Operations Taxable, Glimmer and Big Drum were tactical military deceptions conducted on 6 June 1944 in support of the Allied landings in Normandy. The operations formed the naval component of Operation Bodyguard, a wider series of tactical and strategic deceptions surrounding the invasion. By towing radar reflector balloons and producing significant amounts of radio traffic, small boats simulated invasion fleets approaching Cap d'Antifer, Pas-de-Calais and Normandy. Royal Air Force bombers, including Lancaster bombers (pictured) from No. 617 "Dam Busters" Squadron, created the illusion of a large fleet on coastal radar screens by dropping chaff in progressive patterns. Glimmer and Taxable played on the German belief that the main invasion force would land in the Calais region. Big Drum was positioned on the western flank of the real invasion force to try to confuse German forces about the scale of the landings. It is unclear whether the operations were successful, due to the complexity of their execution, poor weather, and lack of response from German forces. It is possible they contributed to the overall confusion of D-Day as part of the wider Bodyguard plan.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Day_naval_deceptions
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1674:
Shivaji, who led a resistance to free the Maratha from the Sultanate of Bijapur and the Mughal Empire, was crowned the first Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji
1859:
Queen Victoria signed letters patent separating the colony of Queensland from New South Wales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland
1892:
The 'L' train (1922 train pictured) of Chicago, the second longest rapid transit system in total track mileage in the United States, began operations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_%27L%27
1912:
The second-largest eruption of the 20th century created the Novarupta volcano in the Alaska Peninsula, US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novarupta
1985:
The remains of Josef Mengele, a Nazi physician notorious for human experiments done on Auschwitz inmates, were discovered in Embu das Artes, Brazil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Mengele
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
enfranchise: To grant the franchise to an entity, generally meaning to grant the privilege of voting to a person. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/enfranchise
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
 The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking. --Dwight D. Eisenhower https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower