by Miss Lois Graham; commissioned 5 September 1918, Lieutenant J. W. Stoakley in command; and reported to the Minesweeping Force, 5th Naval District, to sweep convoy courses off the coast of Virginia.

USS Chimo (ACM-1) <=SEP=> The second USS  Chimo (ACM-1) was the lead ship of her class of minelayers in the United States Navy during World War II.Chimo was built as USAMP Colonel Charles W. Bundy for the U.S. Army Mine Planter Service by Marietta Manufacturing Co., Point Pleasant, West Virginia; converted at Norfolk Navy Yard; acquired by the U.S. Navy on 7 April 1944; commissioned the same day, Lieutenant J. W. Gross, USNR, in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.

USS Doyle (DMS-34) <=SEP=> USS Doyle (DD-494/DMS-34), a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Richard Doyle, who fought during the Barbary Wars, and died while in service in 1807.Doyle was launched 17 March 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co., Seattle, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. C. M. Maloney; and commissioned 27 January 1943, Lieutenant Commander C. E. Boyd in command.

USS Hambleton (DD-455) <=SEP=> USS Hambleton (DD-455/DMS-20) was a Gleaves-class destroyer of the United States Navy, named for Purser Samuel Hambleton (1777–1851).Hambleton was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J., on 16 December 1940, launched on 26 September 1941, sponsored by Mrs. Nannie Hambleton Martin, great grandniece of Samuel Hambleton; and commissioned on 22 December 1941, Commander Forrest Close in command.

USS LST-310 <=SEP=> USS LST-310 was one of 390 tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy during World War II.LST-310 was laid down on 22 September 1942 at the Boston Navy Yard; launched on 23 November 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Inga M. Gustavson; and commissioned on 20 January 1943 with Lieutenant W. P. Lawless, USNR, in command.

USS LST-356 <=SEP=> USS LST-356 was an LST-1-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. She earned three battle stars during the war and was decommissioned in July 1946. In July 1955, she was assigned the name USS Bledsoe County (LST-356) in honor of Bledsoe County, Tennessee, but never saw active service under that name. Bledsoe County was struck from the Naval Vessel Register in September 1960 and sold for scrapping in March 1961.

USS LST-374 <=SEP=> USS LST-374 was one of over 1,000 tank landing ships (LSTs) built for the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down on 12 November 1942 at Quincy, Massachusetts by the Bethlehem Steel Company; launched on 19 January 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Victor D. Herbster; and commissioned on 29 January 1943.

USS LST-494 <=SEP=> USS LST-494 was a U.S. Navy amphibious tank landing ship that saw combat during World War II in both the European and Pacific Theaters of War. LST stands for Landing Ship, Tank.

USS LST-510 <=SEP=> USS Buncombe County (LST-510) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Buncombe County, North Carolina, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.LST-510 was laid down on 27 September 1943 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by the Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company; launched on 30 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. C. P. Watson; and placed in reduced commission on 18 January 1944.

USS LST-511 <=SEP=> USS LST-511 was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II.LST-511 was laid down on 22 July 1943 at Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company; launched on 30 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. James V. Gaynor; and commissioned on 3 January 1944 with Lieutenant John Yacevich in command.

USS PC-552 <=SEP=> USS PC-552 was a World War II Patrol Craft "\PC") which was at the forefront of the naval efforts during the Normandy invasion. It served as convoy protection in the North Atlantic and, as one of about ten PC control vessels off  Omaha Beach during the Normandy invasion. PC-552 was among the first ships to reach waters off Omaha Beach.

USS Pinto (AT-90) <=SEP=> USS Pinto (AT-90) was an Navajo-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Atlantic Ocean and, at war’s end, returned home proudly with three battle stars to her credit.Pinto was laid down by the Cramp Shipbuilding Co.

USS Texas (BB-35) <=SEP=> USS Texas (BB-35), the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the U.S. state of Texas, is a New York-class battleship. The ship was launched on 18 May 1912 and commissioned on 12 March 1914.Soon after her commissioning, Texas saw action in Mexican waters following the "Tampico Incident" and made numerous sorties into the North Sea during World War I.

USS Thompson (DD-627) <=SEP=> USS Thompson (DD-627 (later DMS-38) was first a Gleaves-class destroyer, then became an Ellyson-class destroyer minesweeper. She was the second Navy ship named "Thompson", and the first named in honor of Robert M. Thompson.

USS Tide (AM-125) <=SEP=> USS Tide (AM-125) was an Auk-class minesweeper acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing.Tide was an oceangoing minesweeper built during World War II. Named for the cyclic rising and falling of Earth's ocean surface, she was the only U.S.

Ultra <=SEP=> Ultra was the designation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by breaking high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park. Ultra eventually became the standard designation among the western Allies for all such intelligence.

Underwater Demolition Team <=SEP=> The Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) were an elite special-purpose force established by the United States Navy during World War II. They also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Their primary function was to reconnoiter and destroy enemy defensive obstacles on beaches prior to amphibious landings.

Utah Beach <=SEP=> Utah Beach was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, during World War II. The westernmost of the five landing beaches, Utah is on the Cotentin Peninsula, west of the mouths of the Douve and Vire rivers. Amphibious landings at Utah were undertaken by United States Army troops, with sea transport and naval artillery support provided by the U.S.

VIII Corps (United States) <=SEP=> The U.S. VIII Corps was a corps of the United States Army that saw service during various times over a fifty-year period during the 20th century. The VIII Corps was organized 26–29 November 1918 in the Regular Army in France and demobilized on 20 April 1919. The VIII Corps was soon reactivated, being constituted in the Organized Reserves in 1921. It was allotted to the Regular Army in 1933 and activated on 14 October 1940 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

VII Corps (United States) <=SEP=> For the VII Corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, see VII Corps (ACW).The VII Corps of the United States Army was one of the two principal corps of the United States Army Europe during the Cold War. Activated in 1918 for World War I, it was reactivated for World War II and again during the Cold War.

Violette Szabo <=SEP=> Violette Reine Elizabeth Szabo, GC (née Bushell; 26 June 1921 – c. 5 February 1945) was a French-born English Special Operations Executive agent during the Second World War, and a posthumous recipient of the George Cross. On her second mission into occupied France, Szabo was captured by the German Army, interrogated and tortured, and deported to Germany where she was eventually executed at Ravensbrück concentration camp.

Walter Warlimont <=SEP=> Walter Warlimont (3 October 1894 – 9 October 1976) was a German officer known for his role as a deputy chief in the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), Germany's Supreme Armed Forces Command during World War II.

Werner Pluskat <=SEP=> Werner Pluskat (1912 - Heilbronn, June 11, 2002) was a German Major, commander of the 352nd Artillery (Artillerie Abteilung) of the German 352nd Infantry Division during the Allied invasion in Normandy.He was credited in the movie The Longest Day, a film about the D-day invasion, with being the first German officer who saw the Allied invasion fleet on 6 June 1944, heading toward their landing zone at Omaha Beach.

Western Front (World War II) <=SEP=> The Western Front of the European theatre of World War II encompassed Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Western Germany. World War II military engagements in Southern Europe and elsewhere are generally considered under separate headings. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale combat operations.

Westminster Dragoons <=SEP=> The Westminster Dragoons (WDs) are central London’s only Army Reserve cavalry unit.  One of the Royal Yeomanry's five squadrons, their current role is light cavalry: to provide a rapidly deployable force with fast mobility and substantial firepower in support of operations.Formed in the aftermath of Second Boer War as part of the County of London Yeomanry, the WDs fought in the Battle of Gallipoli and led British forces onto the beaches during the Normandy Invasion in 1944.

William Golding <=SEP=> Sir William Gerald Golding CBE (19 September 1911 – 19 June 1993) was an English novelist, playwright, and poet. Best known for his novel Lord of the Flies, he won a Nobel Prize in Literature, and  was also awarded the Booker Prize for literature in 1980 for his novel Rites of Passage, the first book in what became his sea trilogy, To the Ends of the Earth.Golding was knighted by Elizabeth II in 1988. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

William Kintner <=SEP=> William Roscoe Kintner (21 April 1915–1 February 1997) was an American soldier, foreign policy analyst, and diplomat. Kintner was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Florence Kintner, the eighth of nine children. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy in 1936, and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduating in 1940. A career Army officer, he landed at Omaha Beach for Operation Overlord during the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

William Penney, Baron Penney <=SEP=> William George Penney, Baron Penney OM, KBE, PhD, DSc, FRS, FRSE, FIC, Hon FCGI (24 June 1909 – 3 March 1991), was an English mathematician and professor of mathematical physics at the Imperial College London and later the rector of Imperial College.

William W. Winpisinger <=SEP=> William Wayne Winpisinger (December 10, 1924  – December 11, 1997) was the eleventh International President of the million-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers from 1977 until his retirement in 1989.  Well-read in the economics, history and mission of the American labor movement, he was a forceful and articulate spokesman for organized labor and was often invited to testify before House and Senate committees on legislation affecting working people.