Remembering D-Day

Code-named 'Operation Overlord,' the Allied invasion of Normandy was a massive logistical effort involving nearly 156,000 troops and more than 12,000 aircraft.

Wednesday, June 05, 2024 at 11:35 AM ET

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On D-Day, Douglas C-47 troop carrying plans of the 9th AF, towing gliders loaded with airborne infantry are on the way to the French coast to participate in the initial assault behind enemy lines. [Courtesy: National Archives and Records Administration]

Key Takeaways:

June 6 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Operation Overlord), a massive and logistically complex Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, involving nearly 156,000 troops and 13,000 aircraft, which is widely seen as the beginning of the end of World War II.
The invasion was executed in five coordinated phases, beginning with midnight paratrooper drops, followed by diversionary tactics, air and naval bombardments, and culminating in the landing of 129,400 Allied troops on the beaches.
Critical to the air support were C-47 transports, which carried paratroopers and towed gliders, and the distinctive black and white "invasion stripes" hastily painted on Allied aircraft to prevent friendly fire.
The 80th anniversary is being commemorated with events in France, where groups like the Commemorative Air Force are flying vintage WWII aircraft, often sporting the temporary invasion stripes, in flyovers and airshows.

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June 6 marks the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, in 1944. Code-named Operation Overlord, it was a massive logistical effort involving nearly 156,000 American, British, Canadian, free French, and Polish troops landing on five beaches along the coast of France.

The invasion required advances in engineering and logistical planning as well as coordination of thousands of troops, ships, and aircraft to make it work.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.