Special Sub-Topic: D-Day: Behind the Scenes Authored by: ZeroG Sub-topic of: D-Day

Ok, welcome to the quiz. Here we go! Firstly, what was the name of the Naval phase of D-Day?

Neptune&neptune&Operation Neptune&operation neptune. This was the entire naval phase of the invasion, performing the transport of troops across the Channel, naval bombardments of the coast, logistical support with supplies, air support from carriers, and the general protection of landing troops. The Commander of the naval operation was Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay.

Who made this remark about the invasion plan: "There it is ... It won't work. I know it won't work, but you'll bloody well have to make it work."

General Alanbrooke. You may not have heard of him, but he was the Chief of the [British] Imperial General Staff.

During the invasion, Eisenhower had obtained control of the US Eighth Army Air Force and RAF bomber command. Before the invasion, however, he had two different airforces under his command to soften up the coastal defences. What were they?

US Ninth Army Air Force and the British Second Tactical Air Force. They were used to attack vital road and rail links, and they were equipped with Mitchells, Bostons, Spitfires, Lightnings, Typhoons and Mosquitos.

Efforts by the Airforces were augmented by French Resistance fighters on the ground. Around how many fighters were equipped to perform acts of sabotage on German equipment and vehicles?

100,000. Also, men from the 2nd SAS Regiment were dropped from the air into Normandy to help.

We all know about the Sherman DD swimming tanks and Crab flail tanks designed to destroy mines, but what were AVREs?

Tanks designed to destroy bunkers with huge guns. AVREs, or Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers, were used to destroy bunkers and emplacements with a large 290mm PETARD mortar. This fired 40lb shells. It protected the Engineers as they moved about. Often, they were used for other duties, such as bridge laying. All of these sorts of specialised tanks were part of Hobart's 'Funnies', from the 79th Armoured Regiment.

General Bradley turned down the 'Funnies' because they were based on the British Churchill tank.

t. He accepted the DD tanks because they were Shermans. The Churchill was not part of American Regiments, so there would have been technical problems. He also wanted the 'Firefly' tank, a Sherman with the British 17 pounder Anti tank gun, whch could match the German Tiger and Panther tanks, which were armed with 88mm guns.

What was the name of the Operation that was designed to fool the Germans into thinking the attack would come in the Pas De Calais?

Fortitude & Operation Fortitude. General Patton's 3rd army was moved into Kent, and dummy barges and gliders, tanks and infantry camps sprung up everywhere. For every tonne of bombs dropped on Normandy, four tonnes were dropped on the Pas De Calais.

We know about the Mulberry harbours, but what did PLUTO stand for?

Pipe Line Under The Ocean. There were eventually four pipelines, and they delivered 2500 tons of petrol daily to the landing forces.

What was the assembly area for the invasion fleet nicknamed?

'Picadilly Circus'. It was in mid-Channel, south of the Isle of Wight.

Finally, midget submarines were deployed before D-Day to land saboteurs.

f. Midget submarines were deployed, but only to drop off Naval Surveyors and Royal Engineers who examined beach defences and obstacles and to collect sand samples.