Sword Beach | Second World War 1939-1945, military, historic site

 beach, Second World War 1939-1945, military, draw only border, historic site

Sword Beach Landing Area. On June 6th, 1944 as part of Operation Overlord 28,845 British troops from the 3rd Infantry Division landed on Sword Beach, primary east of town of Lion-sur-Mer.
Six months before the landings 2 British Army officers swam ashore had the job taking core samples of the beach to see if it could take the vehicles that would drive over it. The reason being it looks like sand but just below the surface is peat and this is very Soft and the vehicles would sink in to it.
It was done on the night of the new year when the Germans was to busy with the new year celebrations.
After collecting the core samples they then swam back out to a waiting boat.
The core samples together with old pre war photos was used to make the maps that would be used on DDay.

This site has photos of Normandy in 1944 and Now some great photos.
blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/06/05/the-65th-anniv...