WHO'S WHO...?

The planning process for an allied invasion of Europe began in earnest after the Casablanca and Tehran Conferences in December 1943. Chiefs of Staff were appointed according to their skills and experience to coordinate the attack...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Dwight D "Ike" Eisenhower (1890-1969) was appointed Supreme Allied Commander of the Expeditionary Force in February 1944.
2. Sir Arthur William Tedder (1890-1967) was appointed Deputy Supreme Commander, and craving more responsibility, later wrested control of the Air planning from Leigh-Mallory.
3. Sir Bernard Law Montgomery (1887-1976) was named as Commander of the 21st Army Group, to which all ground forces belonged.
4. Sir Bertram Home Ramsay (1883-1945) was appointed Naval Commander in Chief of the Allied Naval Expeditionary Force.
5. Omar Nelson Bradley (1893-1981) was named Commanding General of the substantial US 1st Army, which alongside the British 2nd Army made up Monty's 21st Army Group.
6. George Smith Patton Jnr. (1885-1945) was placed in command of the US 3rd Army on 1st August 1944, after the Normandy Invasion had begun.
7. Trafford Leigh-Mallory (1892-1944)was Air Officer Command (AOC) No. 12 (Fighter) Group in the RAF throughout the Battle of Britain, and in 1943 was selected to be Commander in Chief of the Allied Air Expeditionary Force. He was tragically killed in a plane crash in November 1944.
8. Alan Francis Brooke (1883-1963)was the foremost military advisor to Winston Churchill. In December 1941 he was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) and later became Chairman of the Chief of Staffs Committee.