Here is an episode of the U.S. Army TV program “The Big Picture” about June 6, 1944 and D-Day, wen Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in Occupied France. This was also known as Operation Overlord, and was the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Sgt Stewart Queen serves as host.
It opens with various scenes preceding D-Day of normal American life. Women appear in conservative attire (:13). Industry began pumping out war materials: bullets (:28) and fighter planes (:35). Headlines from the Daily News (:55) and LA Times (:58) blast news of German invasion. Nazi’s march (1:40) as France became heavily fortified. An animated map shows German occupied France (1:49). Drafted American soldiers (1:55) sent to Britain. Soldiers lie in cots (1:59) and play card games (2:05) en route to Europe. The convoy moves through Atlantic waters (2:21). Once at British ports (2:29) supplies, men and jeeps unload. Female WAVES and WAACs (2:48) and MP’s (2:59) appear. Training exercises (3:11) included US and Canadian landings on English beaches (3:29). Rows of supplies (3:39). An M3/M5 Stuart light tank (3:42). Nazi forces work to erect the Atlantic Wall (3:55). Mines and booby traps (4:03). German heavy guns are set into position (4:19). An animated map notes where the Germans believed the Allied attack was to be (4:38) though it was actually set for the port of Cherbourg in Normandy (5:00). Allied forces dropped bombs over Calais to further confuse the Nazis (5:20). The De Havilland Mosquito appears (5:39). Grounded planes of the Luftwaffe are hit (5:45). The RAF targeted oil centers and industrial plants (5:55). A bomber’s payload is emptied (6:07). Brewster Buffalos roll by (6:37). An LCVP landing craft floats through waters (7:13). It is noted D-Day was postponed for June and training continued through English spring (7:20). Military vehicles move down Bournemouth Street (7:54). M36 tanks and covered jeeps (7:59) head for the stocked beaches (8:06). Forces prepare for the attack (8:27). Equipment such as the James ML Clockwork Mouse (8:36), spotting rifle (8:37), hand guns (8:43), grenades (8:46), the M4 Sherman (9:05) and military jeeps appear (9:14). A good shot shows troops crammed into an LCVP landing craft as part of this massive shore to ship movement (10:23). A priest delivers a sermon to fighting men (11:05). During the waiting period aboard invasion ships, troops listen to records (11:24) and read as a Channel storm pushed the landing day until June 6th (12:11). A machine gun belt is readied (12:25). Gen. Eisenhower (12:32) makes the call to go ahead with invasion despite unfavorable weather conditions. The anchor is drawn up (12:42). Barrage balloons hang over what might be the USS O’Brien DD 725 (12:58). Eisenhower visits the paratroopers of the US’s 82nd and 101st airborne division along with the British 6th airborne division (13:36). Paratrooper’s packs are tightened (14:33). Transport planes are boarded (14:41). The C-47 Skytrain (15:10) and the Waco CG-4 Glider (15:18). Paratroopers jump (16:14). Parachutes in the sky (16:19). The invasion fleet of 5,000 vessel’s floats in the English channel (16:40). Rough seas (17:11). Sailor blinker flashes a signal (17:35) as a bombardment begins one hour before the landings (18:00). German orders blast over loudspeakers (18:45). The first wave moves for the shoreline (20:28). A good angle from aboard an LCVP shows mounting anxiety on troops faces (21:46). Allied forces touch the beaches at H-hour (23:19). Some of the men die with ankles still in sea foam (23:55). A foothold is achieved (25:23). Omar Bradley appears (25:31) as London hears the news. A hospital ship floats offshore (26:27). The port city burns as combat moves inland (27:27). An Allied tank rolls over the Nazi flag (28:03). The swastika symbol at Zeppelinfield is blown into smithereens as the war in Europe ends (28:09).
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