06/06/2026
On June 6th, 1944, Over 356,000 Allied Personnel took part in the largest invasion in history in order to liberate Europe. 4,414 of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice doing so on June 6th alone.
Today is the 82nd anniversary of that faithful day, and its our job to continue to remember these heroes that took part in it as well as every other engagement of World War II and every other war, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Below is a landing sequence of every major event that happened on June 6th.
12:15 AM — U.S. 101st Airborne pathfinders jump into Normandy behind Utah Beach.
12:16 AM — British glider troops land near Caen and capture Pegasus Bridge and Horsa Bridge
12:50 AM — British 6th Airborne paratroopers drop near Ranville to secure the eastern flank.
1:30 AM — U.S. 101st Airborne begins landing inland behind Utah Beach.
2:00 AM — Scattered airborne units begin fighting German forces in the dark.
3:00 AM — Thousands of Allied ships anchor off Normandy and prepare landing craft.
4:00 AM — U.S. paratroopers liberate Sainte-Mère-Église, one of the first French towns freed.
5:00 AM — Allied naval bombardment begins hitting German coastal defenses.
5:30 AM — First waves move toward the beaches through rough seas.
6:30 AM — American troops land at Utah and Omaha. Omaha becomes the bloodiest beach.
7:00 AM — British troops land at Sword Beach; the second wave hits Omaha.
7:30 AM — U.S. Rangers assault Pointe du Hoc, climbing the cliffs under fire.
7:45 AM — Canadian troops land at Juno Beach against heavy German resistance.
8:00 AM — Rangers land at Omaha to help push inland.
11:00 AM — British forces secure exits off Gold Beach.
12:00 PM — Utah Beach exits are secured, opening the way inland.
By nightfall — The Allies hold a foothold in Normandy. Thousands of troops had landed by sea, with thousands more of airborne troops dropped behind enemy lines. The liberation of Western Europe had begun.
