D Day Beaches

The D Day landings began when Pathfinders from the three Parachute groups (US 82nd, US 101st and the British 6th Airborne) landed in France to place markers that would guide in the Paratroopers to the correct dropzone. The first unit to go into combat was that of the 2nd Ox and Bucks Regiment. Six platoons of Glider-borne troops under the command of Major Howard landed at 0016 hours near Bénouville, with the objective to capture both the Canal and River bridges at the Benouville-Ranville crossing.

The initial assault went well with the bridges being captured, the first Allied Soldier to die in Combat on D Day was Lieutenant Brotheridge, who was shot and killed leading the charge across the bridge. The main drop from the 6th Airborne started 4o mins later, with the job of reinforcing the defenders.

The British 9th Airborne Battalion landed at the Merville Battery which they were to silent before the landings at Sword Beach could go ahead. The task of destroying the four bridges over the River Dives, and one over the River Divette, fell to the Royal Engineers of the 3rd Parachute Squadron. In the northern area at Varaville and Robehomme, they were supported by the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, and by the 8th Parachute Battalion in the south at Troarn and Bures.

The American Airborne troops did not complete their objectives as fast as their British counterparts. This was not their fault however, as the radar beacons used to mark the dropzone did not work effectively. Nearly half of the airborne force was scattered and paratroopers fought with other companies, regiments and even divisions. Three regiments of the 101st Airborne were dropped first, between 0048 and 0140 hours, followed by the 82nd Airborne's drops between 0151 and 0242.

The specific missions of the American airborne divisions were to block approaches into the area of the seaborne landing at Utah Beach, to capture causeway exits off the beaches, and to establish crossings over the Douve River at Carentan to assist the U.S. V Corps in merging the two American beachheads.

The approaches to Utah Beach were not blocked until three days later. The scattered American forces were the main hindrance and the Germans put up a strong defence.

After an aerial and naval bombardment, the first land units reached Sword Beach at approximately 0730. These were the ambphibious tanks of the 13/18th Hussars and they were followed shortly after by the infantry of the 8th Brigade.

The British troops at Sword got ashore with fairly light casualties and managed to drive five miles inland by the end of the day. British and French Commandos stormed ashore at Sword, with objectives in Ouistreham. The Town was taken after hard fighting, but the Guns they were expected to destroy were not in place. The Commandos then continued on to link up with Lord Lovats group which were reinforcing the Sixth Airborne.

The Canadians at Juno Beach had a far harder time, with the toops facing an extremely strong bunker and sea wall system, that was protected by a strong Artillery presence and many Concrete pillboxes. The Concrete wall was actually twice the size of that at Omaha Beach. The first wave of Canadian troops arrived at the beach at 0745 (the landing was delayed 15 minutes) and suffered a 50% casualty rate.

Despite the odds stacked against them, the Canadians has taken the seawall within two hours and managed to drive 9 miles inland. The Canadian forces were in fact, the only units to reach all of their Overlord objectives.

At Gold Beach, the casualties were also quite high, as the ambphibious tanks were delayed in landing and the Germans had a heavily fortified shoreline. The 50th Infantry Division overcame this and had reached the outskirts of Bayeux by the end of the day. The last British Commando unit to land on D Day landed here. Their objective was the harbour of Port en Bessin, which they marched to for ten miles to attack it from the rear. It was to become on eof the vital harbours for the landing of extra troops and equipment.

6th June 1944: the Allies land in Normandy. Nearly 5,000 ships carrying tens of thousands of fighting units supported by an imposing aerial force. With this colourful new guide you can retrace step-by-step every important moment of this famous day in history: The training in Britain; The German defences; The invasion strategy; Sector-by-sector operations; The British, Canadian & American beaches; What happened on Sword and Gold beaches; Tragedy at Omaha; Canadians on Juno; U.S. Rangers assault on the Pointe du Hoc; Paratroop operations; Liberation of Ranville & St-Mere-Eglise on 5th June.

This battle map of Normandy is in four colours and is double-sided. It folds out to about 24 x 18 inches and show modern roads, battle lines, contours (essential for understanding the importance of the ground over which the battles were fought), memorials, bunkers, cemeteries and museums. Each has comprehensive indexes, giving details of personalities and the map references of places of interest. This was as important for me during my trip to the Normandy sites as my rucksack and my wallet. A must have!

Omaha Beach was the bloodiest landing on D day with the Americans up against a well trained German Division and formidable fortified defences. The pre-landing naval and aerial bombardment did little to lower the effectiveness of these defences.

Many of the amphibious tanks never reached the beach, having been released to early. Some on the Eastern parts of the landing did make it ashore but were pulverised by German artillery. It was reported that in the first few waves of the attack most troops became leaderless with officers and NCO's being killed leaving groups of soldiers fighting on alone. Approximately 2,400 American soliders died on Omaha on D Day, the majority of them in the first few hours. Small groups of soldiers grouped together and often without commanders finally took the beachhead and pressed inland, just as senior officers were considering abandoning the attack.

The landings at Utah were the complete opposite of Omaha with the lightest casualty rate of any of the beach landing zones. 197 American soldiers died out of around 23,000 put ashore. The 4th Infantry Division actually landed in the wrong place, with a strong current pushing them South East. This actually helped the attack with the divsion facing little opposition. The troops managed to reach the beach exits that were held by troops of the 101st Airborne and by mid-afternoon managed to link up with the main force of the 101st.

Another landing zone in the American Sector was Pointe du Hoc, which was assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Their objective was to scale 30 metre high cliffs to reach a bunker which held Artillery which could rain down shells on both Omaha and Utah beaches. The Rangers were under heavy fire as they climbed the cliffs and when they eventually reached the bunker, the guns had been moved inland. The surviving troops moved inland and eventually found the guns and eliminated them. The 2nd Ranger lost around 60% of its men holding this postion.

There is plenty to see and do in the area around the Normandy Beaches of D Day. Here is a few of the sights that may interest you.

Around Sword Beach

Musée de la Batterie de Merville - This museum is located inside the old Battery and traces the 6th Airborne's operations to take the battery.

Pegasus Bridge memorial, Ranville-Benouville - Several monuments to the Glider party which captured the bridge, as well as the bridge itself.

Ouistreham - This attractive seaside resort has plenty of remains from the war, with many memorials to those who liberated the Town. Some very good museums here as well commemorating the 6th of June.

Ranville Cemetery - 2,235 graves of some of the fallen from the 6th Airborne. There are various other monuments and memorials scattered around the area including Lion-sur-Mer and Hermanville.

Around Juno Beach

Bernieres-sur-Mer - Many memorials to the Canadian regiments that stormed the beach here. Some pleasant strolls around the Town too.

Courseulles-sur-Mer - A DD tank (amphibious landing tank) sits on the seafront, having been recovered from the Channel in 1970. The Croix de Lorraine monument is nearby and commemorates the return of General charles de Gaulle. The Juno Beach Centre is also located here and has a great presentation of the attack at Juno.

Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers - The Canadian War Cemetery where 2,044 Canadian soldiers rest.

Around Gold Beach

Arromanches - Here you will see the remaining Mulberry Harbours used by the British, a great film is shown at Arromanches360 detailing the cost of the liberation and the Landing Museum is another fascinating source of information.

Longues-sur-Mer Battery - This is the only coastal battery to have kept its original guns. A great way to expereince what a coastal battery from 44 looks like.

Port-en-Bessin - A memeorial stands here in honour of the Royal Marines who fell in the liberation of the Town. Also here is the Underwater Wrecks Museum which houses wrecked Shermans and trucks that were recovered from the sea.

Bayeux - Bayeux is home to the biggest British war cemetery in France from World War Two, the Bayeux Memorial stands opposite the war cemetery and has the names of 1808 Commonwealth soldiers who have no known grave.Bayeux also has the magnififcent Museum of the Battle of Normandy.

Around Omaha Beach

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer - This American War Cemetery overlooks the Beach at Omaha and has the graves of 9,387 fallen soldiers. There is a path down to the beach, though I recommend walking from the beach to here - it gives a little more perspective.

Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer - This little Town is home to the Mounument of the 1st (Big Red One) Infantry Division as well as the Omaha Beach Memorial Museum, another great museum of the region.

Vierville-sur-Mer - Monuments here include the 29th US Infantry Division stele, National Guard monument, 6th Engineer Special Brigade stele, 29th DI Engineer plate, 81st CM battalion and 110th FA bat. Plates, 5th Rangers Battalion plate, 58th Armored Field Battalion stele, Boundary Marker in memory of the 58the Artillery Battalion. Along the coastal road, 500 meters from Les Moulins a monument is situated in the place of the First American Cemetery in Normandy on Omaha beach. The soldiers interred there were later moved to the military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. There is another museum here documenting the assault on Omaha Beach.

Pointe du Hoc - This is the site of the 2nd Rangers couragous attack up the rocky cliffs to knock out a German gun placement. You can still see the craters from the attack around the placement. The memorial is built on a control firing casemate where bodies of the soldiers still lie under the ruins.

Around Utah Beach

Dead Man's Corner Museum, Saint Come du Mont - The museum to commemorate the 101st Airborne at the point where the Screaming eagles me the Green Devils, the German Paratroopers. A fascinating place for anyone who watched or read Band of Brothers.

Ste-Mère-Eglise - The infamous village where American Paratroopers were gunned down before even hitting the ground. Plenty of mounments and memorials in the Village and a museum dedicated to American Airborne forces.

Utah Beach Landing Museum - Opposite Utah Beach, this is another interesting museum, very much like some of those at Omaha.

Also scattered around the Utah Beach area is many former German Artillery placements. Walking around these will give you an idea of the gunpower the Germans had at their disposal.

To fly into France from around the World to visit Normandy, you will be better off flying to Paris. It is the closest airport to the region and easily reached via train, bus or private hire car.

Flights to Paris are highly competitive and so good prices are easily found. I recommend Travelocity as I have never had any problems and you are guarenteed to find some good prices.




The best place to base yourself for your tour of the Normandy Landings sites is Bayeux. This is a very attractive Town that was left unscathed during the War and keeps a lot of the charm from previous times. There is plenty to see in the Town and a favourite is the Bayeux Tapestry, famous for the 'other' cross-channel invasion - the Norman invasion of England.

Bayeux is a very popular Tourist destination and you will need to book in advanc eto make sure you are guarenteed accommodation. Hotels.com is a great source to find hotels, with a search engine that will find accommodation suited to your needs and budget.





It is very easy to tour the region by yourself if you have hired a car or bicycle. The tour guides for the region mentioned above would be essential if you choose this option. If you would prefer a tour then Viator offer many different tours to the different places of interest. They pick you up from your hotel in Bayeux or Caen and you will have an English speaking guide who knows the area and the history well.

Examples of tours on offer from Viator include trips to the different Beaches and the local War Cemeteries, as well as trips to other sights in the region including Mont St Michel and Honfleur.