D-Day 81st Anniversary Memorial

To honor the 81st anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum invites visitors to explore the museum and step aboard the USS Laffey (DD-724) to learn about the pivotal role this historic destroyer played in the monumental event.

History of the Laffey at Normandy

The USS Laffey DD-724 was part of Operation Neptune, the naval phase of the D-Day invasion. Under command of Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey of the UK’s Royal Navy, the fleet was responsible for the sweeping of mines and marking channels.  They also provided transportation of troops and equipment to the beaches, landing the troops and supporting them with gunfire and reinforcement, and resupply by sea. In transit, the force was screened by the destroyers USS Jeffers, Obrien, Glennon, Barton, Laffey, Meredith, the French corvettes Aconit and Renoncule, plus 3 trawlers, 7 Patrol Crafts, 7 Submarine Chasers and 7 Motor Launch vessels.

The USS Laffey provided support to the Utah Beach landing site. Twenty-four hours after the first wave had landed, 66,000 US troops had crossed the beaches and within 7 days the number had grown to 250,000.