D-Day in Colour: Normandy, June 6, 1944
Troops of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada going aboard LCI(L) 250 and 125
(part of the Canadian 262nd Flotilla) at dawn, on 4 June, 1944, Southampton, UK.
Photo credit - RCN photographer Gilbert Milne (as at Maple Leaf Up)
Introduction - YouTube is a reliable source for videos and films related to WW2 activities, and on occasion references are made and scenes are seen that involve men on landing crafts during raids or invasions, e.g., in Normandy, as is the case in this film (in colour). Not often will one hear of references to the Canadians who served in Combined Operations and operated some of the landing craft, but in spite of that, the videos and films are informative and educational for a variety of reasons.
The film, "D-Day in Colour" (narrated by John Hurt) can be found on YouTube as one episode.
Link to D-Day in Colour
Details: D-Day, 6th June 1944: The launch of Operation Overlord. The battle that began the liberation of Europe. The last moments of the German Army
Country: UK
Language: English
Release Date: 25 May 2004 (UK)
Duration - 47:44
Part of a review from theguardian.com follows:
Previously unseen images of paratrooper landings in France capture 'iconic moment' of history
True colours of D-Day seen for first time
Previously unseen images of paratrooper landings in France capture 'iconic moment' of history
By David Smith
Astonishing colour images of the D-Day landings have been compiled for the first time, revealing previously unseen images of the invasion of the French beaches.
The colour excerpts have been drawn from archives in America, Britain, Canada and France to form the documentary D-Day in Colour, narrated by John Hurt and to be shown on the 60th anniversary next month. It includes the Allied conferences involving Churchill and Roosevelt, the preparations in Britain, the air and naval build-up, the aerial bombing raids, the landings on the beaches, the fight for Normandy and the liberation of Paris.
The film is the fruit of 10 years' research by Adrian Wood, the mastermind of previous series The Second World War in Colour and Britain at War in Colour.... Wood said he felt the most significant 'find' for D-Day in Colour was the Pathfinders of the American 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles, preparing in Britain for Operation Overlord the next day. The film, shot on the eve of D-Day, shows Captain Frank Lillyman, commander of the 101st Pathfinders, who at 12.12am on 6 June, 1944, would become the first Allied serviceman to parachute into France.
Astonishing colour images of the D-Day landings have been compiled for the first time, revealing previously unseen images of the invasion of the French beaches.
The colour excerpts have been drawn from archives in America, Britain, Canada and France to form the documentary D-Day in Colour, narrated by John Hurt and to be shown on the 60th anniversary next month. It includes the Allied conferences involving Churchill and Roosevelt, the preparations in Britain, the air and naval build-up, the aerial bombing raids, the landings on the beaches, the fight for Normandy and the liberation of Paris.
The film is the fruit of 10 years' research by Adrian Wood, the mastermind of previous series The Second World War in Colour and Britain at War in Colour.... Wood said he felt the most significant 'find' for D-Day in Colour was the Pathfinders of the American 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles, preparing in Britain for Operation Overlord the next day. The film, shot on the eve of D-Day, shows Captain Frank Lillyman, commander of the 101st Pathfinders, who at 12.12am on 6 June, 1944, would become the first Allied serviceman to parachute into France.
Dr Stephen Badsey, the historical adviser to D-Day in Colour, said: 'It was the job of the Pathfinders of each of the airborne divisions to drop first, about an hour before the main body, and mark out the drop zones. It was extremely dangerous work; they were dropping into hostile territory at night and alone.
The flight would take two hours, encountering bad weather and, for the last few minutes, German anti-aircraft fire. Lillyman, who always jumped with a cigar in his mouth, was first out of the plane, at 12.12am. His Pathfinder team of about 15 men set up electronic equipment that sent out a signal to the oncoming waves of planes, telling the pilots when the paratroopers should jump. They also set burning pots in fields as a signal to glider pilots.
D-Day in Colour also includes never-before-seen film of the Nazi occupation of France. Wood, the international vice-president of archive development at TWI, said: 'We were surprised there is so much. In the late Eighties there were 200-300 hours. Now there are maybe 600 hours. That's an astonishing amount that has come to light.' He added: 'The cameramen took horrendous risks and they're often overlooked as heroes. They showed incredible courage and bravery.'
The flight would take two hours, encountering bad weather and, for the last few minutes, German anti-aircraft fire. Lillyman, who always jumped with a cigar in his mouth, was first out of the plane, at 12.12am. His Pathfinder team of about 15 men set up electronic equipment that sent out a signal to the oncoming waves of planes, telling the pilots when the paratroopers should jump. They also set burning pots in fields as a signal to glider pilots.
D-Day in Colour also includes never-before-seen film of the Nazi occupation of France. Wood, the international vice-president of archive development at TWI, said: 'We were surprised there is so much. In the late Eighties there were 200-300 hours. Now there are maybe 600 hours. That's an astonishing amount that has come to light.' He added: 'The cameramen took horrendous risks and they're often overlooked as heroes. They showed incredible courage and bravery.'
Please link to Video: World War II - The Complete History
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