D-Day is recalled by modern pundits as the great American invasion of Europe. It should be remembered as the last huge military operation of the British Empire.
In 1944 there was a powerful British Empire along with its closely related,
independent "Dominions" such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The forces who mounted the D-Day operations were largely British Empire troops and sailors.
First and foremost was the invasion fleet consisting of 1,213 warships, 4,126 landing craft of various types, 736
ancillary craft, and 864 merchant vessels. The majority of the fleet was supplied by the UK and Canada, who provided 892 warships and 3,261 landing craft. There were 195,700 naval personnel involved.
The land invasion involved 156,115 men who landed on D-Day. This consisted of 75,215 British and Canadians from the sea and 7,900 airborne, a total of 83,115. There were 57,500 Americans from the sea and 15,500 airborne Americans totalling 73,000.
The RAF had about 56,000 aircraft in 1944, of which about 5800 were combat aircraft stationed in Western Europe and about 1000 of which supported the D-Day landings. It supplied the bulk of the airpower during the invasion - many of the pilots were veterans from occupied Europe etc. who had joined the RAF.
The figures show that D-Day was a British Empire operation supported by US land forces. This should be remembered when Obama leads the commemoration speeches at the behest of the French. It should also be remembered that the French were an ally of the Germans in 1944 and the USA had a secret Committee for the Dismantlement of the British Empire that plotted throughout World War II to ensure US hegemony after the war.
It is strange indeed how history is retold by those who control the modern media.
In 1944 there was a powerful British Empire along with its closely related,
First and foremost was the invasion fleet consisting of 1,213 warships, 4,126 landing craft of various types, 736
ancillary craft, and 864 merchant vessels. The majority of the fleet was supplied by the UK and Canada, who provided 892 warships and 3,261 landing craft. There were 195,700 naval personnel involved.The land invasion involved 156,115 men who landed on D-Day. This consisted of 75,215 British and Canadians from the sea and 7,900 airborne, a total of 83,115. There were 57,500 Americans from the sea and 15,500 airborne Americans totalling 73,000.
The RAF had about 56,000 aircraft in 1944, of which about 5800 were combat aircraft stationed in Western Europe and about 1000 of which supported the D-Day landings. It supplied the bulk of the airpower during the invasion - many of the pilots were veterans from occupied Europe etc. who had joined the RAF.
The figures show that D-Day was a British Empire operation supported by US land forces. This should be remembered when Obama leads the commemoration speeches at the behest of the French. It should also be remembered that the French were an ally of the Germans in 1944 and the USA had a secret Committee for the Dismantlement of the British Empire that plotted throughout World War II to ensure US hegemony after the war.
It is strange indeed how history is retold by those who control the modern media.
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