156,000 soldiers; 6,460 ships; 10,750 cross-channel trips; 70 years ago. This week marks the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, a legendary event in history when British and allied forces began the hard-fought liberation of Europe from enemy occupation in Operation Overlord.
Uniformdating.com remembers this formidable feat of human endeavour with symbolic photos from Twitter and across the web. They are a testament to those heroic and uniformed servicemen and servicewomen who braved tumultuous seas and turbulent skies to set the continent free.
Last night’s BRILLIANT D-day programme: https://t.co/Yrd5R24239#Dday70pic.twitter.com/5jO6ErUetz
— Dan Snow (@thehistoryguy) June 2, 2014
Two is company, three is nostalgia…
BBC presenter, Dan Snow, reflects with two Chelsea Pensioners on the meteoric event that took place 70 years ago. Thousands of men in uniform would have been separated from their sweethearts, making hearts grow fonder in nervous anticipation for their safe return.
24,000 – the number of allied paratroopers dropped over Normandy…
Paratroopers sitting in the plane they flew in on D-day. (1944-2011) This is Awesome!! Thank you for your service! pic.twitter.com/wf7gqL2Nty
— Mind Blowing Facts (@TheMindBlowing) May 28, 2014
Now and then. Veteran paratroopers sit inside an aircraft as they did seven decades ago, before the mass drop over enemy territory. The most successful British airborne operation was the capture of Pegasus bridge by the British 6th Airborne Division, comprising D Company of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; they were landed by parachutes and gliders
150,000 men and 20,000 vehicles…
Just took over Omaha beach #1944June6#DDaypic.twitter.com/yonwIr5j18
— D Day soldier (@lmddaysoldier) March 28, 2013
Troops greater in strength than the population of Oxford descended on the shores of Normandy, which included five main beaches, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. They were tasked with penetrating an incredible 1670-mile Atlantic wall that stretched from Norway to the south of France.
11,590 aircraft…
A Spitfire receives its invasion stripes, for the purpose of increased recognition by friendly forces, 1944. #DDay70pic.twitter.com/4HVNjuhPUQ
— WWII Pictures (@WWIIpix) June 3, 2014
This Spitfire receives its invasion stripes in aid of allied recognition ahead of the landings. Amazingly, of the phenomenal 14,674 sorties that were flown, only 127 aircraft were lost. On June 5, 1944, over 1,000 British bombers dropped 5,000 tons of bombs on German gun batteries placed at the Normandy assault area.
‘We will remember them.’