I’m from a small town of 8,000 people in Nebraska a mere 35 minute drive from Omaha, our largest city and name sake of Omaha beach. I’ve always been a huge Ww2 history buff, and even I must admit I have never heard of this story. Thank you Mark for bringing this to light for the masses. I have the utmost respect and admiration for these British Soldiers and indeed all Allied soldiers who took part in this bloody battle to save Europe and the World. I give them thanks for storming the beaches and battling it out side by side my American county men. These men are all heroes. May god rest their souls. USA 🇺🇸 UK 🇬🇧 Canada 🇨🇦 Australia 🇦🇺 New Zealand 🇳🇿 Family Forever!
Was there last year Flash, it's a ' bloody big beach ' high sea wall and even higher cliffs. Then I saw this sign RAF, I was baffled then our tour guide told us about these radar / communication airmen. It's a very moving story, have you ever been to Normandy?
Well said flash, every one of them a hero. If only more people could stop for a moment to reflect on the bravery of these people, the horrors they witnessed and endured and the comrades they lost.
Flash Gordon I have to say I’m just the same ,I’ve read so much about WW2 but never knew some us Brits were at Omaha beach (apart from the Royal Navy who manned the landing craft ) best wishes from your British cousins 🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇸
Rodgey D thank you for that story. I couldn’t imagine the terror and chaos and challenges those men were going through whilst storming the beaches. They are true warriors and the bravest of the brave! Sadly I have not yet had the honor of visiting this sacred ground, but it is on my bucket list and something I plan on doing very soon. I have a 5 year old son who id like to be a little bit older so he can truly experience this with me and have a personal connection to Normandy that he will remember for the rest of his life. I want him to be grateful and mind full of what these brave men did and the sacrifices they gave for the good of the world, and to teach him that we must always be proud of and honor our ancestors. I’d love to visit a lot of the other battle sites of Ww2 also. I had a grandpa that was in the army, he took part in the capture of the Ludendorff bridge at Remagen. I’d love to go and see where the bridge was, and pay my respects to my grandfather. Did you have a grandfather that served in ww2? If so I’d be interested to know about it! Respect to you sir!
icedidi I completely agree brother, I think the world would be in a better place if more people did! Freedom isn’t free, and we must always support our military members past and present. We must keep their memory and fighting spirit alive! And always appreciate their brave and heroic actions! All gave some, some gave all!
My grandad served on HMS Wensleydale. They provided support for the Americans at Omaha Beach. I was a teenager when he told me some of the stories and I asked what is was like that day.. He said imagine all the fireworks around the uk on bonfire night all going off together in one place then times it by 50.. That gives you an idea of the noise. Then add fear, smells, screaming, shouting, smoke and such.. He said his ears were ringing for days after. My mum later told me he had terrible nightmares and would wake up screaming for his fallen shipmates. I have photos of him on the ship and most of his naval uniform. There were lots of stories about sinking U boats and Atlantic missions. He took the ensign (flag) from the ship at the end of the war and in the early 90’s presented it to the Church in Hawes, Wensleydale in North Yorkshire at a special service where it still hangs this day at the front of the church with a brass plaque.
Your grandfather is a war hero in my eyes. Such bravery to help in the war against evil. May your grandfather rest in peace in Heaven beside God's Throne. May God Bless him.
Hey Mark, on the topic of D-Day, another widely forgotten story is of the Danish Merchant Marine sailors sailing for the British Merchant Marine during the war and participating in the landings themselves. Their boats where favoured because of their shallow draft. They went into action on the first wave, the aprox 800 men secured the recognition for Denmark as an Allied nation. My great-uncle is the last known surviving member of the aprox 6300 Danish sailors sailing for the British during the war. 1072 would perish between the 9th of April 1940 through 16th of May 1945, fighting for king and country. Do like if you, like me would like to se a video done on the subject!
@Ben Dover Did you actually watch the video? It's a video exploring specifically the historically forgotten British component of the Omaha landing. The video is not titled 'An Complete Overview of Omaha'.
@@DOPExPIRATE Just like Mark Wahlberg would of stopped 9/11 if he was on the plane? It's easier to say than it is to do. Let's focus on these guys buddy.
I think my great uncle was in this unit. He was an RAF radio operator attached to the Americans & was supposed to land at Omaha. His landing craft was blown up far out to sea & he eventually arrived on the beach suffering from memory loss as a result of being knocked out by the explosion & without his dog tags, his radio or his clothes. Some weeks later he was sent home to England on medical grounds only to find that he had been reported dead & there had been a funeral. He got to visit his own grave! (Apologies if this is a duplicate post. I’m not sure the first one went through)
@@Westwoodii He stayed in South Africa after the war & died there in the early 90's i believe. Story above is from memory as told to me by my grandad, who served in the signals regiment in Burma, India, Malaysia among others. Thankfully as the youngest of the three brothers he arrived there late enough in the war to avoid most of the action. Pretty crazy that he buried his brother only for him to turn up alive!
I'm a Canadian, born and raised. My parents were British, raised there during the war. My mother a Cockney, who lived in London, as a young teen, during The Blitz. I've been studying WWII for some 50 years now including hearing first hand stories from my parents. I know all the major, and most minor events, along with all the players. At least I thought I did before running into your channel. This story was completely new to me. The archival footage being some of the best that I'd never seen before. Also one of the better narratives I've ever heard, of Omaha Beach in general. And although you do branch into stories of other interesting conflicts, your series of WWII stories are by far the best I've ever watched and listened to. I've read and watched so much about this war, but this series fills in the picture exquisitely. Thank you
I know a man who came ashore with Lord Lovet and the Lovet Scouts, on Sword beach.His name is James Clark. They reinforced the Paratroopers who landed and took Pegasus Bridge. James is now in his nineties. I have very high respect for what he and his brothers in arms, did that day. Our lives would have been very different otherwise.
@@philippickford2429 True, led by Major John Howard. When a friend and I visited the Normandy beach head in 1992 just before being posted back to Canada from Germany, when we were at Pegasus bridge we met a gentleman who was in the second glider to land. He had quite a story to tell, from Dunkirk to D-Day. His name was Chamberlain.
I’m a high school history teacher and always use Mark Felton page to my students. Edit: Thanks for all the likes everyone. It's my first year of teaching this year and wanted to incorporate short, informative videos instead of long drawn out documentaries that do nothing but bore the students.
Well done. You must be an excellent teacher. Hope your pupils and their parents appreciate your dedication. My own teachers tended to skip through essential military history and battles. You have my respect. MD
When i was in high school Qld Aus us boys asked the teacher what Vietnam was all about. His reply "I am not allowed to talk about that." This to boys gettin ready for the call up in 1969. So glad i missed it and the irony is where i live today is called Little Saigon. Its where all the Viet refugees ended up after the war. I just love a Pho!
I have never saw a video I didn’t like they’re interesting and educational. And alllllways finding something new. You’re the best History Channel on youtube
@distantvoices But there are those of us that knew what they did, and why they did it. We know the heroism and the huge price they paid for us that follow. And we know they did it for even those who show such hatred and contempt for them today. Few alive today will even live up to these great men.
The father of one of my college friends was an Army demolitions engineer who landed on Omaha. His landing craft was blown up and he eventually staggered ashore, missing his pants, a boot and all his equipment. He considered himself lucky as he was the only member of his team to survive that day. He figured that the Germans ignored him, as how threatening could a guy with no pants be.
David Murray my father was demolitions guy under Patton 1st Division. Said he should have died that day and every minute after that has been extra time. He died in his sleep 50 years later. Bizzar! Greatest generation.’RIP
Another historical fact you may not be aware of sailors of the Royal Navy were responsible for getting the US troops into Omaha beach as they were coxswains of some of the landing craft .
Well I have to say that when you announced that you were going to tell us a very little known story on D Day I was a bit sceptical. I have read a lot about D Day but I didn’t know this story. You completely surprised me on this one. Thanks for posting this video.
I have taught WWII History and as a former GCI Operator with the RAF I too had never heard this story so on both counts I am so grateful for this. Thank you Dr Felton.
It makes me very proud to hear that under huge amounts of battle stress, the Brits and members of the commonwealth were shoulder to shoulder with our American allies, proving two things, that they were the best generation and that no man was left to walk, run or fight alone on Omagh.
@@kayzeaza America didn't save the British, they saved the Russians with massive loans and shared technology. America joined when it thought France might not be able to repay. Plus, American couldn't join the Axis because Japan hated your guts and vice versa
@@leonrobinson2053 Japan only hated US because of the oil embargo which the FDR foolishly put in place. And yes the Americans saved Britain. Why else was Churchill crying for the US to intervene.
@@kayzeaza Who wouldn't call for one of the richest nations to intervene. It was a horrible stalemate, the Germans couldn't invade Britain and the Allies couldn't invade France. Who cracked Enigma? Who taught the Airborne Divisions how to guide and land airborne troops, who are the US marines modelled on, British, British Paratroopers and The SAS
Thanks for that Mark! Had never heard this story. Respect to our British cousins across the pond who fought and died together with Americans. We are all family.
My father was also a part of this day in history. I was only four years old. I am so proud of him and all the other men who gave us our freedom to this day. I thank you and all our wonderful young men and women who are there today continuing to serve our country. God bless each and every one. Thank you
Military Historians universally agree - Omaha Beach was BY FAR the most heavily defended beach. And during the landings condoms were used to cover rifle muzzles. In Paris condoms were used as intended.
Peter Southern Boy they seem to generally agree that Omaha remained heavily defended after the troops arrived later than intended because the bombing and other ‘softening up’ actions were largely ineffective or off target on this beach whilst ‘softening up’ actions were more successful on the other beaches which was bad luck for soldiers landing largely unsupported by armour or Hobart’s ‘funnies’ like the blockbuster tanks which British and Commonwealth forces employed after bitter experience of opposed landings in both world wars!
@@pcka12 - US Army official history concluded that Rommel had identified the Omaha sector as more favorable for attack from the sea, and thus moved V Corps assets into the sector and 12 strongpoints were placed as to bring direct fire on the beach. "Enemy Defenses". Omaha Beachhead. United States Army Center of Military History. 1994 [20 September 1945]
Peter Southern Boy IIRC the troops had been doing naval invasion defence drills as the attack started so were even more ferocious in defence because of it.
Peter Southern Boy does that contradict the other information and the fact that a breakthrough was finally achieved by naval destroyers approaching dangerously close to the beach and engaging the strongpoints? None of this detracts from the bravery and sacrifice of the troops assaulting the beach (I have seen the row upon row of gravestones in the cemeteries!)
One of the most informative WW2 videos I've ever seen. It's rare for me to come across something new about D-Day. I've seen almost every doc on TH-cam, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and countless books on the subject, never once has this been mentioned in any of them. Nice work! Thanks...My first subscription.
Thank you so much for adding this. My uncle - in the Royal Navy in wW2 , often spoke about how they had to go in and rescue US servicemen from Omaha beach after they landed in the wrong place, and about the other Brits there, and was always upset their sacrifice was never appreciated. He would have loved this, and to know there was a memorial to them there. Thank you. They were originally due to land at Gold, but they never got there, being diverted. They finally ended up in Juno, sailing into Courseulles sur Mer , and he said the harbour water was pink with blood, from the many bodies of Canadian soldiers floating in the water. It was a very tragic sight.
Addicted to mark Felton productions always a treat and never know about the British detachment. I know that some royal navy men piloted the landing craft that took Americans into Omaha.
@@hshs5756 not really, the UK is still strong at heart, brexit is the proof of that. We got mugged by our own government for our guns, I can see you lot getting same if you are not careful.
The condoms in the supplies were likely to protect electronic equipment from water if it needed to be involved in a wet landing. That or the lads’d need it for any liberated French women and the associated ‘wet landings’ there
Hi Mark, Very interesting. I used to be an Instructor in the RAF's Tactical Communications (TCW) Group whose job encompassed all aspects of Air support to the three services. Part of that job was exactly that of the BDS group you described. The Tactical Signals Units (TSUs) were a predecessor of TCW. Fascinating work We worked as three man teams with the Royal Sigs or as a squadron to give theatre comms. Radar sites like the falklands or one man teams attached to US Marines (I served in Lebanon with the USMC) anything and everything from a field phone to sat comms. Always first in and last out and no one ever heard of us. Thanks for the nudge mate.
I was in Marine Air Control Squadron-7 in the early 19702 and eventually became the NCOIC of the TPS-34B, a radar which the RAF also used along with the TPS-22. We had an RAF officer attached to our squadron.
That was the exchange officer, @joeosman2629. There was an equivalent Marine post with us in the U.K. at one of our radar sites (RAF Buchan in NE Scotland for many years.) The RAF post moved TO MACS 10 at Yuma and then to MAWTS-1 (also MCAS Yuma). I served at MAWTS-1 1993-95. By the time I returned to the U.K. (in 1995j, the USMC post had moved to No 1 Air Control Centre, at RAF Boulmer in NE England. 1ACC was the RAF’s only mobile air control unit. Funnily enough, the USMC Exchange Officer at 1ACC when I arrived there had been a colleague at MAWTS-1 and, in fact, my next door neighbour in base housing.
I went to Omaha Beach in June 2019. It is the most humbling place I have ever visited. Like many, I had watched all kinds of videos but could not begin to image the sheer scale of the entire front. Or just how far it was from the water to the shingle...its a long, long way to run through cross fire wet from 42 degree water and carrying all their gear. Huge respect. Just above the Coleville Draw basically on the east side of the American Cemetery are some little visited machine gun nests, bunker and trenches. The view and coverage looking from the machine gun nest down to those poor landing men is quite chilling.
please remember there are other humbling places around. While more than 10.000 died on D-day, millions died during battles in the east. Politics praise western countries while forgetting about the sacrifice made by slavs to defeat common enemy. Nevertheless, cheers for those who fought in Normandy.
My grandfather was stationed to defend this beach. I've worked for almost two years to translate his diary from German to English. The germans on the beach here were just as scared in my opinion as the soldiers landing there to take it. Everyone always overlooks the fact that the german defences were "softened up" by air raids and naval cannons before the troops showed up.
I find as a British viewer, whose grandfather served through Africa and Italy, these are my favourite type of Mark Felton video. it puts the heroics of my country men in the spotlight, and helps put life into perspective, reminding me of all those who gave their todays so that I might have a tomorrow🙏🏻
DANDNB mine never talked about it much, he was a very distinguished fighter, but he never liked people to congratulate him on his medals moreover he struggled for sometime after the war to move on from the hate he felt for the enemy that kept him going all those years, especially in the case of the italians. He did once tell me a story how after the battle of el alamain he and his unit were so exhausted that when they were finally told they could rest after days of combat they near enough collapsed to heaps on the ground.
Thank you for the programme. A truly smashing story of British action in WW11 which I have never heard before in my 50+ years of watching war documentaries.
Thank you for this ... my grandfather wouldn’t talk about it except to say he was there, which I never understood as he was in the Royal Corps of Signals ... thank you for filling in the blanks. He went on to be attached to the American 9th Armoured Division and stayed attached to the “Yanks” for the rest of the war. This is priceless to me.
Somebody i knew died last year age 94, was part of the British ROYAL SIGNALS he told me thy went ashore With folding bicycles strapped to His back and had to cycle under fire To the nearest town to set up communications as mentioned in this article.
@@kjragg1099 I doubt the vast majority were happy about it, it wasn't a choice to be in the army. In the last free elections before the Nazis established dictatorship they only got one third of the votes. So two thirds of the people did not want them. And I'm confident very few if any knew even among those who voted for the Nazis had any idea what the outcome would be.
There were other Brits at Omaha too. My old English Teacher was a young Royal Navy Lieutenant in charge of a LCT landing craft at Omaha. They are the ones you see in the footage standing up while the rest of the soldiers huddled down in the hull of the landing craft. We only found out about it after his funeral. I would have been a far more respectful pupil if I had known!
This was a superb story. thank you for making me aware of it. on the topic of the British soldier who took command of the small group of Americans, it goes to show that we will always be brothers at arms and take care of each other no matter what comes at us!
All I can say as an American is thank you, Britain. You were the stolid opposition to the Nazis around which our defense of freedom, and defense against the Nazi fanatics, was built.
Joe Oleary pretty much the same outcome as America would probably also spread their forces across France meaning Germany could still attack through the Ardennes which lead to Dunkirk
@@joeoleary6813 the US would be lacking in its military and economy as they also would've been unprepared for war. Having arrived in France they'd have been sent packing by the Germans due to the surprise attack through both Belgium and the Ardennes. It would also have made the Americans send their naval forces into the Mediterranean and North Sea, along with troops in Africa and Asia. Undoubtedly this would result in Italy's defeat coming quicker and the Germans wasting resources expanding into Africa as quickly as they could. Being caught up by the undeniable threats in Africa, Britain and to the east they'd have to be rather clever to pull off any attacks towards Africa, Britain or the Soviet Union. It'd speed up the war, and would have kept more stability and security in British Colonies possibly resulting in stronger defense in Asia. It could also have saved the British millions if they were given supplies in lend lease rather than through trade, giving more leeway for attacks across the globe against Japan or the Axis. Basically a minor set back for the US but an overall catalyst for the war probably speeding it up by a year at most.
My Dad landed on Omaha D+2 as a Forward Air Controller . Before that he carried out over 35 missions as a Wireless Op / Gunner in Wellingtons ( R.A.F.Harwell Oxfordshire 1940-oct 43 )
@Wellington. Respect to your Dad. He survived 35 missions in the air only to then be transferred to another dangerous job! My uncle was a B17 tail gunner. Also survived 35 missions including 3 crash landings and getting peppered with flak over France once. Sound like a pair of lucky guys!
Everyday I see an upload from Mark Felton, I know it's going to be an amazing tale! Once again you do not dissapoint sir! Thank goodness there's at leat one real historian left in the world studying this fascinating time period and sharing the untold truths we never hear!
About 3000 Australians were involved in D-Day and the Normandy landings. As wiki said it was mostly support from the air. My grandfather was one of them. :)
I'm British and stories like this make me realise what a lucky man I am to belong to a nation of people's past and present who always when our backs to the wall deliver
@@davejones3921 really? The only thing we got off America was debt gor years and years trust me lend lease was not as friendly a gesture as it seemed and without Britain not surrendering ww2 would have come to your shores eventually don't forget that we ended up on the winning side and lost everything including our empire you ended up being richer than ever at the end of the war
but was just a skirmish compared to eastern front major battles... d day: 150k allied and 50k axis forces second phase of battle of kursk: axis 1 milion, urss 2.5 milion
I am so very proud that (as I type) there are sixty-eight opinions that Dr. Felton's latest magnificent production was not to their liking, what a wonderful world we do live in that allows opinions (regardless of their nature) to be presented, let us take a brief moment to remember and honour the fine men, and women, who sacrificed their lives so that such opinions (whether right or wrong) may be voiced. I appreciate your fine work, Dr. Felton. Kind regards, Brendan.
Brendan, I must confess to my eyes being a tad watery after reading your message. It is so true that "Freedom" is not a god given right that so many believe... it is a privilege bought with the sorry and blood of a lot of truly heroic men and women. My grandfather was up the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea in 1942 and he and his "mates" (and I use the word with deep respect) helped save Australia from being enslaved. It really is a matter would you not agree Brendan of "Lest we forget". My thanks and respect to you Brendan
I remain forever proud of my fellow Anglosphere countries. The US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, for the bravery demonatrated by the soldiers of these countries. We may not a romantic special relationship but we share so much in common and my American grandfather was proud to have served alongside his fellow Allied Anglosphere brethren.
G'day NN, Thank you, and your grandfather, so much for giving the Commonwealth countries some credit for their sacrifices in the European and Pacific theatres of war. I'm ex-RAAF and now I'm a military historian. Mostly, when I write a comment about the activities of the Australian and New Zealand forces, I cop a lot of flak from some Americans accusing Australians of 'blowing their own trumpets' etc. Well, in my office library I've have several books written by respected US historians and former US officers who begrudgingly use the words, Australians or New Zealanders in their texts. One particular American book, which I won't mention because it does not deserve promotion, deals with the New Guinea campaign. Not once in nearly 200 pages does the author use the term 'Australian soldiers' etc., only the word, “Allied.” Totally ignoring the fact that Australian troops had a much more significant presence in every part of New Guinea than the total of all Americans who served there, mostly on the northern coast around the Buna area. The Australian General, Sir Thomas Blamey is mentioned and his life and career happen to be my topic of special interest. Blamey, later became Australia's only Field Marshal (5-Star General equivalent). General Blamey was once told by General MacArthur that Australian troops were not dying in sufficient numbers. He meant that the Aussies should have driven the Japanese back up the Kokoda Track faster than they were doing. MacArthur who spent around 100 days staying at Government House in Port Moresby, made one, maybe two, photo-opportunity trip(s) up the steep stairway that led to the start of the Kokoda Track. He then retreated back to his Government House billet and spent his time second guessing every decision made by Australian staff officers and directing his PR staff to issue bizarre press and radio briefings. These only serve to prove that MacArthur had no clue as to the real situation in New Guinea and that he was merely biding his time when he could get his forces off New Guinea and start them on his grand plan for an island hopping campaign; leading to only one destination; the Philippines. It was MacArthur who 'engineered' via the Australian Prime Minister, to have General Blamey sent to set up his HQ in New Guinea. Blamey was, at that time, C-i-C Australian Land Forces and, within the Australian Army command structure, he technically outranked MacArthur. In an insane situation, not duplicated in any theatre of WW1 or WW2, Blamey was Australia's senior Army officer having responsibility over all of Australia's troops across the nation and posted around the world. Still, Blamey being an old Intelligence officer from WW1, who did all the major planning for General Sir John Monash in The Great War, took this insult from MacArthur in his stride and not once showed any animosity. Blamey had, back at MacArthur's Brisbane HQ, all his phones tapped. To cover this he tapped every phone in Brisbane. Blamey knew exactly what MacArthur and his gang of staff officers was up to. It was all about MacArthur's public image and his obsession with impressing POTUS and General George Marshall. (Both of whom didn't want MacArthur to return to the US). MacArthur had, publicly, said so many times that he didn't want to run for President; both FDR and George Marshall were convinced that's exactly what would happen sooner or later. First MacArthur would have to be seen to 'win the war' almost single-handed. Then would come the White House. MacArthur's mother, 'Pinkie', had wanted this for her boy about the time Douglas was born. She was a force of nature... like a hurricane. Back in New Guinea; when told of the difficulties of fighting the Japanese on the narrow, hilly, muddy, Kokoda Track, MacArthur, seriously, directed that the track should be widened by the use of high explosives! Blamey saw to it that this ridiculous order was never acted upon. MacArthur had nearly 300 people on his Public Affairs and Information staff. General Blamey had one press advisor and managed all his press briefings personally. At the start of the New Guinea campaign, MacArthur had told Blamey, in writing, that Australian forces would be fighting, ‘side by side’ with US forces as they advanced towards the Philippines. When that time came MacArthur ignored his agreement and left Australian forces to, as he put it, handle the routine mopping-up of isolated Japanese strongholds. History shows that this so-called ‘mopping-up’ actually developed into some of the most desperate land battles of the entire Pacific theatre. While Blamey did see the sense in liberating large numbers of civilian populations in most locations; he soon reasoned that he was losing far too many of his troops in actions that could be avoided by simply cutting off Japanese supply lines and forcing their garrisons to capitulate after they had expended supplies of ammunition, food and potable water. General Blamey, unjustly, took harsh criticism for these losses that were ordered by the Australian Prime Minister, upon the urging of MacArthur. PM John Curtin had admitted that he knew absolutely nothing of military matters and had, for a time, placed his total faith in the directions of General MacArthur. So, NN, I thought you and perhaps others might be interested in the background story to what MacArthur got up to, and why, during his stay in Australia and New Guinea. Thanks again for your kind comments. Cheers, BH
My dad was at the Churchill ballsup of BEF and made it off the beaches, then sent into the 8th Army went through the desert wars, El Alamein, Monte Casino served a stint in the LRDG. Must of thought? I'm safe, made it. He and others then got recalled to storm the beaches on D Day? Poor Sod!
@@HeLpLOstGOdAny1 Fat chance of that. Military doesn't take athsmatics. Even drafted there's a good chance they're yeet you out of basic once they find you were born with defective lungs.
My uncle was an Australian in Bomber Command who ended the War with a DFC and Bar. I once asked him what he did to win the medals. He said he lived long enough.
Another fantastically heroic small story of D-Day! I've only recently become a fan of Mark Felton Productions and enjoy the quality and uniqueness of the subject matter.
My Great Uncle was on Omaha beach. The stories of the blood out in the ocean and running over bodies brought silence. He was on the 3rd wave and said there was so many bodies and debris he said it was complete chaos. Passed 15 years ago missed.
As I grew up and at 18 was in the RNZN and trained on servicing electronics, of which radar was one area I specialised in (which was still very secret in 1944), my educated guess is that the 3 condoms would have been used to cover the RADAR wave guides on the height ranging equipment. The low frequency at which they operated meant the wave guides were like rectangular drain pipes. At 2:56 in the middle of the tall curved 'dish', you can see 3 openings which I believe are the open ends of the wave guides. They may have covered these with condoms to keep moisture out. As an aside: I have looked at many war documentaries and some of the footage in this posting is new to me, as well as the historical story. Thank you Mark Felton Productions.
I never really comment on videos but this one really resonated with me. My great granddad was there for D-Day ferrying the men onto the beach I never really got much out of him about that day other than "anyone who talks about war has never experienced it." That's really shaped my world view to an extent. Great man to be sure!
Great video. Greetings from Omaha (Nebraska). Great honor to have this beach named after our city. Brits, Canucks, along with Aussies and Kiwis are great allies. Brothers all.
@Juan Frede it true that a British officer lead a unit of Rangers. Because he was the highest ranking officer. They had all been separated from their units and were a hodge-podge group of soldiers who found each other on D-day. The British officer used an American rifle. The rest you just made up.
They certainly weren't shown or mentioned in Saving Private Ryan, which also neglected to show that the Landing Craft pilots on Omaha beech were British (the movie switched them for Americans).
@Soul Traveller That sounds very American. As you say, we Brits were at great pains not to let the Germans know we'd cracked their Enigma code. The great Alan Turing worked on cracking the Enigma code. Another warping of history, this time to make the Brits look bad (not just omit them) was The Patriot with Mel Gibson. There was a bullshit scene in that movie where the Redcoat British soldiers round up a New England village (including women and children) in a church and then burn it. Now that NEVER happened. I'll tell you who DID do that, the Germans in WW2 in France at Oradour Sur Glane. The Nazis rounded up the entire village in the church and then burnt it, killing women and children by burning them alive. This fact was probably completely lost on the director of The Patriot when he chose to horrifically defame the British in this way. His name is Roland Emmerich and he is, surprise, surprise, German!
Great story Dr.Felton, I appreciate you sharing it. In my opinion every member in the RAF 21st BDF, deserve Decoration. What truly brave men were on that beach on that day...They Began the End....these.. Brothers in Arms..
This is my favourite channel. Every upload is great and the entire library is highly rewatchable. If you haven't done so already, go subscribe to Mark's other channel!
@GEHIRN WISSEN There were heroes on both sides. I think the allied get glorified too much. Not highly trained soldiers with little to no experience put up fierce opposition. And when German high command failed to support the defense then there was almost nothing to do but shoot all your bullet and run or surrender and hope they won't kill you. Damn tragic
@@bliesberg Don't believe the propaganda. The Germans were not hellbent on eugenics or taking over the world. They wanted to seize the oilfields of Russia and agricultural lands of Ukraine so they could become a self-sufficient nation. Invading other lands in order to secure resources to raise the quality of life for your own people is exactly how all nations have been formed throughout history. Some Nazis did commit evil, but most Nazis just wanted a prosperous German society. Their only mistake was targeting their anger towards an ethnic group which owns all news media, and then losing the war.
Jack Hoff Couldn’t they have just paid the soviets for the oil and grain (like they are doing today)? That would have been a fraction of the cost of raising a huge army to seize the farms and oil fields (which would still cost money to operate). The truth is the nazis fought a racial war of annihilation against the Russian Slavs with the aim of either killing them or enslaving them and stealing their resources. There was nothing heroic about their cause and no moral rationale whatsoever. Methinks you’re reading too much right wing propaganda
My grandfather never talked about his war. I learned a few snippets from my Nan. He worked for the G.P.O. during the blitz getting the post out from bombed London sorting offices. Then joined up & was involved in setting up bomber direction beacons on day 2 of the D-day. These were static beams of radio waves aimed home from Normandy so that bomber crews could fix position & follow a beam back to the U.K. My Nan said he'd entered Bergen-belsen on day 2 after liberation. I understood then why he didn't want to relive it all.
G'day Mark, Thank you so much for bringing this almost totally unknown contribution of the RAF and the British Signals Corps to your viewers. I had read about the BDS but I must confess I came across the info by 'accident' while researching another D-Day subject. It's a little slice of history you won't find in any US documentary that I've ever seen on D-Day and I've seen quite a lot. You did well with your film footage considering that something like 80%+ of the combat photographers' film of the initial assaults on Omaha beach was lost when a large bag containing the film cans was dropped into the sea while being transferred to a US ship. The bag was never recovered. A significant number of combat photographers and film cameramen were killed at Omaha so it was even more tragic that most of their work on that terrible day was done for nothing. That one wide-shot, looking back from the beachhead towards the sea shows about a dozen soldiers advancing on the beach and 2 or 3 of them falling to the sand, shot. That particular footage is shown in every documentary on D-Day as it is one of a very few clips that survived of the Omaha assaults. I am so grateful that a fitting memorial was finally organised to pay tribute to the RAF and British Army's brave, life-saving work. Thanks again for letting this 'out there' on TH-cam! Cheers, BH
Indeed, indeed. What the veracity of, if ever recovered, that lost at sea film accounting... Spose it would be ruined beyond viewable use, now. Crikey Moses.
My grandpa was there. stormed omaha beach on d day. drove a jeep called the general for the army. He was shot and made it. An American. He never talked about it. god bless all who made it and didnt! The greatest generation is legend!
In part because it was largely Soviet troops defending the beaches, with the notable exception of Omaha, which had the veteran 352nd Inf. fresh from the Eastern Front as part of its' garrision
They may have had years to prepare but they had a very long coastline to defend - from the Spanish border, to Norway so they concentrated on the coast with the shortest route. Also, at the time of the Normandy planning, that area wasn't as heavily defended. Contrary to what you say, they were surprised by the lack of casualties on D-Day, as they were expecting a considerable amount more.
The ferocity at Omaha and Juno was not unexpected. Everyone knew D-Day itself was not an assured victory. They all did the best they could, from the intelligence to the strategic Mosquito bombing of the rail lines to the naval bombardment of the pillboxes to the poor guys carrying their lunchbuckets up the sand. Turned out their best was good enough.
@@sergeantnoone6920 Well, yes, because that's what happened. Large quantities of captured Soviet (not Russian, note) troops were employed by the Germans on the Atlantic Wall, so German manpower could be directed to frontline units. Remember, Stalin and the Bolsheviks in general were not universally popular with many of the conscripts in the Red Army (see : large scale genocide and suppression of various ethnic minorities in the USSR during the 1920s - 30s), and they were more than happy to take up arms on the Axis side. The Cossacks got transferred to the SS in 1945, even
My dad was a private in the 29th ID and landed on Easy Red early on June 6th. He ended up fighting with the 1st ID for more than day before returning to his regiment. He told me that there were a group of Americans who were had trained with and accompanied British Commandos on raids. He even remarked that they had been in England so long (since 1942) that they picked up British slang and even accents. Later on in my research, I discovered these were the 29th Rangers who were disbanded before D-Day, and whose men were spread throughout the 29th to give the division some men with combat experience. I love learning about the overlooked and forgotten aspects of the war. Excellent video!
The odd thing is that he told me he lost his helmet in the Channel with his gear when they were dropped him in deep water. He fought a good length of time without a steel helmet despite commanders ordering him to find a helmet. When he finally found a helmet, it was a Tommy helmet (with a pornographic picture in the liner)! I have often wondered how he found a British helmet in an American sector and had assumed that his patrol when he was fighting with the 1st ID strayed into the British sector.
the brits burned the whitehouse down (correction I just checked Wikipedia the troops that burned the whitehouse down were wearing redcoats but were identifying as 'Canadians' by then) so damn the canadians and the brits too
What a great piece of almost forgotten history. I love hearing about the greatest generation, whether British or American. Thank you for keeping the story of these men, and all other WWII vets, alive.
Just bought one of your books Mark, you are truly my absolute favorite historian. Keep up the outstanding work my friend!!! I can’t wait to start reading Operation Swallow!!!
Probably there were many instances of this on D-day but this was the best account I've heard of British and American troops working together out of necessity. Very nice to hear this. That account of Muir Adair and his 'rag tag collections of US Rangers and Sailors', losing his Sten gun and aquiring an abandoned M1 Carbine and leading them and him off the beach is worth some kind of movie.
Excellent as usual never heard of these guys and you are marking their memory. The other thing that made me sit up was the radar set up cutting edge for the time. Makes you realise how good we British are, radar covering the landing beaches we had everything covered.
My grandfather is a Portuguese immigrant who settled in Toronto. He volunteered to fight for Canada in 1939. He was 19. He fought all over Europe and his regiment participated in the DDay landings and fight afterwards. He came out of WWII without a scratch. On 1955, he lost his left arm in a car accident on a business trip to Porterville Ca. The Ca Hwy Patrol officers were DDay and Pacific war vets and when he told them he was a DDay vet, they visited him everyday at his hospital and had their wives and the Portuguese community in the area look after him. California's Central Valley has many Portuguese since the 1800s. The brother hood of war veterans who were allies is a wonderful thing. lifelong friendships came out of Grampys accident.
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
Mark Felton > The History Channel
Football_ Fan agreed
that's unfortunately true for the History Channel, but good news for Mark (and us)
Next Episode - The Time When Hitler Had A Meeting With The Extraterrestrials
Wonder if Mark has considered having these videos on TV - they'd make good shorts on many channels..
Beer < Mark Felton
I’m from a small town of 8,000 people in Nebraska a mere 35 minute drive from Omaha, our largest city and name sake of Omaha beach. I’ve always been a huge Ww2 history buff, and even I must admit I have never heard of this story. Thank you Mark for bringing this to light for the masses. I have the utmost respect and admiration for these British Soldiers and indeed all Allied soldiers who took part in this bloody battle to save Europe and the World.
I give them thanks for storming the beaches and battling it out side by side my American county men. These men are all heroes. May god rest their souls.
USA 🇺🇸 UK 🇬🇧 Canada 🇨🇦 Australia 🇦🇺 New Zealand 🇳🇿 Family Forever!
Was there last year Flash, it's a ' bloody big beach ' high sea wall and even higher cliffs. Then I saw this sign RAF, I was baffled then our tour guide told us about these radar / communication airmen. It's a very moving story, have you ever been to Normandy?
Well said flash, every one of them a hero. If only more people could stop for a moment to reflect on the bravery of these people, the horrors they witnessed and endured and the comrades they lost.
Flash Gordon I have to say I’m just the same ,I’ve read so much about WW2 but never knew some us Brits were at Omaha beach (apart from the Royal Navy who manned the landing craft ) best wishes from your British cousins 🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇸
Rodgey D thank you for that story. I couldn’t imagine the terror and chaos and challenges those men were going through whilst storming the beaches. They are true warriors and the bravest of the brave!
Sadly I have not yet had the honor of visiting this sacred ground, but it is on my bucket list and something I plan on doing very soon. I have a 5 year old son who id like to be a little bit older so he can truly experience this with me and have a personal connection to Normandy that he will remember for the rest of his life. I want him to be grateful and mind full of what these brave men did and the sacrifices they gave for the good of the world, and to teach him that we must always be proud of and honor our ancestors.
I’d love to visit a lot of the other battle sites of Ww2 also. I had a grandpa that was in the army, he took part in the capture of the Ludendorff bridge at Remagen. I’d love to go and see where the bridge was, and pay my respects to my grandfather. Did you have a grandfather that served in ww2? If so I’d be interested to know about it! Respect to you sir!
icedidi I completely agree brother, I think the world would be in a better place if more people did! Freedom isn’t free, and we must always support our military members past and present. We must keep their memory and fighting spirit alive! And always appreciate their brave and heroic actions!
All gave some, some gave all!
My grandad served on HMS Wensleydale. They provided support for the Americans at Omaha Beach. I was a teenager when he told me some of the stories and I asked what is was like that day.. He said imagine all the fireworks around the uk on bonfire night all going off together in one place then times it by 50.. That gives you an idea of the noise. Then add fear, smells, screaming, shouting, smoke and such.. He said his ears were ringing for days after. My mum later told me he had terrible nightmares and would wake up screaming for his fallen shipmates. I have photos of him on the ship and most of his naval uniform. There were lots of stories about sinking U boats and Atlantic missions. He took the ensign (flag) from the ship at the end of the war and in the early 90’s presented it to the Church in Hawes, Wensleydale in North Yorkshire at a special service where it still hangs this day at the front of the church with a brass plaque.
Your grandfather is a war hero in my eyes. Such bravery to help in the war against evil. May your grandfather rest in peace in Heaven beside God's Throne. May God Bless him.
God bless him my friend
True British Hero🇬🇧
God Save the Queen and God Bless the USA. Great partners forever.
HMS Wensleydale? That's a bit of a cheesy name
Hey Mark, on the topic of D-Day, another widely forgotten story is of the Danish Merchant Marine sailors sailing for the British Merchant Marine during the war and participating in the landings themselves. Their boats where favoured because of their shallow draft. They went into action on the first wave, the aprox 800 men secured the recognition for Denmark as an Allied nation. My great-uncle is the last known surviving member of the aprox 6300 Danish sailors sailing for the British during the war. 1072 would perish between the 9th of April 1940 through 16th of May 1945, fighting for king and country. Do like if you, like me would like to se a video done on the subject!
Chris Belvedere I am currently scrambling everything together for a biography, the man was lone survivor on to ships. 99 to this day.
Modig Danskerne. Gud velsigne dem .
Great respect to your uncle.🇬🇧
Dave Macdonald We are all very proud.
Danish people can be proud, and stand tall with the Allies..
Thank God for all the men that possessed the courage to hit those beaches. Thank you, Mr. Felton for telling their story.
I have been a student of D Day since my youth. I am 74 today. This is the only time I have ever heard of British landing at Omaha Beach. Thank you !
Fail.
@Ben Dover all Allies together, doesn't matter who had most casualties it's not a football match
@Ben Dover Did you actually watch the video? It's a video exploring specifically the historically forgotten British component of the Omaha landing. The video is not titled 'An Complete Overview of Omaha'.
The courage it took to storm the beach after having seen one’s allies cut to pieces and in semi- disarray. Hats off to these brave men.
I would do it to for my homeland if it was in danger of invasion. When one's sees how they treated the citizens of other countries die trying
@@DOPExPIRATE Just like Mark Wahlberg would of stopped 9/11 if he was on the plane? It's easier to say than it is to do. Let's focus on these guys buddy.
I mean... they had literally no choice at that point.
I'm sure many if not most would've rather not... XD
@@raggamuffin2682 This was France, not Germany. So while the British invaded, they were liberators.
@@raggamuffin2682 Free French troops also involved in the invasion would disagree with you.
I think my great uncle was in this unit.
He was an RAF radio operator attached to the Americans & was supposed to land at Omaha. His landing craft was blown up far out to sea & he eventually arrived on the beach suffering from memory loss as a result of being knocked out by the explosion & without his dog tags, his radio or his clothes.
Some weeks later he was sent home to England on medical grounds only to find that he had been reported dead & there had been a funeral. He got to visit his own grave!
(Apologies if this is a duplicate post. I’m not sure the first one went through)
That's a fascinating story, Nathan. I hope your great uncle made a full recovery and had a good post-war life.
@@Westwoodii He stayed in South Africa after the war & died there in the early 90's i believe. Story above is from memory as told to me by my grandad, who served in the signals regiment in Burma, India, Malaysia among others. Thankfully as the youngest of the three brothers he arrived there late enough in the war to avoid most of the action.
Pretty crazy that he buried his brother only for him to turn up alive!
@@nathans1856 Dammit your story about your great uncle made me cry. Just thinking how his family must have felt.
Did he get to use the condoms?
@@nathans1856 thank you for your grandad service,you grandad are the agent of freedom in Malaysia,thank you for free my country from Japanese.
Much love and respect from this Yank for the Brits.
Gotta stick together!🇬🇧🇺🇸
Dead right our countries are best as friends
All the best from England mate!
US 24 year Infantryman here and I concur! The Brits I met during my career were top notch determined men.
@@MrDoubled0000 we love fighting and training alongside you lads too. All the best from England.
You are a true historian. Your focus on the obscure is so important so that it's not forgotten. I love your work.
I'm a Canadian, born and raised. My parents were British, raised there during the war. My mother a Cockney, who lived in London, as a young teen, during The Blitz. I've been studying WWII for some 50 years now including hearing first hand stories from my parents. I know all the major, and most minor events, along with all the players. At least I thought I did before running into your channel. This story was completely new to me. The archival footage being some of the best that I'd never seen before. Also one of the better narratives I've ever heard, of Omaha Beach in general. And although you do branch into stories of other interesting conflicts, your series of WWII stories are by far the best I've ever watched and listened to. I've read and watched so much about this war, but this series fills in the picture exquisitely. Thank you
My parents were evacuated from London too. I had the misfortune of being brought up in England as well. You had a lucky escape!
And Canadian troops stormed Juno beach. Many of them were very young
@@flynncarter229 Nothing as England is a great country. Better in the North.
I know a man who came ashore with Lord Lovet and the Lovet Scouts, on Sword beach.His name is James Clark. They reinforced the Paratroopers who landed and took Pegasus Bridge. James is now in his nineties. I have very high respect for what he and his brothers in arms, did that day. Our lives would have been very different otherwise.
The "Paras" Didn't take Pegasus Bridge......It Was The Oxs & Bucks" Light Infantry ..By Glider.
@@philippickford2429
True, led by Major John Howard. When a friend and I visited the Normandy beach head in 1992 just before being posted back to Canada from Germany, when we were at Pegasus bridge we met a gentleman who was in the second glider to land. He had quite a story to tell, from Dunkirk to D-Day. His name was Chamberlain.
If you are ever in that area, visit the Pegasus Bridge Museum. It is a fantastic museum.
I have had the privilege of visiting this museum. It is a fantastic one and one i would highly recommend to anybody.
I’m a high school history teacher and always use Mark Felton page to my students.
Edit: Thanks for all the likes everyone. It's my first year of teaching this year and wanted to incorporate short, informative videos instead of long drawn out documentaries that do nothing but bore the students.
Proud Canadian why not all teachers do this? Hahaha
I would have actually liked history if you were my teacher
Well done. You must be an excellent teacher. Hope your pupils and their parents appreciate your dedication. My own teachers tended to skip through essential military history and battles. You have my respect. MD
When i was in high school Qld Aus us boys asked the teacher what Vietnam was all about.
His reply "I am not allowed to talk about that."
This to boys gettin ready for the call up in 1969.
So glad i missed it and the irony is where i live today is called Little Saigon. Its where all the Viet refugees ended up after the war. I just love a Pho!
I've learned more history from Mark Felton Productions than all the watching history documents on the History Channel in my life.👍🏽💯
Thank you from Canada to our British friends. God bless!
I have never saw a video I didn’t like they’re interesting and educational. And alllllways finding something new. You’re the best History Channel on youtube
He is the history channel
Hats off to these blokes.
@distantvoices,
Are you British nobility or just an "Edge Lord," as the kids say nowadays?
@distantvoices But there are those of us that knew what they did, and why they did it. We know the heroism and the huge price they paid for us that follow. And we know they did it for even those who show such hatred and contempt for them today. Few alive today will even live up to these great men.
@distantvoices
Somebody else's war?
@distantvoices yeah that's way worse than rule under the nazi's...*rolls eyes*
@distantvoices I hear what you are saying, I had uncles who fought in this war and its very sad how we have ended up. Did we slaughter the wrong pig?
The father of one of my college friends was an Army demolitions engineer who landed on Omaha. His landing craft was blown up and he eventually staggered ashore, missing his pants, a boot and all his equipment. He considered himself lucky as he was the only member of his team to survive that day. He figured that the Germans ignored him, as how threatening could a guy with no pants be.
David Murray my father was demolitions guy under Patton 1st Division. Said he should have died that day and every minute after that has been extra time. He died in his sleep 50 years later. Bizzar! Greatest generation.’RIP
@get lost Too bad you weren't one of them
Note to self: if I ever get sent to war, I should remove my pants immediately to confuse the enemy.
@trebor There is always one
@trebor Thank you, keyboard commando. Now back to your basement, troll.
Brits and Americans are true blood brothers. I have the utmost respect for all the Brits that fought alongside us.
Another historical fact you may not be aware of sailors of the Royal Navy were responsible for getting the US troops into Omaha beach as they were coxswains of some of the landing craft .
Yes the greatest and most successful team in history
Chris Holland the Royal Navy also provided fire support with there ships, there were a few US Battleships but other than that it was all Royal Navy.
British, Canadian, American, New Zealand, Australia we are part of a great big family, even if some don't like to admit it.
@@seanhiatt6736 We'll bicker and fight among ourselves, but any other bugger sticks their nose in, then that's their misfortune.
Well I have to say that when you announced that you were going to tell us a very little known story on D Day I was a bit sceptical. I have read a lot about D Day but I didn’t know this story. You completely surprised me on this one. Thanks for posting this video.
I have taught WWII History and as a former GCI Operator with the RAF I too had never heard this story so on both counts I am so grateful for this. Thank you Dr Felton.
It makes me very proud to hear that under huge amounts of battle stress, the Brits and members of the commonwealth were shoulder to shoulder with our American allies, proving two things, that they were the best generation and that no man was left to walk, run or fight alone on Omagh.
You mean the US saved the British right before they collapsed. America should have joined the axis
@@kayzeaza America didn't save the British, they saved the Russians with massive loans and shared technology. America joined when it thought France might not be able to repay. Plus, American couldn't join the Axis because Japan hated your guts and vice versa
@@leonrobinson2053 Japan only hated US because of the oil embargo which the FDR foolishly put in place. And yes the Americans saved Britain. Why else was Churchill crying for the US to intervene.
@@kayzeaza Who wouldn't call for one of the richest nations to intervene. It was a horrible stalemate, the Germans couldn't invade Britain and the Allies couldn't invade France. Who cracked Enigma? Who taught the Airborne Divisions how to guide and land airborne troops, who are the US marines modelled on, British, British Paratroopers and The SAS
@@leonrobinson2053 the US would have benefited more from modeling the Germans, who were superior
I believe Mark has perfected the short war history video genre.
This is my favorite channel.
Thanks for that Mark!
Had never heard this story.
Respect to our British cousins across the pond who fought and died together with Americans.
We are all family.
VALHALLAXE You comment made me smile. Cheers mate.
USA/GB/Commonwealth - the one family. Freedom and Hope.
My father was also a part of this day in history. I was only four years old. I am so proud of him and all the other men who gave us our freedom to this day. I thank you and all our wonderful young men and women who are there today continuing to serve our country. God bless each and every one. Thank you
RIP. What a brave, brave man. Courageous and heroic. Never forgotten
Military Historians universally agree - Omaha Beach was BY FAR the most heavily defended beach. And during the landings condoms were used to cover rifle muzzles. In Paris condoms were used as intended.
And 75 years later they call condoms in Paris واق ذكري
Peter Southern Boy they seem to generally agree that Omaha remained heavily defended after the troops arrived later than intended because the bombing and other ‘softening up’ actions were largely ineffective or off target on this beach whilst ‘softening up’ actions were more successful on the other beaches which was bad luck for soldiers landing largely unsupported by armour or Hobart’s ‘funnies’ like the blockbuster tanks which British and Commonwealth forces employed after bitter experience of opposed landings in both world wars!
@@pcka12 - US Army official history concluded that Rommel had identified the Omaha sector as more favorable for attack from the sea, and thus moved V Corps assets into the sector and 12 strongpoints were placed as to bring direct fire on the beach.
"Enemy Defenses". Omaha Beachhead. United States Army Center of Military History. 1994 [20 September 1945]
Peter Southern Boy IIRC the troops had been doing naval invasion defence drills as the attack started so were even more ferocious in defence because of it.
Peter Southern Boy does that contradict the other information and the fact that a breakthrough was finally achieved by naval destroyers approaching dangerously close to the beach and engaging the strongpoints?
None of this detracts from the bravery and sacrifice of the troops assaulting the beach (I have seen the row upon row of gravestones in the cemeteries!)
One of the most informative WW2 videos I've ever seen. It's rare for me to come across something new about D-Day. I've seen almost every doc on TH-cam, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and countless books on the subject, never once has this been mentioned in any of them. Nice work! Thanks...My first subscription.
Welcome to the channel
Thank you so much for adding this. My uncle - in the Royal Navy in wW2 , often spoke about how they had to go in and rescue US servicemen from Omaha beach after they landed in the wrong place, and about the other Brits there, and was always upset their sacrifice was never appreciated. He would have loved this, and to know there was a memorial to them there. Thank you.
They were originally due to land at Gold, but they never got there, being diverted. They finally ended up in Juno, sailing into Courseulles sur Mer , and he said the harbour water was pink with blood, from the many bodies of Canadian soldiers floating in the water. It was a very tragic sight.
Addicted to mark Felton productions always a treat and never know about the British detachment. I know that some royal navy men piloted the landing craft that took Americans into Omaha.
Another wonderful documentary. You’re filling a hole that the BBC doesn’t think needs filling, Mark 👍
The BBC doesn't dare show real fighting men to the cucks, simps, and snowflakes in the UK today -- it would make them run crying to their safe space.
@2manynegativewaves nope, the BBC and its fan boys are just wankers. Paedo corporation scum.
@2manynegativewaves Call me whatever you want -- at least this Yank wanker can still own guns. The UK has become pathetic, and you know it.
Hs Hs Oh guess I’m a snowflake then because a guy with zero combat experience on the internet said so
@@hshs5756 not really, the UK is still strong at heart, brexit is the proof of that. We got mugged by our own government for our guns, I can see you lot getting same if you are not careful.
As a Brit we must also always remember the brave Cañadians.
Don't forget the Irish, 50,000 from Northern Ireland and 70,000 from "nuetral" Republic of Ireland.
@@markdurham5062 we were only marked as neutral in the aftermath by the british.
Respects to our countrymen and the ultimate sacrifices they made for us 🇨🇦 🇬🇧
Absolutely!
As an American we are grateful for our northern ally and are honored to share a North American foxhole with Canadians.
Well said 👏
The condoms in the supplies were likely to protect electronic equipment from water if it needed to be involved in a wet landing.
That or the lads’d need it for any liberated French women and the associated ‘wet landings’ there
Electronics were not that small back then. Even minimum functionality AM hand held radios were larger than a brick and about as heavy.
Oh... that explains a lot...
Max kennedy condoms were placed on the rifle barrel to keep water out of them. This was shown in the Band of Brothers series.
They could have needed some stiff resistance.
gerald miller Yeah that too, with the vehicles its also for stopping the fuel tanks getting water in them as another commenter mentioned
This is what "History Channel" used to be when I was a kid.
Yeah totally ! Now its just garbage reality tv shows. This channel is great !
Me too
Its sad whats happened to the history channel
I highly recommend the Smithsonian Channel if you miss the old History Channel.
When was it like this, sorry I never saw the history channel since my family was poor and didn't have a tv
Hi Mark, Very interesting. I used to be an Instructor in the RAF's Tactical Communications (TCW) Group whose job encompassed all aspects of Air support to the three services. Part of that job was exactly that of the BDS group you described. The Tactical Signals Units (TSUs) were a predecessor of TCW. Fascinating work We worked as three man teams with the Royal Sigs or as a squadron to give theatre comms. Radar sites like the falklands or one man teams attached to US Marines (I served in Lebanon with the USMC) anything and everything from a field phone to sat comms. Always first in and last out and no one ever heard of us. Thanks for the nudge mate.
I'm wondering if the condoms were issued to protect the rifle barrels from water & dirt as in Vietnam ?
Massive respect
I was in Marine Air Control Squadron-7 in the early 19702 and eventually became the NCOIC of the TPS-34B, a radar which the RAF also used along with the TPS-22. We had an RAF officer attached to our squadron.
That was the exchange officer, @joeosman2629. There was an equivalent Marine post with us in the U.K. at one of our radar sites (RAF Buchan in NE Scotland for many years.) The RAF post moved TO MACS 10 at Yuma and then to MAWTS-1 (also MCAS Yuma). I served at MAWTS-1 1993-95. By the time I returned to the U.K. (in 1995j, the USMC post had moved to No 1 Air Control Centre, at RAF Boulmer in NE England. 1ACC was the RAF’s only mobile air control unit. Funnily enough, the USMC Exchange Officer at 1ACC when I arrived there had been a colleague at MAWTS-1 and, in fact, my next door neighbour in base housing.
I went to Omaha Beach in June 2019. It is the most humbling place I have ever visited. Like many, I had watched all kinds of videos but could not begin to image the sheer scale of the entire front. Or just how far it was from the water to the shingle...its a long, long way to run through cross fire wet from 42 degree water and carrying all their gear. Huge respect. Just above the Coleville Draw basically on the east side of the American Cemetery are some little visited machine gun nests, bunker and trenches. The view and coverage looking from the machine gun nest down to those poor landing men is quite chilling.
Tuba Dude hardly little visited those bunkers are visited thousands of times each year
I could only imagine to actually stand at that vantage point would give a person quite a different perspective, thanks for sharing that experience.
please remember there are other humbling places around. While more than 10.000 died on D-day, millions died during battles in the east. Politics praise western countries while forgetting about the sacrifice made by slavs to defeat common enemy. Nevertheless, cheers for those who fought in Normandy.
I came here to see if some idiot had thanked you for your service
dean martin
Love your neutral way of presenting what happened during WW2. Greetings from Germany.
My grandfather was stationed to defend this beach. I've worked for almost two years to translate his diary from German to English. The germans on the beach here were just as scared in my opinion as the soldiers landing there to take it. Everyone always overlooks the fact that the german defences were "softened up" by air raids and naval cannons before the troops showed up.
Is the translation public? Got any link? I would like to read it! :)
I find as a British viewer, whose grandfather served through Africa and Italy, these are my favourite type of Mark Felton video. it puts the heroics of my country men in the spotlight, and helps put life into perspective, reminding me of all those who gave their todays so that I might have a tomorrow🙏🏻
Nothing but respect for the British who fought by our side.
at least a lot of them died
DANDNB same as my granddad.
DANDNB mine never talked about it much, he was a very distinguished fighter, but he never liked people to congratulate him on his medals moreover he struggled for sometime after the war to move on from the hate he felt for the enemy that kept him going all those years, especially in the case of the italians. He did once tell me a story how after the battle of el alamain he and his unit were so exhausted that when they were finally told they could rest after days of combat they near enough collapsed to heaps on the ground.
Thank you for the programme.
A truly smashing story of British action in WW11 which I have never heard before in my 50+ years of watching war documentaries.
Thank you for this ... my grandfather wouldn’t talk about it except to say he was there, which I never understood as he was in the Royal Corps of Signals ... thank you for filling in the blanks. He went on to be attached to the American 9th Armoured Division and stayed attached to the “Yanks” for the rest of the war. This is priceless to me.
Somebody i knew died last year age 94, was part of the British ROYAL SIGNALS he told me thy went ashore
With folding bicycles strapped to
His back and had to cycle under fire
To the nearest town to set up communications as mentioned in this article.
Every single American and every single allied soldier that was part of D-day is a hero. May God bless their souls.
What about the German soldiers ,mate?
@@kjragg1099 they're still soldiers who fought for their country
@@kjragg1099 RIP indeed
@@kjragg1099 I doubt the vast majority were happy about it, it wasn't a choice to be in the army. In the last free elections before the Nazis established dictatorship they only got one third of the votes. So two thirds of the people did not want them.
And I'm confident very few if any knew even among those who voted for the Nazis had any idea what the outcome would be.
German also a hero,fight for their country from allied pussy force
This has to be one of your best, sir. It brought tears to my eyes.
There were other Brits at Omaha too. My old English Teacher was a young Royal Navy Lieutenant in charge of a LCT landing craft at Omaha. They are the ones you see in the footage standing up while the rest of the soldiers huddled down in the hull of the landing craft. We only found out about it after his funeral. I would have been a far more respectful pupil if I had known!
Canadian ships did mine sweeping to allow the landing.
@@duanepigden1337don’t get a mention in Hollywood 😂
@@Kierenstanden-qz7eu -- of course not. Another reason people have to stop getting their history from movies.
Same as at Pointe Du Hoc aswell... Commando and royal many there. US Rangers were trained by the Commandos.
This was a superb story. thank you for making me aware of it. on the topic of the British soldier who took command of the small group of Americans, it goes to show that we will always be brothers at arms and take care of each other no matter what comes at us!
You got to hand it to the British. They truly get tough when they have to. We salute you E Trp. 17th Cav. 173rd Airborne Brigade 2/503 armor scouts.
English man here salutes you back here.
Dennis Moore where is this memorial I’d very much like to visit it
Brits rock, but the 9th infantry kicked some ass on Utah.
@ Bentwaters/Woodbridge F-4, A-10 about 1978-80 USAF The British were very nice to me. Thanks.
True heroes. That many young men dying was a small sacrifice for the possibility of creating the utopia that is England today.
Thank you for adding this to the history of Omaha Beach on D-Day! I've read much about the Normandy landing but never before heard of this unit!
I've read dozens of books on WW2 and never came across these guys. Always learn something new from you Mark.
All I can say as an American is thank you, Britain. You were the stolid opposition to the Nazis around which our defense of freedom, and defense against the Nazi fanatics, was built.
But we are not free.
2nd that motion, I wonder what would have happened if the US came in the war 2 years early, when Germany attacked Poland
Joe Oleary pretty much the same outcome as America would probably also spread their forces across France meaning Germany could still attack through the Ardennes which lead to Dunkirk
@@joeoleary6813 the US would be lacking in its military and economy as they also would've been unprepared for war. Having arrived in France they'd have been sent packing by the Germans due to the surprise attack through both Belgium and the Ardennes. It would also have made the Americans send their naval forces into the Mediterranean and North Sea, along with troops in Africa and Asia. Undoubtedly this would result in Italy's defeat coming quicker and the Germans wasting resources expanding into Africa as quickly as they could. Being caught up by the undeniable threats in Africa, Britain and to the east they'd have to be rather clever to pull off any attacks towards Africa, Britain or the Soviet Union. It'd speed up the war, and would have kept more stability and security in British Colonies possibly resulting in stronger defense in Asia. It could also have saved the British millions if they were given supplies in lend lease rather than through trade, giving more leeway for attacks across the globe against Japan or the Axis. Basically a minor set back for the US but an overall catalyst for the war probably speeding it up by a year at most.
You should thank the Russians Paul, the Brits were done over in Dunkirk and played a minor role afterwards.
My Dad landed on Omaha D+2 as a Forward Air Controller . Before that he carried out over 35 missions as a Wireless Op / Gunner in Wellingtons ( R.A.F.Harwell Oxfordshire 1940-oct 43 )
@Wellington. Respect to your Dad. He survived 35 missions in the air only to then be transferred to another dangerous job! My uncle was a B17 tail gunner. Also survived 35 missions including 3 crash landings and getting peppered with flak over France once. Sound like a pair of lucky guys!
Everyday I see an upload from Mark Felton, I know it's going to be an amazing tale! Once again you do not dissapoint sir! Thank goodness there's at leat one real historian left in the world studying this fascinating time period and sharing the untold truths we never hear!
About 3000 Australians were involved in D-Day and the Normandy landings. As wiki said it was mostly support from the air.
My grandfather was one of them.
:)
U8⁸
Yes and there were about 15,000 Canadians involved at Juno Beach land, air and sea too.
A true hero
Bravo to him mate! I am daily thankful that I never had to face something like this because these brave men and women fought so hard.
Their likes will never be seen again. Thanks lads, we owe a great debt that can never be repaid.
Respect from Germany. Good bless these men who have saved us until today.
If Mr. Felton didn't tell me this story I never would have known it. Thank you Sir.
Thank you so much for sharing this story with us.. They were brave men who deserve to be remembered!
I'm British and stories like this make me realise what a lucky man I am to belong to a nation of people's past and present who always when our backs to the wall deliver
Thank god for the Brits!! Love from the US.
When ur back was to the wall America liberated and won war for Brits
@@davejones3921 really? The only thing we got off America was debt gor years and years trust me lend lease was not as friendly a gesture as it seemed and without Britain not surrendering ww2 would have come to your shores eventually don't forget that we ended up on the winning side and lost everything including our empire you ended up being richer than ever at the end of the war
America should not have saved ur asses
Lol. What lies. We won every war by ourselves. Unlike u calling America. Isn't that ur song ?
Just when I begin to think I've seen all of the moving pictures of the Normandy landings, along comes Professor Felton. Than you sir!
Kinda pisses me off that the contributions of the Brits at Omaha Beach is omitted from every US history course that I've read.
Thanks to our Cousins!
I’m a proper history buff but I learn something every time I watch one of Marks productions , excellent presentation
It seems almost unbelievable. What incredible resolve and tenacity was displayed.
but was just a skirmish compared to eastern front major battles...
d day: 150k allied and 50k axis forces
second phase of battle of kursk: axis 1 milion, urss 2.5 milion
I am so very proud that (as I type) there are sixty-eight opinions that Dr. Felton's latest magnificent production was not to their liking, what a wonderful world we do live in that allows opinions (regardless of their nature) to be presented, let us take a brief moment to remember and honour the fine men, and women, who sacrificed their lives so that such opinions (whether right or wrong) may be voiced.
I appreciate your fine work, Dr. Felton.
Kind regards,
Brendan.
Brendan, I must confess to my eyes being a tad watery after reading your message. It is so true that "Freedom" is not a god given right that so many believe... it is a privilege bought with the sorry and blood of a lot of truly heroic men and women. My grandfather was up the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea in 1942 and he and his "mates" (and I use the word with deep respect) helped save Australia from being enslaved. It really is a matter would you not agree Brendan of "Lest we forget". My thanks and respect to you Brendan
I remain forever proud of my fellow Anglosphere countries. The US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, for the bravery demonatrated by the soldiers of these countries. We may not a romantic special relationship but we share so much in common and my American grandfather was proud to have served alongside his fellow Allied Anglosphere brethren.
G'day NN, Thank you, and your grandfather, so much for giving the Commonwealth countries some credit for their sacrifices in the European and Pacific theatres of war.
I'm ex-RAAF and now I'm a military historian. Mostly, when I write a comment about the activities of the Australian and New Zealand forces, I cop a lot of flak from some Americans accusing Australians of 'blowing their own trumpets' etc. Well, in my office library I've have several books written by respected US historians and former US officers who begrudgingly use the words, Australians or New Zealanders in their texts.
One particular American book, which I won't mention because it does not deserve promotion, deals with the New Guinea campaign. Not once in nearly 200 pages does the author use the term 'Australian soldiers' etc., only the word, “Allied.”
Totally ignoring the fact that Australian troops had a much more significant presence in every part of New Guinea than the total of all Americans who served there, mostly on the northern coast around the Buna area.
The Australian General, Sir Thomas Blamey is mentioned and his life and career happen to be my topic of special interest. Blamey, later became Australia's only Field Marshal (5-Star General equivalent).
General Blamey was once told by General MacArthur that Australian troops were not dying in sufficient numbers. He meant that the Aussies should have driven the Japanese back up the Kokoda Track faster than they were doing. MacArthur who spent around 100 days staying at Government House in Port Moresby, made one, maybe two, photo-opportunity trip(s) up the steep stairway that led to the start of the Kokoda Track.
He then retreated back to his Government House billet and spent his time second guessing every decision made by Australian staff officers and directing his PR staff to issue bizarre press and radio briefings. These only serve to prove that MacArthur had no clue as to the real situation in New Guinea and that he was merely biding his time when he could get his forces off New Guinea and start them on his grand plan for an island hopping campaign; leading to only one destination; the Philippines.
It was MacArthur who 'engineered' via the Australian Prime Minister, to have General Blamey sent to set up his HQ in New Guinea.
Blamey was, at that time, C-i-C Australian Land Forces and, within the Australian Army command structure, he technically outranked MacArthur.
In an insane situation, not duplicated in any theatre of WW1 or WW2, Blamey was Australia's senior Army officer having responsibility over all of Australia's troops across the nation and posted around the world.
Still, Blamey being an old Intelligence officer from WW1, who did all the major planning for General Sir John Monash in The Great War, took this insult from MacArthur in his stride and not once showed any animosity.
Blamey had, back at MacArthur's Brisbane HQ, all his phones tapped. To cover this he tapped every phone in Brisbane.
Blamey knew exactly what MacArthur and his gang of staff officers was up to. It was all about MacArthur's public image and his obsession with impressing POTUS and General George Marshall. (Both of whom didn't want MacArthur to return to the US).
MacArthur had, publicly, said so many times that he didn't want to run for President; both FDR and George Marshall were convinced that's exactly what would happen sooner or later.
First MacArthur would have to be seen to 'win the war' almost single-handed. Then would come the White House.
MacArthur's mother, 'Pinkie', had wanted this for her boy about the time Douglas was born. She was a force of nature... like a hurricane.
Back in New Guinea; when told of the difficulties of fighting the Japanese on the narrow, hilly, muddy, Kokoda Track, MacArthur, seriously, directed that the track should be widened by the use of high explosives! Blamey saw to it that this ridiculous order was never acted upon.
MacArthur had nearly 300 people on his Public Affairs and Information staff. General Blamey had one press advisor and managed all his press briefings personally.
At the start of the New Guinea campaign, MacArthur had told Blamey, in writing, that Australian forces would be fighting, ‘side by side’ with US forces as they advanced towards the Philippines.
When that time came MacArthur ignored his agreement and left Australian forces to, as he put it, handle the routine mopping-up of isolated Japanese strongholds.
History shows that this so-called ‘mopping-up’ actually developed into some of the most desperate land battles of the entire Pacific theatre. While Blamey did see the sense in liberating large numbers of civilian populations in most locations; he soon reasoned that he was losing far too many of his troops in actions that could be avoided by simply cutting off Japanese supply lines and forcing their garrisons to capitulate after they had expended supplies of ammunition, food and potable water.
General Blamey, unjustly, took harsh criticism for these losses that were ordered by the Australian Prime Minister, upon the urging of MacArthur. PM John Curtin had admitted that he knew absolutely nothing of military matters and had, for a time, placed his total faith in the directions of General MacArthur.
So, NN, I thought you and perhaps others might be interested in the background story to what MacArthur got up to, and why, during his stay in Australia and New Guinea.
Thanks again for your kind comments.
Cheers, BH
A salute from the USA! Those men did great at Omha.
Thanks that goes down well here. Salute you back.
🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸
My dad was at the Churchill ballsup of BEF and made it off the beaches, then sent into the 8th Army went through the desert wars, El Alamein, Monte Casino served a stint in the LRDG. Must of thought? I'm safe, made it. He and others then got recalled to storm the beaches on D Day? Poor Sod!
My uncle was there and I asked him what he did on D-DAY "Hide mostly" he said.
Not a lot to hide behind
@@HeLpLOstGOdAny1 Dead Bodies and tank traps will take a good few rounds.
@@existinginaspace8347 Lead the way, I'll be right behind you. . ..
@@HeLpLOstGOdAny1 Fat chance of that. Military doesn't take athsmatics. Even drafted there's a good chance they're yeet you out of basic once they find you were born with defective lungs.
My uncle was an Australian in Bomber Command who ended the War with a DFC and Bar. I once asked him what he did to win the medals. He said he lived long enough.
Another fantastically heroic small story of D-Day! I've only recently become a fan of Mark Felton Productions and enjoy the quality and uniqueness of the subject matter.
As always, a wonderful historical lesson of one of the most important and pivotal landings of World War 2, thank you Sir Felton!!!!
Yes, they insured that Britain would be safe for third world rapists, thank God.
Surprisingly, youtube recommendations worked today. And what a treasure this find was. Good job.
My Great Uncle was on Omaha beach. The stories of the blood out in the ocean and running over bodies brought silence.
He was on the 3rd wave and said there was so many bodies and debris he said it was complete chaos.
Passed 15 years ago missed.
As I grew up and at 18 was in the RNZN and trained on servicing electronics, of which radar was one area I specialised in (which was still very secret in 1944), my educated guess is that the 3 condoms would have been used to cover the RADAR wave guides on the height ranging equipment. The low frequency at which they operated meant the wave guides were like rectangular drain pipes. At 2:56 in the middle of the tall curved 'dish', you can see 3 openings which I believe are the open ends of the wave guides. They may have covered these with condoms to keep moisture out. As an aside: I have looked at many war documentaries and some of the footage in this posting is new to me, as well as the historical story. Thank you Mark Felton Productions.
I never really comment on videos but this one really resonated with me. My great granddad was there for D-Day ferrying the men onto the beach I never really got much out of him about that day other than "anyone who talks about war has never experienced it." That's really shaped my world view to an extent. Great man to be sure!
Great video. Greetings from Omaha (Nebraska). Great honor to have this beach named after our city. Brits, Canucks, along with Aussies and Kiwis are great allies. Brothers all.
Another story not known to me until now, so nice to see a mention of the Brits landing on Omaha beach and then apparently brushed out of history.
Well I quess you weren't tought proper history.
@Juan Frede it true that a British officer lead a unit of Rangers. Because he was the highest ranking officer. They had all been separated from their units and were a hodge-podge group of soldiers who found each other on D-day. The British officer used an American rifle. The rest you just made up.
@@donnycooke56
I think you are the one that is not very well informed about history, from you dumb comments, and I think you mean 'taught'......:)
They certainly weren't shown or mentioned in Saving Private Ryan, which also neglected to show that the Landing Craft pilots on Omaha beech were British (the movie switched them for Americans).
@Soul Traveller That sounds very American. As you say, we Brits were at great pains not to let the Germans know we'd cracked their Enigma code. The great Alan Turing worked on cracking the Enigma code. Another warping of history, this time to make the Brits look bad (not just omit them) was The Patriot with Mel Gibson. There was a bullshit scene in that movie where the Redcoat British soldiers round up a New England village (including women and children) in a church and then burn it. Now that NEVER happened. I'll tell you who DID do that, the Germans in WW2 in France at Oradour Sur Glane. The Nazis rounded up the entire village in the church and then burnt it, killing women and children by burning them alive. This fact was probably completely lost on the director of The Patriot when he chose to horrifically defame the British in this way. His name is Roland Emmerich and he is, surprise, surprise, German!
Condoms at war: Because catching the unexpected matters.
Whenever I feel down, Mark Felton perks me up with even more historic knowledge.
Thanks for presenting this forgotten detail. Very interesting and appreciated.
Great story Dr.Felton, I appreciate you sharing it. In my opinion every member in the RAF 21st BDF, deserve Decoration. What truly brave men were on that beach on that day...They Began the End....these.. Brothers in Arms..
3:58 It's prudent to have many types of protection on the beach.
Kris, you never know when you encounter a wet landing... condoms are very useful to protect your gear on those occasions...
What a great video! I love how you tell the stories of men whose efforts have often gone unnoticed. Keep up the good work!
This is my favourite channel. Every upload is great and the entire library is highly rewatchable. If you haven't done so already, go subscribe to Mark's other channel!
link to other channel?
@@stuart4341 in the description 😀👍
I cant imagine waiting in those boats to head into almost certain death. Such courageous heros all of them! Never forget!!
@GEHIRN WISSEN There were heroes on both sides. I think the allied get glorified too much. Not highly trained soldiers with little to no experience put up fierce opposition. And when German high command failed to support the defense then there was almost nothing to do but shoot all your bullet and run or surrender and hope they won't kill you. Damn tragic
I wouldn't consider fighting for a facist dictatorship hell-bent on genetically purifying the world particularly "heroic".
@@bliesberg Don't believe the propaganda. The Germans were not hellbent on eugenics or taking over the world. They wanted to seize the oilfields of Russia and agricultural lands of Ukraine so they could become a self-sufficient nation. Invading other lands in order to secure resources to raise the quality of life for your own people is exactly how all nations have been formed throughout history. Some Nazis did commit evil, but most Nazis just wanted a prosperous German society. Their only mistake was targeting their anger towards an ethnic group which owns all news media, and then losing the war.
Jack Hoff Couldn’t they have just paid the soviets for the oil and grain (like they are doing today)? That would have been a fraction of the cost of raising a huge army to seize the farms and oil fields (which would still cost money to operate). The truth is the nazis fought a racial war of annihilation against the Russian Slavs with the aim of either killing them or enslaving them and stealing their resources. There was nothing heroic about their cause and no moral rationale whatsoever. Methinks you’re reading too much right wing propaganda
I do not think I could have been that brave. These guys show the best of the best and the bravest of the brave. Less we forget.
Thank you to these men from Australia🇭🇲🇨🇦🇬🇧🇺🇲
I enjoy these stories of small, yet vital units that fought during the Wars.
we should never forget the guts of these men my father was in the royal engineers
My grandfather never talked about his war. I learned a few snippets from my Nan.
He worked for the G.P.O. during the blitz getting the post out from bombed London sorting offices.
Then joined up & was involved in setting up bomber direction beacons on day 2 of the D-day. These were static beams of radio waves aimed home from Normandy so that bomber crews could fix position & follow a beam back to the U.K.
My Nan said he'd entered Bergen-belsen on day 2 after liberation. I understood then why he didn't want to relive it all.
G'day Mark, Thank you so much for bringing this almost totally unknown contribution of the RAF and the British Signals Corps to your viewers. I had read about the BDS but I must confess I came across the info by 'accident' while researching another D-Day subject. It's a little slice of history you won't find in any US documentary that I've ever seen on D-Day and I've seen quite a lot.
You did well with your film footage considering that something like 80%+ of the combat photographers' film of the initial assaults on Omaha beach was lost when a large bag containing the film cans was dropped into the sea while being transferred to a US ship. The bag was never recovered. A significant number of combat photographers and film cameramen were killed at Omaha so it was even more tragic that most of their work on that terrible day was done for nothing.
That one wide-shot, looking back from the beachhead towards the sea shows about a dozen soldiers advancing on the beach and 2 or 3 of them falling to the sand, shot. That particular footage is shown in every documentary on D-Day as it is one of a very few clips that survived of the Omaha assaults.
I am so grateful that a fitting memorial was finally organised to pay tribute to the RAF and British Army's brave, life-saving work. Thanks again for letting this 'out there' on TH-cam! Cheers, BH
Indeed, indeed. What the veracity of, if ever recovered, that lost at sea film accounting... Spose it would be ruined beyond viewable use, now. Crikey Moses.
Very interesting, As an ex Royal Air Force SNCO it's good to know the service wasn't just sitting on their hands so thankyou, for telling the story.
It's OK Vince, you had the Royal Signals looking after you! Certa Cito...
@@gwinster brothers in arms.
Another great video thanks so much
My grandpa was there. stormed omaha beach on d day. drove a jeep called the general for the army.
He was shot and made it. An American.
He never talked about it. god bless all who made it and didnt!
The greatest generation is legend!
Heroes
"My grandpa was there. stormed omaha beach on d day. drove a jeep called the general for the army."
"He never talked about it." Wait a second? oO
@@omaversteher1 Hmmm !?
Germans had years to prepare for beach landings. Why should anyone be surprised at the ferocity and coordination of the German resistance?
In part because it was largely Soviet troops defending the beaches, with the notable exception of Omaha, which had the veteran 352nd Inf. fresh from the Eastern Front as part of its' garrision
Tall Troll you might want to change how you worded that.
you made it sound like the soviets defended the beaches in d-day instead of the germans 😂
They may have had years to prepare but they had a very long coastline to defend - from the Spanish border, to Norway so they concentrated on the coast with the shortest route. Also, at the time of the Normandy planning, that area wasn't as heavily defended. Contrary to what you say, they were surprised by the lack of casualties on D-Day, as they were expecting a considerable amount more.
The ferocity at Omaha and Juno was not unexpected. Everyone knew D-Day itself was not an assured victory. They all did the best they could, from the intelligence to the strategic Mosquito bombing of the rail lines to the naval bombardment of the pillboxes to the poor guys carrying their lunchbuckets up the sand. Turned out their best was good enough.
@@sergeantnoone6920 Well, yes, because that's what happened. Large quantities of captured Soviet (not Russian, note) troops were employed by the Germans on the Atlantic Wall, so German manpower could be directed to frontline units. Remember, Stalin and the Bolsheviks in general were not universally popular with many of the conscripts in the Red Army (see : large scale genocide and suppression of various ethnic minorities in the USSR during the 1920s - 30s), and they were more than happy to take up arms on the Axis side. The Cossacks got transferred to the SS in 1945, even
My dad was a private in the 29th ID and landed on Easy Red early on June 6th. He ended up fighting with the 1st ID for more than day before returning to his regiment.
He told me that there were a group of Americans who were had trained with and accompanied British Commandos on raids. He even remarked that they had been in England so long (since 1942) that they picked up British slang and even accents. Later on in my research, I discovered these were the 29th Rangers who were disbanded before D-Day, and whose men were spread throughout the 29th to give the division some men with combat experience.
I love learning about the overlooked and forgotten aspects of the war.
Excellent video!
The odd thing is that he told me he lost his helmet in the Channel with his gear when they were dropped him in deep water. He fought a good length of time without a steel helmet despite commanders ordering him to find a helmet.
When he finally found a helmet, it was a Tommy helmet (with a pornographic picture in the liner)! I have often wondered how he found a British helmet in an American sector and had assumed that his patrol when he was fighting with the 1st ID strayed into the British sector.
Amazing story! God bless America and Britain, friends and allies forever!
Well said "allies" 👍🇺🇲🇬🇧
Never! The Brits burned the White House! Until we nuke Buckingham Palace we still owe them one. 🤪
@@Psychol-Snooper that's not fair play!
Angry Applesauce dude😂
the brits burned the whitehouse down (correction I just checked Wikipedia the troops that burned the whitehouse down were wearing redcoats but were identifying as 'Canadians' by then) so damn the canadians and the brits too
You're videos are incredible and tell the stories of these brave men so well.
Another great previously unknown story! Thank you!
I learn something NEW about WW2 every day from your channel.
What a great piece of almost forgotten history. I love hearing about the greatest generation, whether British or American. Thank you for keeping the story of these men, and all other
WWII vets, alive.
Always excited for a new video my good sir! You bring me back to when the history channel was the world war 2 channel without the bias ❤️🇺🇸🇬🇧🇷🇺🇩🇪
I think that you're one of the bests military historians on TH-cam...
Just bought one of your books Mark, you are truly my absolute favorite historian. Keep up the outstanding work my friend!!! I can’t wait to start reading Operation Swallow!!!
Probably there were many instances of this on D-day but this was the best account I've heard of British and American troops working together out of necessity. Very nice to hear this. That account of Muir Adair and his 'rag tag collections of US Rangers and Sailors', losing his Sten gun and aquiring an abandoned M1 Carbine and leading them and him off the beach is worth some kind of movie.
I agree 👍
Excellent as usual never heard of these guys and you are marking their memory. The other thing that made me sit up was the radar set up cutting edge for the time. Makes you realise how good we British are, radar covering the landing beaches we had everything covered.
And yet again Mark finds a story from the second world war that Iv'e never heard about, great stuff, keep em coming.
My grandfather is a Portuguese immigrant who settled in Toronto. He volunteered to fight for Canada in 1939. He was 19. He fought all over Europe and his regiment participated in the DDay landings and fight afterwards.
He came out of WWII without a scratch. On 1955, he lost his left arm in a car accident on a business trip to Porterville Ca. The Ca Hwy Patrol officers were DDay and Pacific war vets and when he told them he was a DDay vet, they visited him everyday at his hospital and had their wives and the Portuguese community in the area look after him. California's Central Valley has many Portuguese since the 1800s.
The brother hood of war veterans who were allies is a wonderful thing. lifelong friendships came out of Grampys accident.
Helping with the algorithm