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>
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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>
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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>
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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>