D-day + 24,471

[Doublegun]

Time passes far too quickly but for a lot of brave allied soldiers time stopped forever 24,471 days ago. Thank you to all who served then and who have have served since.

 

[Shangas]

Yes indeed. I wrote a small article on my blog about the Invasion of Normandy and D-Day. I tried to make it as comprehensive as possible, but also tried to convey just how big an operation this was. For folks here who don't know much about D-Day (unlikely, in my opinion!), that might give you a quick idea of what it was and what was involved...

 

[Doublegun]

Well written, Shangas. Found this - there were actually cameras shooting with color film in Normandy at that time. http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/06/06/137003198/on-d-day-anniversary-rare-color-photos

 

[Chasseur]

Shangas,

Nicely done and I like your blog as well!

 

[Shangas]

Well written, Shangas. Found this - there were actually cameras shooting with color film in Normandy at that time. http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/06/06/137003198/on-d-day-anniversary-rare-color-photos

Shangas,

Nicely done and I like your blog as well!

Thanks guys!

And yes, there were lots of people who went in with the troops on D-Day who didn't fight. There were photographers, journalists, newsmen, newsreel-cameramen and photographers and even radio-announcers and anchormen who were stationed on warships out at sea, giving live updates of the battle. It really wass quite an amazing event. I even have a small selection of radio-broadcasts in my OTR collection of the D-Day landings.

 

[Chasseur]

Shangas,

If you were looking for details on the perfomance of the different armies during the campaign, I can highly recommend this book by a good friend of mine:
http://www.amazon.com/Clash-Arms-How-Allies-Normandy/dp/1555879470/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307408284&sr=8-1

 

[Bluebird Marsha]

I've just never felt that WWII was all that long ago, and those color pictures reinforce that feeling. Most of the guys look just like some of my friends in the service- only the uniform changes, not the folks that wear it.

 

[Doublegun]

Thanks guys!

And yes, there were lots of people who went in with the troops on D-Day who didn't fight. There were photographers, journalists, newsmen, newsreel-cameramen and photographers and even radio-announcers and anchormen who were stationed on warships out at sea, giving live updates of the battle. It really wass quite an amazing event. I even have a small selection of radio-broadcasts in my OTR collection of the D-Day landings.

That is well documented that there were a lot of "media" people who landed including John Ford - but there were not many color photographs taken by anyone. That was my point.

 

[MisterCairo]

I know the second world war is still within living memory, but colour photos really bring home the reality of it to me. Black and white photos and film footage still convey to me a "history" feeling. Those colour shots, particularly of the civilians, make it look like these pictures were taken yesterday, not almost seventy years ago. That little girl in particular really hits home.

 

[bil_maxx]

I've just never felt that WWII was all that long ago, and those color pictures reinforce that feeling. Most of the guys look just like some of my friends in the service- only the uniform changes, not the folks that wear it.

So true. It feels like it was not that long ago at all. Especially since I am lucky enough to know people who fought in the war. I told one of them the other day that I am proud to be a descendant of that generation that put personal issues aside for the greater good of all. I am humbled and proud that my grandfathers fought in both world wars and I tell everyone about them.

 

[DNO]

So true. It feels like it was not that long ago at all. Especially since I am lucky enough to know people who fought in the war. I told one of them the other day that I am proud to be a descendant of that generation that put personal issues aside for the greater good of all. I am humbled and proud that my grandfathers fought in both world wars and I tell everyone about them.

You're right...we should be proud of our connection to that generation. When I was growing up, everyone's father or uncle (usually both) had served in the war...or at least that's the way it seemed at the time. I know that my father and one of my uncles served in the RCAF while two other uncles were in the Canadian Army. Even now, I know that the fathers of my similar-aged friends all served. It was quite a generation and it deserves our respect.