The Ghost Army's Role Before D-Day

Before D-Day, the U.S. 23rd Headquarters Special Troops — known as the 'Ghost Army' — deployed inflatable tanks, sound trucks broadcasting fake radio traffic, and even fabricated unit patches near Calais. Their deception operation convinced German intelligence that the main invasion would come at Pas-de-Calais, not Normandy. The unit included future artist-designers like fashion designer Bill Blass and painter Ellsworth Kelly. Their existence remained classified until 1996.