World War II Database

For students of history, June 6, 1944, is a monumental day. It is the day Allied forces launched the long-awaited attack on Fortress Europe, ushering forward a series of events involving millions of people, that would eventually lead to the end the war. The WW2DB team salutes the veterans of World War II, highlighting the experiences of soldiers and sailors who were there on D-Day.

• A US Army infantryman (29th Division) who came ashore at Omaha beach.
• A US Army paratrooper (82nd Airborne veteran making his third combat jump), who landed near St. Mére-Eglise.
• A US Army medic (a Chinese American), who tended to the dying and wounded on the beach.
• A US Army Ranger whose objective was to eliminate the guns on Point et Raz de la Percee, overlooking Omaha Beach.
• A US Navy man, who ferried troops and supplies to the beaches of Normandy.
• A US Army B-24 Liberator pilot who flew bombing missions in support of the invasion.
• A US Army combat engineer (4th Engineers, of the 4th Infantry Division) who came ashore at Utah beach.
• A US Navy gunner's mate on a landing craft, who delivered troops to shore.
• A US Army Air Corps plane mechanic (402nd Fighter Squadron in the 370th fighter group), who came ashore a week after the initial landings.
• A Royal Navy seaman/gunner on board HMS Ramillies
• A British corporal in the 2nd Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
• A British paratrooper (Royal Signals Regiment - Advanced Party, 6 Airborne Div.HQ)
• A British DD tank gunner (13th/18th Royal Hussars [Queen Mary's Own]), who came ashore at Sword beach.
• A Canadian engineer (Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).

For more information about the Normandy Campaign, please visit this WW2DB article.