80th Anniversary of D-Day 2024

[daftandbarmy]

Me, at the TV screen....

 

[Retired AF Guy]

I saw a post on X extolling the film "The Longest Day". That just got me annoyed once again that this epic couldn't mention the existence of the Canadian contribution.

Even though the author Cornelius Ryan interviewed several Canadian veterans and included their stories in his book, which the movie is based on.

 

[RangerRay]

In the Great Escape, they didn’t even try to portray any Canadians, they just made James Garner an American who joined the RAF.

Not quite true. The “distractions officer” FO Haynes was a Canadian.

But yes, very under represented.

 

[mariomike]

I find the written history of D-Day more interesting than Hollywood entertainment .

Like General Eisenhower's ultimatum of 25 March , 1944.

"I am going to take drastic action and inform the combined chiefs of staff that unless the matter is settled at once I will request relief from this command.”

In Washington, Generals Marshall and Arnold backed Eisenhower. So did President Roosevelt.

By early April, Churchill and Air Marshall Harris had come around, and Eisenhower had overruled USAAF General Spaatz.

If Canadians want to learn about D-Day , they can borrow a book from their library, rather than being spoon fed Hollywood slop.

Unless they have a family member interred in France, I doubt many in Canada feel much of a connection to D-Day.