The 80th anniversary of D-Day also calls to mind how radio covered the events as they happened in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. The first bulletins came around midnight when German sources claimed the invasion had begun, something which was quickly picked up by international wire services and the big American networks. Both Robert Trout of CBS Radio and Robert St. John of NBC Radio were careful to point out that there was no Allied confirmation of the German reports. That didn't come until 3:32 am, when the official announcement was made from London. Some of the behind the scenes action in the newsrooms of the American networks and the BBC from that morning can be found here.

The most famous report from the invasion front was broadcast by George Hicks, of the Blue Network of NBC, which later became ABC. He describes what he sees from the bridge of a U.S. battleship as the troops go ashore.

I'm unable to find any of CBC Radio's D-Day coverage in its archives, although I assume it must exist somewhere. There is, however, an account of the Canadians landing on Juno Beach from the CBC's pioneering war correspondent Matthew Halton here. It is a vivid portrait of what he saw on the ground.

D-Day was one of early radio's finest hours, showing the medium at its best in providing on-scene reports combined with steady, even-handed political and military commentary that tried to hew the line between cautious optimism and the need to boost morale for those on the home front. 



 

Last edited by BowmanvilleBob (June 6, 2024 1:30 pm)

And another connection - it was Gen. Rohmer who got the late City TV broadcaster David Onley nominated for Lt.-Gov. of Ontario.

David once told me he was in his car when the phone rang and he answered it - it was then Prime Minister Stephen Harper calling to offer him the appointment. He said he was unable to pull the car over to the side of the road and it was all he could do to keep control of the vehicle.

"I just had reached the top of the Don Valley Parkway... and there was no place to pull over. And when the Prime Minister of your country calls, all you can try to do is stay in the same lane, avoid any fender-benders and have a meaningful conversation, which I did."

One of the nicest and most humble human beings ever on this planet. I miss him to this day. 

The live coverage by CBC was OK except that they interviewed a bunch of people during the ceremony out of HQ in Canada and didn't give details about what was being said or who was participating in France.   You could see it in the split screen but no direct commentary.    I watched recorded coverage later that was complete.    It reminded me of TSN split screen commercials during F1 races where they run ads with audio and show the video of the race at the same time.  

Last edited by SpinningWheel (June 7, 2024 10:09 pm)