73 years ago, 14,000 Canadian soldiers participated in Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day – the Allied Invasion of Nazi Occupied Western Europe.
Shortly before 8 in the morning, thousands of Canadian infantrymen stormed ashore at Juno Beach, fighting their way through beach obstacles, and machine gun and artillery fire.
By noon, Juno Beach was clear, and by nightfall, the Canadians had advanced the furthest inland of all invading forces.
Canadian paratroopers were dropped east of the assault beaches, and successfully destroyed numerous bridges leading to the bridgehead to prevent Germans from bringing up reinforcements at this critical juncture.
The Royal Canadian Navy contributed 110 ships, and 10,000 sailors in support of the landings, while 15 squadrons of fighters, and fighter-bombers from the Royal Canadian Air Force helped control the skies over Normandy.
Canadian casualties on D-Day reached 1,074, including 359 killed.
