June 6 historic event (just one today)
The invasion, code named Operation Overlord, was originally scheduled to take place on June 5, but it was postponed to the second day of its two-day window because of bad weather.
For Overlord, the Allies had overwhelming air superiority. Thousands of American and British fighters, painted with distinct stripes to avoid friendly-fire accidents, patrolled over the English Channel and the French landing sites.
Despite the size of the invasion force, victory was far from assured. General Eisenhower had prepared a speech to be delivered in the event of a failed invasion.
The invasion was successful, and over the next few months Allied forces advanced into France, culminating in the liberation of Paris in late August.
Although the evil nazi regime fought on for nearly another year before it was defeated, this was the beginning of its end.