On this day 6 June 1944

Fleet Air Arm Battle Honour - Normandy

Operation NEPTUNE, covering and supporting forces in the Channel, Dover to Ushant, for landings in France, 6 June to 3 July 1944.

The Invasion of Normandy was launched on June 6, 1944, with the simultaneous landing of U.S., British, and Canadian forces on five separate beachheads in Normandy, France. Ever since known as D-Day, a mighty armada crossed a narrow strip of sea from England to Normandy, France, and cracked the Nazi grip on western Europe. By the end of August 1944 all of northern France was liberated, and the invading forces reorganized for the drive into Germany, where they would eventually meet with Soviet forces advancing from the east to bring an end to the Nazi Reich.

FAA Squadrons: 700, 800, 804, 808, 816, 819, 838, 846, 848, 849, 850, 854, 855, 881, 885, 886, 896, 897

800 & 804Squadrons were on-board HMS Emperor, 881 & 896 on-board HMS Pursuer and 846 Squadron flew off HMS Tracker.

808, 885, 886 (Seafire) and 897 Squadrons were tasked with spotting for naval gunfire, including the guns of HMS Warspite and the USS Nevada. They flew from Lee on Solent.

Other squadrons were attached to RAF coastal command.