Suicide Missions Of D-Day

On D-Day, small teams of specially trained soldiers and sailors were given secret and dangerous missions at the vanguard of the assault. The Airborne Pathfinders set up special radar beacons and lights to guide the main Paratrooper Units to drop zones. The outnumbered British 9th Parachute Battalion attacked a gun battery at Merville, a fortress said to be impenetrable. And Navy combat Demolition Units came ashore in the first assault wave to clear obstacles so invasion ships could land.

• documentary