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Today in World War II History—August 15, 1944

Thursday, August 15, 2024 by Sarah Sundin
Troops of US 45th Infantry Division land at Ste. Maxime in southern France, 15 Aug 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

Troops of US 45th Infantry Division land at Ste. Maxime in southern France, 15 Aug 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—August 15, 1944: Operation Dragoon: US Seventh Army, including Free French commandos and British paratroopers, lands 60,000 troops in southern France between Cannes and Toulon with excellent results—called France’s other D-day.

In Dragoon cover, Allies first use “baby aircraft carriers,” LSTs (landing ship, tank) with flight decks added for liaison aircraft.

In Dragoon landings, former US Ambassador to France William Bullitt lands as a major fighting with the Free French (Gen. Charles de Gaulle offered him a commission when the US refused).

[Read more and see photos from my research trip to southern France: “France’s Other D-Day”]

C-47 Skytrains of the US 81st Troop Carrier Squadron loaded with paratroopers on their way for the invasion of southern France, 15 Aug 1944 (US National Archives: 020930-O-999)

C-47 Skytrains of the US 81st Troop Carrier Squadron loaded with paratroopers on their way for the invasion of southern France, 15 Aug 1944 (US National Archives: 020930-O-999)

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