January 2, 1945 - Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (right) dies in a plane crash outside Paris. Entering the Royal Navy in 1898, Ramsay saw extensive service during World War I. Reaching flag rank in 1935, he retired three years later. Coaxed back by Winston Churchill in 1939, he was promoted to vice admiral and given command at Dover. In this position, he masterminded the British evacuation from Dunkirk in May/June 1940. Knighted for his efforts, Ramsay soon became an expert at amphibious warfare and was instrumental in developing the plans for Operation Torch in North Africa (1942) and the invasion of Sicily (1943). With the end of the latter campaign, he was given command of naval forces for the invasion of Normandy. Overseeing Operation Neptune, Ramsay effectively led the naval element of the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Supporting the troops ashore, his vessels aided in the rapid Allied build-up in the region. Ramsay was suddenly killed on January 2, 1945, when his Lockheed Hudson crashed during takeoff near Paris.
World War II Admirals:
- Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz
- Fleet Admiral William "Bull" Halsey
- Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
- Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz
Photograph Source: Public Domain
Comments