On the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings BFBS Radio collects memories from Veterans, speeches from political leaders and relatives of those who fought.

The Allies had a secret weapon to defeat Nazi Germany… dreamt up by General Eisenhower, endorsed by Winston Churchill and listened to by millions - the weapon was a radio station! Its’ mission was to unite the allied forces in the push across Europe after D Day. Top secret at the time, the first show went on air at dawn on the 7th of June.

“ Victory Through Harmony “ is the story of that D Day radio station 70 years later – which fused British, American and Canadian music, news and comedy for the million and a half troops that poured across the English Channel in the Summer of 1944, as well as the home audience in the UK.

In a one hour special, bulging with the sounds of the 2nd World War, Adam Gilchrist salutes and celebrates the programmes and programme makers of the Allied Expeditionary Forces with Canadian musicologist Dr Christina Baade , Forces Radio historian Alan Grace, and an exclusive interview with THE forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn.

What did wartime Britain make of soda pop rickies and swingeroo quickies ? Why was rum and coca cola banned? Who stopped traffic in London more than anyone else ? Why was Glenn Miller such an important driving force? Who were the stars queuing up to sing for the allies? Why was film star David Niven sent on an anti-pirate radio mission?

And the crunch question - what difference did a radio station make to the defeat of Hitler?

Victory Through Harmony tells the story of the hugely important but now largely forgotten D Day radio station on its 70th anniversary.

Shirley Swain spoke to D-Day Veteran Ron Rogers from the Suffolk Regiment while visiting for the 70th anniversary commemorations.

An American cemetery now rests on the high ground that overlooks the Normandy coastline. Almost ten-thousand perfectly aligned crosses mark the final resting places for many who arrived there on D Day. Steve Britton has been hearing from one survivor, Carver McGriff, who has returned 70 years on from his first visit to Utah Beach.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is an integral part of the D Day 70th anniversary. Patrick Eade saw them fly over Pegasus Bridge.

70 years ago today, final preparations were being made for the largest amphibious invasion in history.

D Day would see allied troops land in Normandy to begin the liberation of Europe.

But long before the first beach landings, at just after midnight, British airborne forces mounted a daring raid inland to take the strategically vital Pegasus Bridge.



Arlette Gondree was a little girl living in the cafe next to the bridge, the first house in France to be liberated.

Sitrep's Christopher Lee explains the real reason behind world leaders visiting the Normandy commemorations.

D-Day veterans share their memories of the Normandy Landings and their allies who went into battle with them.

Steve Britton spoke to Bill Dickson and Jim Dore who are both veterans of Normandy. They visited Pegasus Bridge for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Many of the visitors to the American war graves cemetery in Normandy have been captivated by a young boy who stands over one grave and tells the story of the soldier buried there.

There is no family connection although his father is American.

Richard McErlane told Steve Britton a story that offers hope to those who doubt that future generations “will remember them.”