Facts and figures about the D-Day invasion

Tribune-Review
Thursday, June 6, 2019 11:17 a.m. | Thursday, June 6, 2019 11:17 a.m.

A U.S. helmet sits atop a captured German machine gun, marking the location at Pointe du Hoc of fallen comrades, casualties of June 6, 1944. Although there is no official figure, Allied casualties on June 6 are estimated at 10,000. The number of Axis casualties is estimated between 4,000 and 9,000 men.

Soldiers come ashore on an LCVP. Fighting has moved inland and the emphasis is on building resources on the beachhead.

Operation Overlord: Code name for the Allied invasion of Western Europe.

D: Stands for “day” as the final invasion date was unknown and depended on the weather.

150,000+: Troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Free France and Norwaymade up the Allied Forces.

Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword: Allied code names for the beaches along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted for landing.

“OK, We’ll go”: U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower’s words to begin the mission on June 5, 1944.

822: Number of airplanes that dropped initial wave of parachutists and gliders over landing zones in Normandy.

6:30 a.m.: Seaborne units began to land on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

The Armada: 6,000 ships and landing craft, 50,000 vehicles and 11,000 planes were involved in the invasion or delivered afterward.

8,230: Number of U.S. soldiers killed, wounded, missing or captured during D-Day. Figure topped 10,000 with British and Canadian losses included. German losses are estimated between 4,000 and 9,000.

326,000+: Allied troops that crossed the beaches by June 11, 1944, with more than 100,000 tons of military equipment.

Under 500,000: Estimated number of World War II veterans remaining alive.

Unknown: Number of veterans alive who participated in the D-Day invasion.

Source: The National World War II Museum