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A SET of stamps is being issued to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, showing images of soldiers, aircraft and assault beaches.

The 11 stamps show key moments in the day that changed history, including British paras synchronising watches prior to take-off and commandos wading ashore on Juno beach.

 US troops landing at Omaha beach, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting
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US troops landing at Omaha beach, which saw some of the bloodiest fightingCredit: PA:Press Association
 British soldiers help a wounded comrade on Sword beach
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British soldiers help a wounded comrade on Sword beachCredit: PA:Press Association

The stamps will be on sale from June 6 – the day the momentous invasion took place.

D-Day was the start of operation "Overlord" - the Allied invasion of occupied Europe.

The largest seaborne invasion in history involved 156,000 Allied troops in the first day of the operation, with 4,413 dying on D-Day alone.

Richard Palusinski, chairman of the Spirit of Normandy Trust, said: "D-Day was one of the most significant events of the 20th century and had a massive impact on world history.

"It is fitting that those who participated in securing the freedom we now enjoy should be remembered by the issue of these excellent special stamps."

Early on June 6, 1944, Allied airborne forces parachuted into drop zones across northern France, followed by ground troops who landed across the five targeted beaches.

These beaches were code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword, and spread across a 50-mile stretch of northern Normandy.

Through these strategic landings, the Allies were able to get a foothold along the coast and advance into France for the first time since 1940.

Allied forces consisted primarily of American, British and Canadian troops.

They also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegian, Rhodesian and Polish naval, air or ground support.

The landings were followed by the 76-day Battle of Normandy, which saw a total of 210,000 Allied casualties.

 Paratroopers were the first soldiers into France on D-Day
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Paratroopers were the first soldiers into France on D-DayCredit: PA:Press Association
 British and Canadian troops landed at Juno beach
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British and Canadian troops landed at Juno beachCredit: PA:Press Association
 D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history
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D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in historyCredit: PA:Press Association
 Royal Navy ships provided support to the invading troops
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Royal Navy ships provided support to the invading troopsCredit: PA:Press Association
 Tanks rolling ashore to take part in the battle for Normandy that followed the initial invasion
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Tanks rolling ashore to take part in the battle for Normandy that followed the initial invasionCredit: PA:Press Association
 The Allies pummelled the Germans from the air during the battle
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The Allies pummelled the Germans from the air during the battleCredit: PA:Press Association
 American troops going into battle on Utah beach
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American troops going into battle on Utah beachCredit: PA:Press Association
 After they made it ashore, Allied troops faced weeks of fighting
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After they made it ashore, Allied troops faced weeks of fightingCredit: PA:Press Association
 The stamps are being issued on June 6 - the day the landings took place
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 The stamps are being issued on June 6 - the day the landings took placeCredit: PA:Press Association


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