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June 1943

Americans are now living in 100,000 buildings in 1,100 locations in Britain. In December, 30,000 further acres of South Devon are taken over and 3,000 residents evicted from 750 properties. Landings are rehearsed in Devon’s Bideford Bay, chosen for its similarity to the Normandy coast.

August 1943

During Churchill’s voyage aboard the Queen Mary en route to Quebec for the summit with Roosevelt, professor John Desmond Bernal, a scientific adviser, uses a loofah as a wave machine and 20 paper boats as the D-Day fleet. With the PM and aides looking on he proves success would depend on vast floating harbours, Mulberrys – represented by a Mae West life preserver.

November 1943

Thirty directives for Overlord issued.

6 December 1943

General Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed to command landings in France.

1 January 1944

General Montgomery relinquishes command of 8th Army in Italy and flies to England to set up his invasion HQ at his old school, St Paul’s, Hammersmith. Montgomery will remain in command of ground forces until September 1944 when General Eisenhower will assume direct control. For the purposes of Overlord, RAF Bomber Command and the 8th US Air Force are placed under the operational direction of the Supreme Commander to add to the aircraft of the Allied Tactical Air Forces.

2nd TAF’s 11 squadrons of Bostons, Venturas and Mitchells in 2 Group moved to Hampshire to be nearer the enemy coast and newer types of aircraft like the de Havilland Mosquito FBVI fighter-bomber and Mustang fighter arrived. Mosquitoes of 140 Wing (21, 487 RNZAF and 464 RAAF Squadrons) specialized in pinpoint bombing of key targets in France in the run up to D-Day. During March–April to simulate the type of tactical targets against which 2 Group would be employed, Boston, Mitchell and Mosquito crews took part in two-week training exercises in full field conditions.