AMERICAN ARMED FORCES

As a Charity, D-Day Revisited predominantly has Veterans of British Armed Forces in mind. However, the history of D-Day cannot be told without due and respectful reference to the huge American contribution. US landings on OMAHA beach suffered the most severe casuaties of the Day.

On D-Day 6th June 34,250 American troops landed on Omaha Beach. The two Assault Units were 1st & 29th Divisions. In addition there was to be support from the 2nd Ranger Battalion as well as DD (Duplex Drive) Sherman Tanks. These tanks had the ability to motor over water using a flotation jacket and propeller drive. To the GIs, “DD” was naturally “Donald Duck”.

The 1st Division was a seasoned & trained formation which had seen action since 1943, whereas the 29th was a National Guard unit with no combat experience. American Forces lacked landing craft so much of the transport was provided and manned by the Royal Navy.

One of these RN seaman recalled: “As we got nearer shells were exploding in the water and as the ramp came down just short of the shoreline, machine gun fire cut them to pieces. Most never got more than a few yards from the ramp.”

Stretching nearly 6 miles, of the five landing beaches Omaha was the longest and turned out to be most costly in casualties. The beach itself is dominated by high ground providing defenders with ideal topography where they’d constructed concrete bunkers containing heavy machine guns and artillery pieces...