Crossing the Channel
Crossing the Channel on "D-Day", June 6, 1944
On June 3, 1944, after intensive preparation during the spring, the landing force for the Normandy Invasion was mostly assembled along the southern coast of England for the nearly one-hundred mile journey across the English Channel to liberate France. Hindered by poor weather conditions, the original landing date of June 5 was delayed a day. Due to these conditions, the passage wasn't smooth, and many of the infantrymen suffered hours of seasickness during the overnight transit. Well before dawn, most ships were in place for the invasion. In addition to the invasion flotilla, transport planes and gliders flew over Normandy dropping U.S. paratroopers inland to the west of Utah beach. British parachutists were dropped in the southeastern section of the assault zone.
Image: NH 114185: D-Day Mass of U.S. Navy and Army Officers and men attend mass aboard a U.S. warship in the cold dawn of D-Day before crossing the English Channel to storm the shores of France. U.S. Army Chaplain Lawrence E. Deary is the celebrant. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
