Pluto played a vital role in the June 1944 Normandy invasion. Who or what was "Pluto"?

A principal problem for invasion planners is supply, particularly of fuel for a large mechanised military force. Surface transportation can be slow, unreliable and risky. So Operation Pluto (Pipe-Lines Under The Ocean) was a Second World War operation by British engineers, oil companies and armed forces to construct secure undersea oil pipelines beneath the English Channel between England and France in support of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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28 Comments

Bill Coe

Very interesting. All news to me.

Larry Garnica

Was I the only one hoping one of the answers would have been Mickey Mouse’s pet dog? 😂

Irene Townsend

Kath Thomson, Thank you for the extra info

Irene Townsend

That was new to me. Really interesting question and explanation. Thank you

jmurphy

Great! Thanks Frank Cowell.

Kath Thomson

Plans for a fuel pipeline began in 1942 and it took nearly 2 years to design and build it. It began operating on August 12, 1944 and between that day and May 1945 it is estimated that PLUTO delivered over 172 million gallons to France. This was of huge help to the allied forces even though it was after the D-day invasion of Normandy.

Kath Thomson

Gold Toy Box, it began with delivering very little fuel but it is estimated that between August 1944 and May 1945 PLUTO delivered over 172 million gallons to France.

Ed Taber

With all the ships sunk during WW II it's a wonder their are any water fowl left. I remember how much oil was on the beaches of Northern California in the late 40's.