THE EXTRAORDINARY bravery of our D-Day heroes is is brought vividly to life in these astonishing retouched photos on the 74th anniversary of the landings.

Some 156,000 Allied troops landed on five Normandy beaches during the operation on June 6, 1944, which would ultimately lead to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of the Second World War.

16 U.S. troops from the USS Joseph T. Dickman wait to disembark from their landing craft as they approach Utah Beach on June 6 1944 Credit: Media Drum World

It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and saw 4,400 allied troops lose their lives.

American and British troops are seen making their way to the coastline by boat before clambering onto the beach on foot.

They show the gigantic scale of the operation that comprised of 6,939 vessels in the huge naval force and over 11,000 aircraft.

A Nazi general - Erwin Rommel - is also seen inspecting defences ahead of the invasion. He was away from the front celebrating his wife's birthday when the Allies began to land.

Another snap shows a German Panzer tank camouflaged in undergrowth.

16 A craft from the USS Samuel Chase lands troops of the US Army First Division on Omaha Beach Credit: Media Drum World

16 Glider pilots take the opportunity for a quick cigarette as they are crowded onto a landing craft Credit: Media Drum World

16 Royal Marines descend from landing craft with their heavy backpacks, weapons and equipment on Juno beach Credit: Media Drum World

16 American troops arrive on a Normandy beach in a lengthy procession from their landing crafts Credit: Media Drum World

16 British troops show their true grit as they help injured comrades onto Sword Beach Credit: Media Drum World

American troops are shown in an LCVP landing craft heading for Utah beach. They were among the 23,000 who landed there.

Others are seen wading through the waters of Omaha beach as they strike out for land.

Royal Marines are seen helping each other remove equipment from landing craft on Juno Beach.

The original black and white photographs were painstakingly colourised by electrician Royston Leonard, 55, from Cardiff, Wales, with each snap taking between four and five hours to complete.

16 The astonishing scale of the invasion can be seen in this image taken of the American forces arriving on Utah Beach Credit: Media Drum World

16 US Army Fourth Infantry Division troops take a breather after making their way onto Utah Red Beach Credit: Media Drum World

16 British Airborne Pathfinders check their watches on the night before the invasion Credit: Media Drum World

16 Reinforcements arrive by sea to bolster U.S. troop numbers on the Normandy front Credit: Media Drum World

He said: “As time goes by I find I am doing more World War Two pictures and giving them a bit of colour helps the younger generation to connect and not just see them as something that happened long ago.

“In the images I see a world that has gone mad and men and women pulled from their lives to sort out the mess.

“World War Two shows people at their best and at their worst. We must look and learn and not let it happen again.”

The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault - the landing of 24,000 American, British and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight.

16 The USS LST-21, manned by the U.S. coastguard unloads British Army tanks and trucks onto a Rhino barge in the opening hours of their invasion of Gold Beach Credit: Media Drum World

16 Troops load U.S. LSTs with artillery equipment, vehicles and troops in Brixham, England before they head for Normandy Credit: Media Drum World

16 Nazi General Erwin Rommel inspects defences ahead of D-Day. On the actual day of the invasion he was away from the front celebrating his wife's birthday Credit: Media Drum World

16 German troops camouflage a Panzer VI Tiger tank with undergrowth in the Normandy village of Villers-Bocage Credit: Media Drum World

Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France at 6.30am.

The target 50-mile stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.

The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach-clearing teams difficult and dangerous.

16 Members of the 22nd Independent Parachute Company, 6th Airborne Division attend a briefing ahead of the D-Day invasion Credit: Media Drum World

16 Troops establish a radio communications post after landing Credit: Media Drum World

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Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha.

The Allies failed to achieve any of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until July, 21.

Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five beachheads were not connected until June, 12, however, the operation gained a foothold which the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months.

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