"William McBride knew D-Day was near just by looking at the English sky on the evening of June 5, 1944"(McBride 9). From the airbase, the airmen could see large formations of troop carrier aircraft's and some gliders beginning to form. This sight was very unusual and could only mean one thing. The night of June 5th was going to be a short one. The airmen were awakened around midnight to attend a mission briefing. The fighters were instructed to target and destroy German coastal gun batteries. At 12:16 a.m., British time, D-Day began. The invasion of Normandy caused many American casualties.
The plan was very simple; it was to secure a port in the initial landing and to move men and supplies for an offensive thrust aimed at retaking France. The plan called for landings by Allied forces at five different beaches. The American forces were lead by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, who was responsible for securing Utah and Omaha beaches. The British were to secure Gold and Sward beaches, while Juno beach was to be the responsibility of the Canadians. The troops .
used the channel to transport supplies and themselves to the five beaches. The mission of the airmen was to land at night inland of Utah beach. The effort of the airborne division was to cut off the German lines of communication and intercept and German reinforcement troops during the first critical hours of the invasion. The Navy's Task Force was instructed to deliver the Army ground forces to Omaha and Utah beaches. The United States Army's VII Corps, at Utah and the V Corps, at Omaha, would secure the beachhead, move inland, and link together with the airmen. The Canadian and British forces would follow a plan along the lines of this also. A key role would be played by the French which was to sabotage and create confusion and slow the German reactions. Technology played a huge role in the invasion of Normandy. The United States used two artificial ports known as "Mulberries.
