Britain, not America, led the D-day landings
sir – As we approach the 75th anniversary of the D-day landings, it is time to correct Hollywood’s view that Britain’s role was minimal.
Strategic plans for the Normandy landings were actually conceived and developed by a British general, Frederick Morgan.
True, the Supreme Allied Commander, General Eisenhower, was American, but all allied forces on the ground were under the command of General Montgomery. In addition, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Arthur Tedder, was British, as were the Allied Air Commander-in-chief, Sir Trafford Leigh-mallory, and the Allied Naval Commander-in-chief, Bertram Ramsay.
On D-day itself, British and Canadian forces put 75,215 troops ashore over three separate landings, and 8,500 paratroopers; the US landed 57,500 troops over two landings and 13,100 paratroopers.
Of the 1,213 warships taking an active part in the assault, 892 were British. The Royal and Merchant navies provided 137,824 personnel, the Americans 52,889; and of the 4,126 landing craft involved, 3,261 were British while 805 were American. In addition, almost half of the 11,590 allied aircraft involved were flown by the RAF, while, 1,800 RAF personnel were also landed on D-day.
Bletchley Park had broken the latest German Enigma codes some six weeks before the invasion, and false information about allied intentions, including the fictitious “First United States Army Group”, conceived by (British) Colonel David Strangeways, misled the Germans into believing the invasion would take place at Calais.
All those, of whatever nationality, who took part in the D-day landings deserve our eternal respect and gratitude. America’s contribution was indisputably substantial; but it was certainly no greater than that of Britain and Canada.
Lest we forget.
Nicholas Young
London W13