The 6th June 1944…the Longest Day. In the fervour of battle, it is completely understandable that there are sometimes conflicts between stated times for certain events. Sources give slightly differing times for a number of entries in the timeline of D-Day, and it is important to bear this in mind when using this page.
Some of the images here are for illustrative purposes only.
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00:05hrs: German coastal batteries between Le Havre and Cherbourg are the target of Allied bombers..
00:11hrs: The first men of Operation Titanic jump from their Halifax aircraft and land 8km from Saint-Lô where they send flares and play battle sound recordings to confuse the Germans. Dummy parachutists are also dropped.
00:15hrs: The initial airborne landings being, with American pathfinders jumping to set up markers to identify the drop zones for the C-47’s carrying the main body of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne Divisions.
00:16 – 00:20hrs: The first Horsa gliders carrying men of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry lands just 50 meters away from Caen Canal bridge – later to be known as “Pegasus Bridge”. Further gliders land shortly thereafter.
00:30hrs: The Caen Canal and Orne River Bridges are under Allied control.
01:00hrs: Major General Matthew Ridgway’s 82nd Airborne Division parachute west of Sainte-Merè-Église in the American sector.
01:11hrs: At the German 84th Army Corps headquarters in Saint-Lô, initial reports of the American paratrooper landings are received.
01:30hrs: Major General Maxwell Taylor’s 101st Airborne Division land on drop zones near Utah Beach in the American sector.
01:50hrs: The main body of the British 6th Airborne Division parachute east of the River Orne.
02:45hrs: American soldiers destined for Omaha and Utah Beaches (which will be the first to be landed on) start to transfer from their assault ships to landing craft.
03:00hrs: Allied warships arrive at their positions for the naval bombardment.
03:20hrs: Heavy equipment and reinforcements for paratroops arrive by glider.
03:25hrs: German naval observers report the presence of Allied naval forces.
03:50hrs: British paratroopers commence an attack on the village of Ranville.
04:30hrs: The island of Saint-Marcouf is occupied by American forces. On the mainland, elements of the 82nd Airborne Division capture the town of Sainte-Merè-Église.
04:45hrs: Two miniature submarines (known as X-Craft) surface just off the coast to provide navigation reference points for the British landing forces. British paratroopers of the 6th Airborne Division disable the gun battery at Merville.
05:30hrs: The Allied naval bombardment commences.
05:58hrs: Sunrise.
06:30hrs: First troops begin landing at Utah and Omaha beaches.
06:52hrs: Admiral Ramsey receives first reports of conditions ashore.
07:00hrs: German radio broadcasts initial reports of the landings.
07:10hrs: US Army Rangers commence the assault of the Pointe du Hoc battery.
07:25hrs: British troops begin landing at Gold and Sword beaches.
07:35hrs: Canadian troops being landing at Juno Beach.
09:00hrs: General Eisenhower authorizes the release of a communiqué announcing the start of the invasion.
09:13hrs: General Bradley calls for reinforcements at Omaha Beach, for fear of having to abandon the landings there.
09:30hrs: Free-French commandos who landed with the British at Sword Beach liberate the casino at Riva Bella. Hermanville, behind Sword Beach, is liberated.
09:45hrs: Utah Beach is cleared of all German forces.
10:00hrs: La Riviere, behind Gold Beach, is taken by advancing British forces.
11:00hrs: Canadian forces capture the town of Bernieres, behind Juno Beach.
12:00hrs: In a speech to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Winston Churchill reports on the landings. Forces advancing inland from Utah Beach link up with paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division.
12:50hrs: Lord Lovat’s commandos of the 1st Special Services Brigade arrive at Pegasus Bridge to relieve the holding force.
13:30hrs: Troops finally start moving inland at Omaha Beach.
14:30hrs: The German 21st Panzer Division launches a counter attack against British forces on the eastern flank of the invasion area.
15:00hrs: 12th SS Panzer Division moves into position south of Caen.
16:00hrs: British armour reaches Arromanches.
18:00hrs: American forces liberate St Laurent behind Omaha Beach. British and Canadian forces link up the Gold and Juno beachheads. The battery at Longues is finally silenced by Allied naval bombardment.
20:00hrs: 21st Panzer Division reaches Luc sur Mer between Juno and Sword beaches, but British armour and infantry halt their advance. Allied patrols reach the outskirts of Bayeux.
21:00hrs: British 6th Airborne Brigade land by glider in the Orne area.
22:00hrs: Field Marshall Rommel returns to his headquarters from Germany. Canadian and British forces advance on Caen is stalled at the Forest of Lebisay.
22:07hrs: Sunset.
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Animals Used in WW2 Combat
Battle of Normandy (The Beginning of the End)
D-Day Facts And Figures
D-Day Glossary
D-Day Strategic Operations: Complete Codename Index
Faces of Operation Overlord
Operation Bodyguard (D-Day Deception)
Operation Neptune (D-Day Assault)
Pegasus Bridge: The Strategic Capture That Turned The Tide On D-Day
Pointe du Hoc
Technology Used at D-Day
Timeline of D-Day Events
