American Forces at D-Day: A Special Display at Landguard Fort

This Sunday, 23 August, Landguard Fort turns its attention to the American story of D-Day. Alongside our regular displays, visitors can explore a dedicated exhibit of uniforms, kit and artefacts connected to the US troops who stormed the Normandy beaches, plus a talk on the tactics that shaped one of the most audacious operations in military history from the UK’s best mobile display.

From the airborne assaults of the 82nd and 101st Divisions dropping inland under cover of darkness to seize bridges and causeways, to the beach landings at Utah and the brutal fight for a foothold at Omaha, American forces relied on careful planning, overwhelming coordination between sea, air and land, and sheer grit when the plan met reality. Engineers cleared paths through beach obstacles under fire, Rangers scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to silence German guns, and infantry worked in small teams to outflank strongpoints when the wider advance stalled — tactics our talk will bring vividly to life.

The display and talk run throughout the day and are included in normal fort admission — no need to book ahead. Come and discover the planning, courage and improvisation behind D-Day’s American front.