When the United States and its allies invaded Europe on June 6, 1944, or D-Day, Orlando was paying close attention.
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Two key components of the nation’s war efforts were then headquartered in Orlando: the Army Air Forces Tactical Center, or AAFTAC, and the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics, known then as AAFSAT.
Orlandoans learned of the invasion by an agreement between area churches and the Orlando Morning Sentinel. Once the Sentinel received word of D-Day via its news wires, it notified the Orlando Police, who went around waking up area pastors so their churches would begin ringing bells to alert everyone about the big news. The bells began ringing around 3:30 a.m.
The Sentinel updated its front page with the all-caps headline, “Allies Invade Europe.” The Sentinel’s afternoon newspaper, the Orlando Reporter-Star, continued coverage with its late edition. “Allied Invasion Storms Over Channel, Seizing Beachheads,” was its front-page headline.
The Reporter-Star also was able to quickly produce a story about local reaction to D-Day. Its headline was “Wild Elation Over Invasion Soon Quieted” with the subhead, “Orlandoans Now ‘Sweating It Out.’”
Here’s that Reporter-Star story from the afternoon of June 6, 1944:
Orlando and Central Florida awoke this morning from a deep sleep, roused by pealing bells of a nearby church. Radios snapped on. Studiously moderated, but excited, voices amplified news of the actual invasion of Europe read hastily in Orlando Morning Sentinel.
H-hour of D-day for which the world had waited anxiously was here. American and British fighting men were landing in France. American and British fighting men were dying in France.
Wild elation became subdued.
A million men marching. Many were already dead. Others were dying. Many more would make the supreme sacrifice. It was time for devout thinking.
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The army has a phrase for it. “Sweating it out!”
That is what Orlando and Central Florida is doing.
News of the invasion spread over AAFTAC [the Army Air Forces Tactical Center] and AAFSAT [the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics] like wildfire after reveille at 6:15 o’clock. Officers and enlisted men grouped around nearest radios. Many missed breakfast, fearful of missing a wisp of news. Sentinel-Stars were bought anxiously and passed from hand to hand. Invasion was top news everywhere. On every tongue.
“I wish were there. It can’t last much longer now. Where is the Luftwaffe?”
Lt. Col. Don’ S. McChesney, executive officer, AAFSAT, recalled that almost 26 years ago to the day he landed with the Seventeenth Division at Calais.
Wing Comdr. E. R. H. Pollak, of the RAF AAFSAT Detail, was buzzing about. “It’s grand it’s come off:” he said. “It is bound to be a success. Gen. Montgomery never starts anything until he is ready.”
The Air WACs [Women’s Army Corps] stationed here were elated but subdued. Most of them were a little envious of the good fortune of the Air WAC detachment that left here a short time ago that was “in” on the invasion. They were officially reported to have arrived in “The European Theatre of Operations.”
Chaplain Thad E. Son conducted chapel at South Camp early this morning.
Maj. Gen: Edwin J. House was flying this morning and could not be reached for a statement, nor could Col. H.W. Holden, commandant. AAFSAT.
More stories and features from the Orlando Sentinel’s 150 years of covering Central Florida can be found at OrlandoSentinel.com/150. Sign up for our free history newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/newsletters
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