It was the largest, most ambitious, and most successful military operation ever attempted — and CBS radio was there to cover it.
CBS D-Day Coverage
June 6, 1944
2:00-3:42 AM
Irwin Darlington with German reports, Robert Trout with German reports, Robert Trout tours the Columbia newsroom (beginning of continuous programming), Maj. George Fielding Elliott, Jesse Zousmer, Ned Calmer fills in briefly, BBC feed of Communique #1 is read from London (first Allied news of the invasion), George Fielding Elliot, Edward R. Murrow in London reads Eisenhower’s Order of the Day (upcut as transmitted), George Fielding Elliot comments, Herbert Clark reports from the invasion fleet off the coast of England
3:42-4:45 AM
Robert Trout recaps news, General Eisenhower from SHAEF headquarters, Robert Trout, station ID, Wright Bryan reports from London, an eyewitness account of the first parachute drop, Robert Trout and George Fielding Elliot, commentary by Quentin Reynolds, John W. Vandercook reports from London, Quentin Reynolds, James Willard from SHAEF headquarters in London describes the invasion fleet from the air
4:45-5:52 AM
Robert Trout recaps events of the day, analysis by George Fielding Elliot, Richard C. Hottelet from London describes the invasion from a plane over the beaches, David Anderson reporting from London that “Hitler has been caught with his pants down,” description of the air invasion, Arthur Mann reports from London, system cue and station ID, Paul White and Edward R. Murrow (in London) discuss CBS D-Day coverage, Quentin Reynolds describes Eisenhower’s speech to occupied Europe, Bill Henry reports from Washington, Joe McCaffrey reports from the Pentagon, Robert Trout and Major George Fielding Elliot
5:52-6:52 AM
Robert Trout recap, Charles Shaw reports from BBC in London with man-in-the-street reaction to the invasion, Robert Trout recap, system cue, station I D, Ned Calmer, Robert Trout summarizes Churchill’s address to Commons, Ned Calmer, Don Pryor in Washington introduces French Colonel Morrison who describes the area of the invasion landings
6:52-8:00 AM
Analysis by Major George Fielding Elliot, Robert Trout update, Joe McCaffery reports from the Pentagon, Joe King reads Richard C. Hottelet’s earlier report, Major George Fielding Elliot, Robert Trout promotes upcoming events, system cue and station ID, analysis by Ned Calmer, analysis by Quentin Reynolds, system cue and station ID, Alan Jackson news, Richard C. Hottelet from London
8:00-9:00 AM
Alan Jackson news, Stanley Richardson eyewitness account of the invasion fleet, Alan Jackson reviews overnight D-Day coverage, Merrill Mueller reports from SHAEF HQ on Eisenhower’s last hours before the invasion, analysis by Quentin Reynolds, Robert Trout recap, Major George Fielding Elliot comments
9:00-10:00 AM
Alan Jackson and Robert Trout news and updates, Charles Shaw in London plays a recording that Charles Collingwood made aboard an LST in the invasion fleet including interviews with the soldiers, Charles Shaw (from London) and Paul White discuss D-Day coverage, Joe McCaffrey in Washington, Bill Henry in Washington, Major George Fielding Elliot, analysis by Quentin Reynolds, analysis by Ned Calmer, Alan Jackson updates, Robert Trout announces that CBS will resume normal programming
10:00-11:00 AM
“Valiant Lady,” “Light of the World,” “The Open Door,” “Bachelor’s Children”
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
“Amanda of Honeymoon Hill ,” “Second Husband,” “CBS News Summary,” “Aunt Jenny’s True Life Stories”
12:00-1:00 PM
“Kate Smith Speaks,” “Big Sister,” “The Romance of Helen Trent,” CBS D-Day Coverage: Edward R. Murrow reports from London, Douglas Edwards recaps CBS coverage and reports a summary of the news, Quincy Howe analysis
1:00-2:00 PM
John Daly reviews the day’s news, “Crisco Radio Newspaper” with Alan Jackson and Bernadine Flynn, recorded military music, Albert Leach news from Washington D.C.
2:00-3:00 PM
Recorded music, Quincy Howe news, William Shirer analysis, recorded music, news and reports by Merrill Mueller, recorded music
3:00-4:00 PM
King George VI speaks from London via the BBC, Alan Jackson news, Merrill Mueller reporting from SHAEF headquarters in London, Bill Henry in Washington interviews Congressmen Moss, McCormick, Rogers, Voorhees, Mundt, Herbert, and Gore. John Daly interviews a resident of Caen. BBC reporter Howard Marshall reports from London with an eyewitness account of the beachhead
4:00-4:49 PM
Recorded music, report from London, Joseph C. Harsch news, Bill Costello news, recorded music
5:00-6:00 PM
News with John Daly, Quincy Howe, William Shirer analysis, Archie Bleyer & his Orchestra, news reports (waiting for communique #2)
6:00-7:00 PM
News with Quincy Howe, Edwin C. Hill with “The Human Side of the News” (communique #2 arrives), “Jeri Sullivan’s Dream House,” “The World Today” with Douglas Edwards includes reports from Edward R. Murrow, Farnsworth Powell, and Bill Henry, “The Meaning of the News”
7:00-8:00 PM
John Daly news, commentary by Quentin Reynolds, analysis by Major George Fielding Elliot, “The Passing Parade,” “The American Melody Hour,” interrupted by bulletin from the BBC’s Kent Stevenson, Ward Smith from London, Chester Wilmut’s report is read
8:00-9:00 PM
“Columbia Presents Corwin: An American Trilogy-Carl Sandberg, Part 1 (#14)”, news with John Daly, commentary by Quentin Reynolds analysis by Major George Fielding Elliot, Charles Shaw reporting from London, John Pryor from Washington, Bill Henry with “Johns Manville News”
9:00-10:00 PM
“Burns & Allen,” “The Doctor Fights” (first show)
10:00-11:00 PM
Speech and prayer by President Roosevelt, Edward R. Murrow from London, Robert Trout, Quentin Reynolds discusses General Montgomery, William L. Shirer discusses German propaganda and the German leaders, Major George Fielding Elliot discusses German defenses, U.S. Navy Band Concert
11:00 PM-12:00 AM
News and analysis with Irwin Darlington, Ned Calmer, Quincy Howe, “Words and Music by Joan Brooks,” Robert Trout news, George Hicks from London
