 Omaha Beach was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German @-@ occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 , during World War II . Omaha is on the coast of Normandy , France , facing the English Channel , and is 8 kilometers ( 5 mi ) long , from east of Sainte @-@ Honorine @-@ des @-@ Pertes to west of Vierville @-@ sur @-@ Mer on the right bank of the Douve River estuary . Landings here were necessary to link the British landings to the east at Gold with the American landing to the west at Utah , thus providing a continuous lodgement on the Normandy coast of the Bay of the Seine . Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops , with sea transport , mine sweeping , and a naval bombardment force provided by the United States Navy and Coast Guard as well as elements from the British , Canadian , Free French and other Allied navies . 
