June 6 – World War II – The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division lands at Juno Beach, part of the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day.
This Canadian History for Kids exclusive looks at D-Day.
D-Day, began on June 6, 1944, and was the beginning of the end of Hitler’s Germans.
It was decided that on D-Day, the Allied Forces would land in Normandy in an effort to force the Germans out of France. The establishment of a foothold in Normandy was code named Operation Overlord. D-Day was originally scheduled for June 5, 1944 because there would be a full moon as well as a rising tide. The full moon would help the paratroopers see to land, and the rising tide would help the naval troops land farther from shore and any guns or obstacles placed there by the German. On June 5, 1944, the weather was so bad that it was decided D-Day could not go ahead on that day. The weather was not cooperating and finally it was decided that D-Day would go ahead on June 6, 1944.
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops of approximately 150,000 landed in Normandy either from 11,000 aircrafts (code named Operation Pointblank) or almost 7,000 naval vessels (code named Operation Neptune). The majority of the troops who landed in Normandy were British, Canadian and American.
The troops landed on beaches code named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Each beach was divided into sections and given letters, and then divided again into different colours. The different troops were then given a specific section and mission.
The airborne troops handled capturing bridges and crossroads, the paratroopers handled German counterattacks, and the naval troops took care of destroying beach guns and providing shelter for the ground troops by making craters.
The weather wasn’t helping. High winds, rough seas and high waves made it hard for both the airborne and naval troops.
Of the five beach landings, the worst was Omaha. The Americans found themselves in a race against death. Many of the landing vessels never made it close to shore and many of the men were killed before reaching the land.
Utah beach on the other hand had an easier time when a southerly current carried the troops to another sector and their landing went well. They were able to go inland quickly.
The British troops landed on Gold beach at a later time causing them to land in a higher tide and closer to land. This gave them a better assault run.
The Canadians at Juno found that many of the obstacles had not been cleared and were faced with a hard fight. The fight was also fast and before long they were inland as well.
The Sword beach, the easternmost landing, was the smallest of the Allied assaults. While the landing started well, it grew harder with each troop landing coming under heavier fire. It was also the only assault hit by a daylight air attack by the Germans.
Operation Neptune or D-day ended on June 30, 1944, with the Allied troops establishing a firm foothold in Normandy. By September 1945, the war would be over.
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June 2, 1917 – World War I – Air ace Billy Bishop seriously damages a German aerodrome and airfield and destroys three German planes far behind enemy lines, an action that wins him the Victoria Cross.
This Canadian History for Kids exclusive looks at the great Canadian Flying ace, Billy Bishop.
Billy Bishop was born on 8 February 1894 in Owen Sound, Ontario. In 1911, at age 17, his parents sent him to Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.
He had some troubles while attending the college. Billy wasn’t the best student while his elder brother Worth was known as the highest achieving cadet ever to grace Kingston’s halls. Billy’s personality hated every aspect of the firm military attitudes.
He failed his first year of college and was allowed to enter the second year of studies only on the basis that he stay longer at college to make up what he missed in the first year. The beginnings of the war cut short his education and eliminated this problem.
Due to his skill on a horse and his military “education”, he was quickly commissioned into the Mississauga Horse of Toronto, a cavalry detachment of the 2nd Canadian Division. Fortunately for Bishop, he was hospitalized with pneumonia when his unit left. He was then assigned to the 14th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles, being formed in London, Ontario.
Once in England, Bishop became depressed at the prospects of being in a cavalry unit in a trench war. One day in July, 1915 a biplane landed briefly for the pilot to get his bearings in a nearby field.
He found out from a group of Royal Flying Corps officers that he could transfer to the RFC. He joined the RFC as soon as possible and was transferred to Netheravon, 11 miles north of Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Bishop received his wings in November of 1916. Bishop, was referred to as “the Lone Hawk” for his preference for solo missions. The Germans referred to him as ‘the blue nosed devil’.
Perhaps unfortunately for a member of the RFC he was also regarded as something of a weak pilot, who had a tendency to crash land his aircraft.
Bishop was due to be sent to England from France for ‘remedial’ training when he succeeded in shooting down his first aircraft. There was no looking back and Bishop quickly gained celebrity for his ability as a crack shot.
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the remarkable feat of scoring 25 ‘kills’ within just 12 days as leader of the so-called ‘Flying Foxes’, he was earlier awarded the Victoria Cross for a single-handed offensive against the German aerodrome at Arras on 2 June 1917.
Bishop was the ninth Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross. Some years after the war (from 1982 onwards) questions were raised concerning the verifiability of Bishop’s feats that day and a Senate enquiry was held (he was cleared of any wrongdoing). Added to his Distinguished Flying Cross and Victoria Cross were also the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross.
Bishop survived the war as commander of 85 Squadron. He was withdrawn from active duty in June 1918 for fear that he would be shot down. The same year he published his war memoirs, Winged Warfare.
After the armistice Bishop initially travelled the U.S. giving lectures. He co-founded (with fellow Canadian ace Billy Barker) a charter airline business, which however went bankrupt. After a period of floating he eventually established himself as a successful sales director for Frontenac Oil in Canada.
During World War Two he served as Air Marshall with responsibility for Canadian recruitment. His fame as a former World War One air ace helped to draw fresh recruits to the air force. After the war he entered semi-retirement, later attempting to enlist during the Korean War.
Billy Bishop, the Blue nosed Devil, died on 9 November 1956 in Florida.
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