The planning for D Day started in August 1943. General Bernard Montgomery was to be commander of all of the land forces involved in the invasion. The final plan was for amphibious landings by five divisions, with airborne support. During the Battle of Normandy, Montgomery would have 39 Allied divisions under his command. Before the landings British airborne forces were to secure the Orne River bridges, near Caen, followed by the American airborne forces landing on the Cotentin Peninsula. The British would land at Sword and Gold beaches and the Canadians at Juno, the Americans at Utah and Omaha.
