80 Years Later: Aurora Remembers D-Day

Aurora Remembers D-Day

Media Drum World Photo (colorized) National Archives and Records Administration Photo (original)

June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II. This historic moment is remembered in the following exhibition.

Colorized photo of US landing vehicles on Utah Beach after June 6, 1944.

D-Day stands as one of the most significant turning points in world history. This audacious operation marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany's grip on Western Europe and ultimately led to the liberation of France and the defeat of the Axis Powers. The successful landings on the beaches of Normandy not only demonstrated the Allied forces' remarkable military prowess but also symbolized a resounding blow against tyranny and oppression. D-Day's significance lies in its pivotal role in reshaping the course of the war, bringing hope to millions and laying the groundwork for the eventual Allied victory.

As you explore the gallery, ask yourself, how have the events of D-Day and WWII affected the city of Aurora?

The Aurora History Museum would like to thank the following contributors and sponsors of this exhibition:

Aurora Prior to WWII

Businesses of small-town Aurora along East Colfax Avenue, 1921.

AHMHS Photo

AHMHS Photo

Founded as the town of Fletcher on April 30, 1891, developers envisioned it as a town away from the busy city of Denver. In the following years, families and individuals moved to Aurora for its location, military bases, and good schools, while others lived in small agricultural communities in the area.

This map shows the original town of Fletcher in 1892. Aurora and Brooklyn are two of the area's first subdivisions. The four-square mile town of Fletcher was home to 39 citizens and 14 brick homes.

Before World War II, Aurora was a small town. By 1928, the town of Aurora had a population over 2,000, enough residents to upgrade in status from “town” to “city.”

Aurora’s population of 3,437 residents in 1940 jumped to 48,548 by 1960. This rapid growth was a direct result of World War II. The abundance of inexpensive land and the resolution of water problems spurred residential construction that met the critical housing shortage following the war. Many servicemembers who trained at bases in Aurora settled down here with their families. The recently passed GI Bill gave them the means to purchase a home. The war and the investment in Aurora’s military bases, during and after the war, altered the history of the city forever.

The World Goes to War

AHMHS Photo

World War II, one of the most devastating conflicts in human history, was triggered by many factors. The origins of the war can be traced back to the aftermath of World War I, when the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh conditions on Germany, leading to economic hardship and political instability. Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany and aggressive foreign policy, aimed at expanding German territory and influence, further escalated tensions in Europe. The invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September 1939 marked the beginning of the war, prompting the United Kingdom and France to declare war on Germany. Subsequent alliances, invasions and the expansion of conflict into other regions, including Asia and the Pacific, solidified the global scale of the war. The complex political, economic and ideological factors ultimately culminated in a conflict that would reshape the world.

Building 500 at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital was dedicated on December 3, 1941, just days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Fitzsimons immediately started receiving patients from that attack as the U.S. was thrust into WWII.

The Alamosa Daily Courier, December 10, 1941

41 Coloradans died in the attack on Pearl Harbor. 32 of them were trapped inside the USS Arizona when it sank. This article identifies an Auroran, Private Russell Gallagher, among the wounded.

The Aurora Democrat, December 12, 1941

The United States entered WWII following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The surprise assault prompted a declaration of war against Japan by the U.S. and, ultimately, its entry into the broader conflict, leading to a significant shift in global dynamics and alliances.

Na i Controlled Europe

WikiMedia Commons Photo

National Archives and Records Administration Photo

The Nazi conquest of Europe began with the invasion of Poland in September 1939, marking the start of World War II. Employing blitzkrieg tactics, the German forces swiftly overran Poland, demonstrating the effectiveness of their coordinated air and ground assaults. Following this, the German military advanced into Denmark, Norway, the Low Countries and France, utilizing rapid mechanized warfare and overwhelming force to achieve swift victories. The fall of France in June 1940 solidified Nazi control over Western Europe. At the same time, the Axis Powers, including Italy and Japan, expanded their influence in other regions. Characterized by a combination of military prowess, strategic alliances and the exploitation of political stability, the Nazi conquest culminated in the occupation of much of Europe by 1941.

This map shows the extent of Axis control of Europe in 1943.

Adolf Hitler visits Paris with architect Albert Speer (left) and artist Arno Breker (right), June 23, 1940.

A is v. Allies

As of the start of1944

Allies A is Neutral

World War II featured two major alliances: the Axis Powers and the Allied Powers. The Axis Powers, consisting of Germany, Italy and Japan, pursued expansionist and militaristic agendas under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Emperor Hirohito, respectively. These nations sought to dominate and conquer vast territories, imposing their authoritarian ideologies and pursuing aggressive military campaigns in Europe, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

In contrast, the Allied Powers comprised of the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and China, along with several other nations. Led by prominent figures such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Chiang Kai-shek, the Allied Powers opposed the territorial ambitions and totalitarian regimes of the Axis Powers. Their collective objective was to uphold international law and ultimately defeat the aggressors to restore peace and stability.

The global conflict, which spanned from 1939 to 1945, resulted in widespread devastation, loss of life and significant geopolitical realignments. The eventual triumph of the Allied Powers led to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, aimed at preventing future conflicts and promoting international cooperation.

The Atlantic Wall

The fortifications consisted of a complex system of bunkers, artillery positions, machine gun nests, barbed wire, minefields and concrete obstacles designed to impede any potential amphibious invasion. These defenses were strategically positioned to cover beaches and potential landing sites, aiming to thwart Allied attempts to establish a foothold in Nazi-occupied Europe.

United Kingdom National Archive Photo

Before D-Day, the Nazi fortifications in defense of an Allied invasion, known as the Atlantic Wall, were formidable.

The Atlantic Wall stretched along the coast of Western Europe, including the French coastline facing the English Channel.

British soldiers examining a destroyed Nazi bunker following the D-Day invasion, 1944.

German Federal Archives Photo

Additionally, the Germans utilized natural features such as cliffs, dunes and terrain variations to enhance their defensive positions, making the coastline an intimidating barrier for any invading force.

German officers, including Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, inspecting the coastal defenses in northern France, April 1944.

Why Invade Normandy?

The Allies recognized the necessity of opening a new front in Europe to relieve pressure on the Soviet Union, which bore the brunt of the German military onslaught in the east. The Eastern Front was characterized by intense fighting and massive casualties, making it imperative for the Allies to share the burden of combat and prevent the potential collapse of the Soviet Union.

Normandy is not the closest landing site to the southern shores of the United Kingdom.

Pas-de-Calais, the shortest distance between the British Isles and the continent, was heavily fortified by the Germans as the most likely site for an Allied invasion. Planners of the effort specifically chose the Normandy beaches because they lay within range of air cover and were less defended than the other expected sites.

WikiMedia Commons Photo

Furthermore, a second front would divert German resources and attention away from the Eastern Front, weakening their overall war effort and bolstering the Allies' chances of success.

Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin had been pressuring U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill for almost two years to open a second front in Europe, arguing it would have spared millions of Soviet lives. This map shows the German advances along the Eastern Front prior to D-Day.

Operation Overlord

Library of Congress Photo

In the spring of 1944, the Allies planned the invasion of Nazi-controlled France. The invasion was codenamed Operation Overlord. Under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a massive coalition of American, British, Canadian and other Allied forces amassed in southern England. The operation intended to breach Adolf Hitler's Atlantic Wall and establish a foothold in Western Europe. The daring plan required careful coordination and secrecy. General Eisenhower oversaw the complex logistics, troop movements, and intelligence gathering necessary for the largest amphibious assault in history.

The build-up of forces for Operation Overlord was shrouded in a veil of utmost secrecy, with misinformation and decoy operations employed to deceive the Germans. Troops underwent rigorous training, familiarizing themselves with amphibious assault tactics and the unique challenges of landing on the heavily fortified beaches of Normandy.

The engineering feat of constructing artificial harbors, known as mulberries, and the development of specialized equipment such as amphibious tanks were integral to the successof the operation. The thorough planning and intense preparation underscored the high stakes and the monumental effort required to turn the tide of World War II.

National Archives and Records Administration Photo

General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order of the day, "Full victory...nothing else" to paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, just before they board their airplanes to be dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day.

Landing ships putting cargo ashore on Omaha Beach at low tide during the early days of the Allied invasion, mid-June 1944. This photo demonstrates the vast number of supplies and equipment needed to sustain an offensive in Nazi-occupied Europe.

LIFE Magazine, May 15, 1944, page 21

By 1944, over 2 million troops from over 12 countries arrived in Britain in preparation for the invasion. On D-Day, Allied forces consisted primarily of American, British and Canadian troops but also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegian, Rhodesian and Polish naval, air and ground support.

June , 1944 The date planned for the invasion was on June 5, 1944, but poor weather and sea conditions delayed the assault by a day. In the early hours of June 6, more than 5,000 ships and landing craft carrying troops and supplies left England for the trip across the English Channel to France. More than 11,000 aircraft began preparations to provide air cover and support for the invasion. Six divisions were to land on the first day: three U.S., two British and one Canadian. Two more British and one U.S. division were to follow up after the assault had cleared the way through the beach defenses.

Media Drum World Photo (colorized) National Archives and Records Administration Photo (original)

By dawn, thousands of paratroopers and glider troops were already on the ground behind enemy lines, securing bridges and exit roads. The amphibious assault began at 6:30 a.m. The British and Canadians overcame light opposition to capture beaches codenamed Gold, Juno and Sword, as did the Americans at Utah Beach. U.S. forces faced heavy resistance at Omaha Beach, where there were over 2,400 American casualties. However, by day’s end, approximately 156,000 Allied troops had successfully stormed Normandy’s beaches. According to some estimates, more than 4,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the D-Day invasion, with thousands more wounded or missing.

The photograph “Into the Jaws of Death” shows American troops, part of the U.S. 1st Infantry Division, leaving a Higgins Boat on Omaha.

Air Operations

Royal Air Force Photo

To prepare for Operation Overlord, Allied pilots flew aircraft like Spitfires and Mosquitos over occupied France, Belgium and the Netherlands photographing enemy positions and defenses in the weeks leading up to the invasion.

On D-Day, air operations played a crucial role. The skies above Normandy witnessed an unprecedented display of air power.

Thousands of aircraft, including bombers, fighters and gliders, participated in the invasion. The objectives of the air operations were to gain air superiority, disrupt enemy defenses and provide close air support to the amphibious landings. The Allied forces launched massive bombing raids on German coastal defenses, artillery positions and communication lines. Over 18,000 Allied paratroopers dropped into the invasion area to provide tactical support for infantry divisions on the beaches. Despite facing heavy anti-aircraft fire, the air operations succeeded in weakening the German defenses, paving the way for the success of D-Day.

U.S. Army Photo

Bombers of the Royal Air Force unleashing their payload on German infrastructure prior to the land invasion of D-Day.

Gliders of the U.S. Army in the fields of France on D-Day.

U.S. Army Photo

Members of the American 101st Airborne Division receive their briefing somewhere in England the day before the invasion.

Amphibious Assault

National Archives of Canada Photo

In the early hours of D-Day, the greatest amphibious assault in human history commenced as the first of 156,000 Allied troops began to approach the beaches of Normandy.

To secure a foothold ashore, the Allies utilized a remarkable mix of technological innovation and strategy.

With the support of air and naval forces, waves of troops disembarked from their landing crafts and began fighting for the liberation of Europe from Nazi control.

On board their assault landing crafts, men of the Canadian Royal Winnipeg Rifles heading towards their sector of Juno Beach.

U.S. Coast Guard Photo

The Allies used specially designed landing craft, known as Higgins boats, which were the linchpin of the amphibious assault.

These craft, with their drop-front ramp, enabled troops to disembark directly onto the beaches. Over 1,200 vessels carried men, tanks and other heavy equipment ashore on D-Day.

A landing craft, tightly packed with soldiers, approaches the shore at Normandy. These vessels, known as Higgins boats, were instrumental in bringing troops ashore during the invasion.

U.S. Army Photo

American soldiers approaching Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Naval Operations

Forward guns of USS Nevada (BB-36) firing on positions ashore, during the landings on Utah Beach.

U.S. Coast Guard Photo

Naval vessels also carried out bombardments on German coastal defenses before and during the landings and provided artillery support for the invading troops. In addition to the Royal and U.S. Navy ships that were instrumental in these operations, the participation of some 1,200 merchant vessels further underscored the magnitude of the undertaking.

These merchant vessels served in many roles, ranging from acting as hospital ships to transporting crucial ammunition and fuel supplies.

U.S. Navy Photo

The pivotal role of naval forces in the assault of D-Day cannot be overstated. Nearly 7,000 naval vessels, including battleships, destroyers, minesweepers, escorts and assault craft, took part in Operation Neptune, the naval component of Operation Overlord. This armada of maritime might was responsible for escorting and landing over 156,000 ground troops on the beaches of Normandy.

A convoy of Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) cross the English Channel toward the Normandy Invasion beaches on D-Day. Each landing craft is towing a barrage balloon for protection against low-flying German aircraft.

U.S. Coast Guard Photo

American soldiers loading into their landing craft from a transport vessel in the English Channel on the morning of D-Day.

Lowry Lowry Field experienced rapid growth as tensions in Europe and the Pacific grew. Even before the war, Lowry Field grew steadily as thousands of draftees arrived for training.

In 1939, the base consisted of 1,400 personnel and increased to over 8,000 when America entered the war in 1941. At the height of the war, training production rose to 55,000 service men and woman annually. The base population reached 20,000 and Lowry became so critical to the military training program that personnel operated in three shifts, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Lowry trained foreign allies as well, including trainees from Great Britain, France and China.

Needing more facilities, officials decided to construct Lowry Field No. 2 on the northeast side of the base. Lowry Field No. 2 specialized in the training of aircraft armorers. It opened in 1942, and the first group of armament students arrived on July 10, 1942.

AHMHS Photo

Other growth at Lowry during the war included the Army’s Flight Engineers School relocation from Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas in 1943 and the establishment of the Crash Fire and Rescue School in 1945.

AHMHS Photo

During 1942, the Lowry Modification Center was established to outfit new bombers, including B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators, prior to their deployment overseas. Starting in 1943, the base began training B-29 Superfortress pilots and established an engineer training school. At the end of World War II, the base also served as a center for demobilization.

During WWII, members of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps trained as photo technicians at Lowry Airfield.

Fit simons

AHMHS Photo

Building 500 was built at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital in 1941. Just four days after the dedication of the new building, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered World War II. As the largest modern military hospital in the country, the Aurora-based Fitzsimons Army Hospital played a key role in caring for sick and wounded soldiers during the war. As casualties from Pearl Harbor began to arrive at the hospital on December 17, 1941, the facility filled quickly. Many temporary buildings were constructed and by 1943, Fitzsimons was the largest military hospital in the world with 322 buildings on 600 acres, 3,500 beds, a pharmacy school, dental school, bakery, barbershop, print shop, post office, fire department and chapel. Besides American soldiers, Fitzsimons also cared for German, Italian and Japanese prisoners of war suffering from tuberculosis.

U.S. Army Photo

An aerial view of the base in the mid-1940s.

Building 500 under construction in the summer of 1941.

Buckley

U.S. Air Force Photo

A few miles east of Lowry, the U.S. military secured 960 acres for an auxiliary landing field. The area was briefly called the “Demolition Bombing Range‒Lowry Auxiliary Field.” Bombers from Lowry could not carry live ordnance over Denver or Aurora, therefore the auxiliary field served as a loading area for the aircraft before deploying their payloads on the bombing range in open Arapahoe County. By 1941, activity at the auxiliary field increased to the point that the War Department considered classifying it as a separate base. Senators Ed Johnson and Alva Adams led the effort to accomplish this, and on June 14, 1941, Lowry’s auxiliary airfield was renamed Buckley Field in honor of Lt. John H. Buckley, a Longmont native and descendant of one of the town’s founders, who perished on September 27, 1918, in France when his plane collided with another on takeoff for a dawn patrol.

Buckley Field, circa 1938.

U.S. Air Force Photo

During World War II, Lowry established Armament School No. 2 at Buckley Field.

During the height of the war, as many as 15,000 servicemen trained in the armament program at Lowry and Buckley.

Trainees learn how to assemble and use a 20 mm cannon at Buckley Field during WWII.

Eisenhower Presidential Library Photo

In January 1944, General Dwight Eisenhower was appointed commander of Operation Overlord.

More than a decade later, President Eisenhower became one of Fitzsimons most famous patients when he recovered from a heart attack at Aurora’s hospital in 1955.

Eisenhower Presidential Library

General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Order of the Day,” calling for “...nothing less than full Victory!”

Sword Beach

Imperial War Museum Photo

Imperial War Museum Photo

The assault on Sword Beach involved the deployment of almost 29,000 British troops, supported by an extensive array of naval vessels, including battleships, cruisers and landing craft. The assault on Sword began around 3:00 a.m. with an aerial and naval bombardment of German coastal defenses. At 7:25 a.m., the first units of the British 3rd Infantry Division began advancing onto the beach. German resistance was initially effective, most of the British casualties on Sword Beach were sustained in the first wave. Within a few hours, armored units turned the tide and by 9:30 a.m. Allied forces advanced inland from the landing sites. During the afternoon, the German 21st SS Panzer Division launched the only major German counterattack of D-Day, yet the allies maintained their foothold on Sword Beach. British losses in the Sword area amounted to 683 men killed or wounded.

British troops fighting on Sword Beach.

British troops landing from an LCI(S) (Landing Craft Infantry Small) on Sword Beach at approximately 8:40 a.m.

National Archives and Records Administration Photo

A group of American troops, together after the battle.

Juno Beach

National Archives of Canada Photo

National Archives of Canada Photo

Units of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division assaulted Juno Beach. The landing area was approximately six miles wide near the small fishing port of Courseulles-sur-Mer, France. The Germans initially thought the Juno landings were a diversion causing disorganization in the German ranks. The primary objectives of the Canadian forces were to secure the Caen-Bayeux Road, seize the local airport west of Caen, and form a link between the two British beaches on either flank. Despite heavy casualties in the first wave, the invasion succeeded in wresting control of the area from defending German troops. More than 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed or parachuted into France on D-Day, with 1,074 casualties and 359 killed in action. The following day, SS Panzer Divisions launched violent counterattacks to drive back the Canadians, resulting in additional casualties.

It is estimated over 1,000 bicycles landed with Canadian troops at Juno Beach. The bikes were used by the British and Canadian soldiers to advance quickly inland after the initial assault.

Canadian troops coming ashore on Juno Beach.

National Archives of Canada Photo

Canadian engineers removing German beach obstacles shortly after the battle on Juno Beach.

Gold Beach

Imperial War Museum Photo

Situated between the landing sectors of Juno and Omaha beaches, Gold Beach was assigned to the British 50th Division and 8th Armored Brigade. Approximately 400 naval vessels, including landing craft, destroyers and minesweepers converged off the coast of Gold Beach, and a naval bombardment of the Nazi defenses began shortly before sunrise. Over 25,000 British troops, supported by specialized vehicles and equipment, started to come ashore at 7:25 a.m. High winds made conditions difficult for the landing craft. Despite facing a barrage of enemy fire and daunting coastal obstacles, the 8th Armored Brigade swiftly moved inland, providing crucial armored support and reinforcement to the infantry, ultimately securing key objectives. 400 British soldiers were killed, wounded, taken prisoner or reported missing during the first day of the liberation of France on Gold Beach.

Imperial War Museum Photo

British troops of the 50th Division coming ashore from LCAs (Landing Craft Assault).

A column of troops, vehicles, and supplies offloading at Gold Beach the day following the invasion.

U.S. Army Photo

A view of the battle on Omaha Beach.

Omaha Beach Omaha Beach was the most fiercely contested landing site on D-Day. The U.S. 29th and 1st Infantry Divisions conducted the assault. As the American troops approached the heavily fortified shore, they faced a barrage of enemy fire from German coastal defenses, resulting in devastating casualties and chaos. The initial landing at Omaha Beach was met with an onslaught of bullets from the 85 German machine-gun positions. Complicating the challenge, rough seas and strong currents caused many landing craft to miss their designated landing zones, leaving soldiers exposed and loosely coordinated. Around 34,000 Allied troops came ashore at Omaha, with approximately 2,400 casualties.

National Archives and Records Administration Photo

Despite the overwhelming adversity, American troops displayed remarkable courage and determination, braving the relentless enemy fire to eventually establish a tenuous foothold on the beachhead. The Allied forces gradually overcame the German defenses, securing the beach and paving the way for the subsequent inland advance.

Troops watch activity on Omaha Beach as their landing craft approaches shore on Omaha Beach.

Camp Carson Mountaineer, June 8, 1944

This map, published in the Camp Carson Mountaineer, highlights the narrow strip of French territory held by the Allies two days following the invasion.

Utah Beach

American troops moving over the seawall on Utah Beach.

U.S. Army Photo

U.S. Army Photo

The U.S. 4th Infantry Division assaulted Utah Beach, the westernmost of the five D-Day beaches. The Utah sector was key to the strategy of capturing the port of Cherbourg as soon as possible. The amphibious landings at Utah were spearheaded by naval forces. The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, as well as elements from the British, Dutch and other Allied navies provided sea transport, mine sweeping and a naval bombardment. Strong currents swept the first wave of troops into a more lightly defended sector of the assault area 2,000 yards south of their original target. By the end of the day, the troops advanced six miles inland and rendezvoused with the paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st American Airborne Divisions. Casualties at Utah Beach on D-Day mounted to 197 among the 21,000 troops that landed.

Troops disembarking from their landing craft at Utah Beach.

Colorado & WWII

National Archives and Records Administration Photo

The people and industries of Colorado played a major role in the war effort throughout WWII. The state supplied a variety of material for the war such as ammunition manufactured at the Denver Ordinance Plant, canvas tents produced at the Schaeffer Tent and Awning Company, vehicles and accessories manufactured at The Winter Weiss Company and Coleman Motor Company, metal material forged at the Colorado Fuel & Iron Steelworks and many more. More than 50,000 Coloradans enlisted in the military during the war, 2,697 of whom are listed as casualties according to the National Archives and Records Administration.

Colorado was also home to several vital military installations. Facilities such as Buckley, Lowry and Fitzsimons in Aurora played a crucial role, but other bases such as Camp Carson (now Fort Carson), Peterson Air Force Base, Camp George West and Camp Hale all contributed to the operations of the U.S. military.

Colorado Freedom Memorial Photo

Across the nation, around 700 prisoner-of-war (POW) camps held 425,000 captured enemy troops; from 1943 to 1946, Colorado maintained three large camps and more than forty smaller ones. Close to home in Aurora, POWs were housed on the Fitzsimons Army Base (pictured) and just north at Rose Hill on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal grounds.

Colorado’s mining towns supplied important materials for the war.

Molybdenum, lead, coal uranium and other ores from Rocky Mountain mines were essential in wartime manufacturing throughout the country. The state’s agricultural sector also boomed, witnessing its highest output ever.

The Colorado Freedom Memorial in Aurora is an outdoor monument with panels bearing the names of more than 6,000 Coloradans killed or missing in action in wars since statehood, including 3,591 names from World War II.

Aurora & WWII When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the city of Aurora had a little over 3,500 residents after being founded a mere 50 years prior. By January 1945, while the Allies fought their way towards Berlin, a local honor roll listed 428 Aurorans serving in the military. WWII shaped and defined the city of Aurora. The presence of military centers like Fitzsimons General Hospital, Lowry Air Force Base, Buckley Field, and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal brought military personnel and their families to the area. The city transitioned from a small agricultural community to a bustling suburb. Between 1940 and 1960, Aurora’s population expanded tenfold as a direct result of the war.

This photo of East Colfax Avenue from the early 1950s demonstrates the economic growth of Aurora following the war.

AHMHS Photo

AHMHS Photo

A column of servicemembers stationed at Lowry parade down Colfax in the late 1940s.

OMAHA

Troops: 34,250 Casualties: 2,400

D-DAY LANDINGS JUNE , 1944

JUNO

Troops: 14,000 Casualties: 1,074

UTAH

9

Troops: 21,000 Casualties: 197

GOLD

SWORD

Troops: 25,000 Casualties: 400

Troops: 29,000 Casualties: 683

Cherbourg Le Havre

PHASE 5 :00 AM

9

Carentan Bayeu

Lisieu

Caen

PHASE 1 12:00 AM

Airborne Drop 23,400 Allied paratroopers begin landing in Normandy to secure the exits from the beaches

Invasion

Cabourg

D-Day Objective

Allied troops begin landing at the beaches in Normandy

Saint-Lo

NORMANDY, FRANCE PHASE 4 PHASE 2

PHASE 3

5:00 AM

1:00 AM

3:00 AM

Naval Attack

Deception

Aerial Attack

Allies fake invasion at Pas de Calais about 150 miles northeast of the Normandy landings

Allied aircraft begin bombardment on German defenses in the landing area

Naval bombardment on German defenses in the landing area begins

Gold Star Aurorans Among the more than 50,000 Coloradans who served in the war, around 500 Aurorans enlisted between 1941 and 1945.

Most records of the era associate servicemembers with their home county instead of city. Adams County lists 42 casualties during the war, and Arapahoe County lists 64. Museum staff were able to identify the following eight Aurorans who paid the ultimate sacrifice during WWII. If you have information or photographs about Aurora’s Gold Star Families, please see museum staff.

Neal Brown

Private First Class Neal Brown of 1650 Boston Street was killed in action on January 15, 1945 while fighting with the 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division in Europe. He was 34 years old at the time of his death.

Raymond Childers

Second Lieutenant Raymond E. Childers was killed in action on January 2, 1945, when his Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down by German antiaircraft fire over Bitburg, Germany. He served with the 729th Bomber Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group as part of the Army Air Forces. He was 23 years old at the time of his death.

Amos Estrada

Sergeant Amos F. Estrada was killed in action on June 21, 1944, when his Consolidated B-24 Liberator on which he was a gunner was shot down over Nuremberg, Germany. A star athlete at William Smith High School, Amos lettered in basketball and was captain of the football team. After graduating in 1938, Amos enlisted in the Army Air Corps from August 1938 to August 1941, serving as a mechanic at Lowry Field. In 1943, Amos re-enlisted in the Army Air Forces and deployed to Europe in May 1944. He was 24 years old at the time of his death.

Edward Fit patrick

Private First Class Edward G. Fitzpatrick of East 6th Avenue was killed in action on March 3, 1945 while fighting with the 3rd Marine Division on the island of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific. Aurorans remembered him for his curly hair and duties as the local daily milk wagon driver. Services were held at St. Therese Catholic Church. He was 23 years old at the time of his death.

John Her og

Second Lieutenant John H. Herzog, along with the crew of his North American B-25 Mitchell, went missing over the Himalayan Mountains on June 3, 1942. His bomber participated in a raid on Lashio, Burma (now Myanmar) before presumably crashing into a mountain in poor weather conditions. He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. Herzog was 21 years old at the time of his death.

Jay Hollinsworth

Staff Sergeant Jay W. Hollinsworth of 1541 Emporia Street served as a nose gunner on a Consolidated B-24 Liberator when his aircraft collided with another plane over the Konjuh Mountains in Yugoslavia on July 22, 1944. His remains were recovered and then returned to the United States on May 17, 1956, and are buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri. Hollinsworth served with the 740th Bomber Squadron, 455th Bomber Group, Army Air Force. He was 27 years old at the time of his death.

Robert Wolfe

Second Lieutenant Robert H. Wolfe was the co-pilot of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator when it was shot down over the Adriatic Sea on July 22, 1944. His bomber with the 464th Bomber Group, 777th Bomber Squadron, Army Air Forces had conducted a mission over North Africa and Italy before being shot down. His name is inscribed at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Italy. He was 21 years old at the time of his death.

Harold Wood

Private First Class Harold W. Wood was killed in action on March 8, 1945 while fighting with the 4th Marine Division on the island of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific.

Reports indicate Wood had seen combat action on the Marshall Islands and in the Battle of Saipan. He had attended grade school in Aurora and was the grandson of Aurora’s first librarian Sarah D. Wood. He was 22 years old at the time of his death.