On this day, April 28, 1944, 700+ American servicemen were killed in large-scale rehearsal for D-Day

[mahatmakanejeeves]

This day in 1944, over 700 American servicemen are killed during a large-scale rehearsal for the D-Day landings, when communication problems resulted in friendly fire and Allied ships were spotted by German E-boats.

It took families decades to figure out the truth. #WW2

Link to tweet

[Sur Zobra]

1. Jeebus!

My Dad served in Germany, Italy, and in North Africa during WWII. It was then that he learned what SNAFU meant and it was the most salient feature of the military for him

[keithsw]

2. My dad was career Army

And served in the D-day invasion. And rarely if ever spoke of his time there. I'm sure it was horrific

[zipplewrath]

5. My scout master

One of my scout masters was a POW and freed by Patton's army. He spent about 3 years in a POW camp. When asked, all he'd ever say is, "it wasn't fun".

[Sneederbunk]

3. Exercise Tiger.

Took place in British waters and on British soil.

[jobendorfer]

4. Tragic

This was a rehearsal for the Utah beach landing in Normandy, and they lost far more men in the rehearsal at Slapton Sands in the UK than on D-Day itself (Utah casualties were light on D-Day.)

[yagotme]

6. This was a JANFU.

Joint Army/Navy Foul Up.

Usually the worst kind, as 1 branch doesn't like talking to the other.