D-Day Landing Sites Then and Now

Normandy Beaches in 1944 and 70 Years Later

On June 6, 1944, Allied soldiers descended on the beaches of Normandy for D-Day, an operation that turned the tide of the Second World War against the Nazis, marking the beginning of the end of the conflict.

Today [2014], as many around the world prepare to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landings, pictures of tourists soaking up the sun on Normandy's beaches stand in stark contrast to images taken around the time of the invasion.

Reuters photographer Chris Helgren compiled archive pictures taken during the invasion and went back to the same places to photograph them as they appear today.

400 Squadron was heavily involved in the lead-up to D-Day taking many of the aerial reconnaissance photos used in planning and carrying out the invasion.

Thanks to Chuck Darrow (411 Squadron) for the heads up on the article published in the International Business Times from which the captions/write-up and photos in the video and slide show below were taken.