This needs to be merged into Battle of Normandy, since that article has changed from being about the entire campaign (Operation Overlord) to only being about the invasion phase (Operation Neptune). That said, the roles of the RN and other navies needs to be documented accurately because they did provide the lion's share of escort and support-Buckboard 05:34, 9 June 2007 (UTC). And John Wayne, except for portraying a real-life soldier in The Longest Day, never appeared in any war movie involving the war in Europe, so that's a straw dog. I hope that I've not caused offence, but I do feel lots better for that rant.įolks at 137 23:04, 5 November 2005 (UTC) Reply This point is well-taken, but the role of the US Navy in Overlord was not quite as insignificant as implied here (the gunfire support to Utah and Omaha Beaches were by USN ships). And I do know that the US Navy's focus was in the Pacific. I won't delete the list of US ships - that would be disrespectful, I may add to it. It also overlooks contributions from the Free French and Norwegian navies, and probably others. To list the relatively few US ships (I'm sure there were more than these) that were involved without a similar reference to other nations, apart from the "English" navy, rubs some of us up the wrong way. So, although US troops and aircraft were desparately needed to bolster the failing British manpower reserves, at Normandy it was actually the Royal Navy (British, not English, please note) that took the lead in providing naval support. Particularly so on foreign ground.īUT (here goes), there is sensitivity in Europe, and not just in France, about the Second World War in Europe being given an all-American gloss (usually by Hollywood - John Wayne did it all?). The actions at Omaha beach, St Lo, Bastogne, Eindhoven & Nijmegen, and elsewhere were outstandingly brave and determined. Second, in no way do I wish to minimise the courage and suffering of US forces in Europe.
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