Operation Overlord: Code name for the Allied invasion of Western Europe.
D: Stands for “day” as the final invasion date was unknown and depended on the weather.
150,000+: Troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Free France and Norwaymade up the Allied Forces.
Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword: Allied code names for the beaches along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted for landing.
“OK, We’ll go”: U.S. General Dwight Eisenhower’s words to begin the mission on June 5, 1944.
822: Number of airplanes that dropped initial wave of parachutists and gliders over landing zones in Normandy.
6:30 a.m.: Seaborne units began to land on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
The Armada: 6,000 ships and landing craft, 50,000 vehicles and 11,000 planes were involved in the invasion or delivered afterward.
8,230: Number of U.S. soldiers killed, wounded, missing or captured during D-Day. Figure topped 10,000 with British and Canadian losses included. German losses are estimated between 4,000 and 9,000.
326,000+: Allied troops that crossed the beaches by June 11, 1944, with more than 100,000 tons of military equipment.
Under 500,000: Estimated number of World War II veterans remaining alive.
Unknown: Number of veterans alive who participated in the D-Day invasion.
Source: The National World War II Museum
