With mountains and rugged coastlines Co. Down was an ideal training ground during the Second World War where Eisenhower addressed troops in the run-up to D-Day.
Co. Down
During the Second World War, S.S. Bereby ran aground off the coast of Ardglass, Co. Down. The British Army unloaded the stranded equipment and supplies.
The allied military extensively used Abercorn Barracks at Ballykinler, Co. Down, while the surrounding terrain still makes for an ideal training environment.
During the Second World War, the coastal resort of Bangor, Co. Down hosted General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the lead up the Normandy invasion of June 1944.
British and American troops made use of the countryside and rivers around Downpatrick, Co. Down for training. Later in the war, evacuees arrived from Gibraltar.
During the Second World War, the tranquility of Drumbeg, Co. Down shattered with the arrival of Home Guard and A.T.S. Motor Transport Companies.
During the Second World War, pillboxes watched out over the coast near Dundrum, Co. Down while wooden beach defences stood in place in case of a Nazi invasion.
During the Second World War, Gilford in Co. Down hosted troops from across the world including British, American, and Belgian forces training across Ulster.
On 27th November 1942, Lieutenant J.R. Bainbridge took a series of pictures at Gransha, Co. Down showing damage caused to bridging equipment by an air attack.
As the location of Government House, the village of Hillsborough in Co. Down played host to many visiting dignitaries during the course of the Second World War.
On 21st March 1942, residents of Holywood, Co. Down observed the unusual sight of the hulk of a damaged R.A.F. Bristol Bombay plane on the town's High Street.
The townland of Maze, south of the Lagan in Co. Down was the location of Long Kesh Airfield now home to the archives and collections of Ulster Aviation Society.
Before and during the Second World War, the village of Millisle became a safe haven for many young Jewish people fleeing the horrors of Nazi-occupied Europe.
During the Second World War, the town of Newry in Co. Down hosted members of the American forces, some of whom played American football at The Showgrounds.
Newtownards in Co. Down has several strong associations to the Second World War from being the birthplace of the legendary Paddy Mayne to the R.A.F. airfield.
During the Second World War, the Mourne Mountains, Co. Down provided a training ground for troops as well as a hazard to military planes on training exercises.
