Omaha Beach is the most famous of the five Normandy landing beaches on 6 June 1944. On this 3,7 miles-long (6 km) beach, American troops had to face virtually-intact German defences. On the brink of disaster, they would suffer heavy losses. Omaha was the bloodiest of the landing beaches, with 1,500 ‘boys’ falling there. Many soldiers were buried, often in haste, right on the spot of their fall. Some were never found, lost at sea under the deluge of fire that descended onto them. The Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer is located just above Omaha Beach, which has regained its original tranquillity.