65th Anv. of D-Day

This weekend marks the 65th Anv. of the D-Day Landing and the freeing of Europe from Nazi Germany.

For me it's a time to celebrate and talk with Veterans of D-Day, to give you some idea the size of the invasion we must first look at the allied landing force size.

United States,
73,000 Total broken down as follows 23,250 on Utah Beach 32,250 on Omaha Beach and 15,500 Airborne.

English/Canadian
61,715/21,400 Total Broken Down as follows 24,970 on Gold Beach 21,400 on Juno Beach 28,845 on Sword Beach and 7900 Airborne.

Also part of the Allied Landing Armys were troops from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.

The Combine Air force for the Allied was 11,950 Aircraft who flew close to 15,ooo sorties on June 6th.

Today in and around the greater Normandy Beach Heads are twenty-seven war cemeteries hold the remains of over 110,000 dead from both sides: 77,866 German, 9386 American, 17,769 British, 5002 Canadian and 650 Poles.

Something to think about on Saturday when you are out with your Family and Friends.