D-Day Operation Orders: No. 3-44 & No. 1-44 | 1944, the D-Day Bible - no complete copy of both exists in any institution or private collection. Both were in use on D-Day aboard USS YMS-381.

A unique and unparalleled pair of strategic documents — key to the success of the D-Day landings and among the rarest surviving items from World War II. Both are from The famous Beckham Collection (learn more about the Collection at the bottom)

D-Day Operation Order No. 3-44 and Operation Order No. 1-44 are two of the most important and rare documents from the Normandy invasion, providing detailed strategic plans for the D-Day landings in 1944.

• Operation Order No. 3-44 is a complete set of strategic documents, including maps, overlays, and detailed information about the Utah Beach assault. It outlines minesweeper routes, landing schedules, and communication protocols essential for the success of the landings. This document is incredibly rare, as it is one of the only surviving sets that was actually used in action during D-Day, with only a handful of copies distributed. Its maps — particularly a rare, surviving copy of a minesweeping plan — make this set uniquely significant. Additionally, Beckham’s handwritten annotations to the mission add a personal and historical layer, directly linking this document to the events of June 6, 1944.

• Operation Order No. 1-44 focuses on the assault phase of the invasion, detailing the organization of U.S. naval forces, mine-clearing operations, and communication plans for the invasion. It is one of only 33 copies known to exist, making it a rare piece of military history. The inclusion of a mine sweeping plan and additional strategic details highlights its importance for the success of the landing.

Both orders are rare for several reasons: they were intended for destruction after use, meaning most copies were lost or discarded; they were highly classified, limiting their distribution; and, unlike many wartime documents, these have survived intact and with all original materials. The Beckham Collection is one of the few to include these documents in such well-preserved condition, making them among the most significant and sought-after items from D-Day.

Operation Order No. 3-44 is the complete set of strategic documents issued for the Utah Beach assault during D-Day, and it represents the most comprehensive planning document for the landings. This order provides intricate detail on the invasion, from minesweeper routes and landing schedules to tactical approaches and communication protocols. It is often referred to as the D-Day Bible, as it is one of the only surviving sets that was used in the actual operation. This is the only known complete set still in existence to have been used on the day of the invasion. A true masterpiece of wartime planning, and one of the rarest surviving documents from WWII.

The inclusion of the original maps — essential for coordinating the naval and minesweeping operations — makes this set particularly unique. It is believed that at least one of these maps, despite being disintegrated, is the only surviving copy in the world. To our knowledge, no complete copy of these maps exists in any institution or private collection. This is the only one of its kind

Furthermore, Operation Order No. 3-44 features Beckham's handwritten annotations to the mission, offering an added layer of personal historical insight that directly connects the document to the mission at hand. This makes the set even more significant and directly linked to the planning and execution of the invasion.

Comparatively, the last Operation PLAN (which was a printed, non-mimeographed version) sold at auction in the U.S. for $28,000 in 2018, with no maps or overlays included. The present copy of Operation Order No. 3-44 far surpasses this, both in rarity and historical significance. The addition of the mine sweeping plan, overlays, and detailed invasion maps further elevates this document as a vital piece of WWII history.

Operation Order No. 1-44 focuses on the assault phase of the operation, detailing the Task Organization of the U.S. naval forces assigned to sweep and clear Utah Beach. It also provides critical instructions for mine clearing and communication plans — essential elements for ensuring a successful landing. With only 33 known surviving copies, this document remains highly rare and provides an additional layer of crucial operational intelligence for the D-Day assault.

Provenance: Both orders are from The Beckham Collection, one of the most important private archives of D-Day and World War II materials. The collection provides an intimate look at the military planning efforts that guided the success of the Normandy invasion, offering rare insights into the operational details that were so critical on June 6, 1944. These documents were in use on D-Day aboard USS YMS-381, making them an exceptional and direct link to the pivotal moments of the invasion.

Condition:

• Operation Order No. 3-44: Excellent. Complete with all maps, overlays, and inserts. Bound with a simple brown shoe lace as per wartime practice. Minor wear to the binding, but internally clean and well-preserved. Handwritten annotations by Beckham present.

• Operation Order No. 1-44: Very good. Mimeographed text is clear, with all annexes and maps intact. Binding is intact with minimal wear, typical of wartime operational documents.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most important and rare D-Day documents still in private hands. These D-Day operational orders — with detailed maps and overlays, along with personal annotations by Beckham — represent a critical piece of history and is an essential addition to any WWII or military history collection.

The Beckham Collection: A Legendary Archive of D-Day and World War II

The Beckham Collection is an extraordinary archive of D-Day artifacts meticulously preserved by Lt. Commander William Beckham Jr., who led the USS YMS-381 minesweeper during the pivotal first hours of the Normandy invasion. Brought to market by Bayliss Rare Books in 2024 to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, this remarkable collection includes some of the most significant pieces of military history ever to surface, with a large portion of it already sold.

Among the collection’s highlights is the original, battle-worn 48-star U.S. flag flown on D-Day aboard YMS-381. Only a select few flags from D-Day operations have surfaced, and this particular flag is unmatched. It comes with customs documentation tracing its origin directly to the Normandy beaches, where Beckham sent it from in September 1944. Unique among D-Day flags, it is the sole flag known from a minesweeper vessel; it is the earliest flag from D-Day to ever surface and the only one with verifiable evidence supporting its being flown on D-Day, making it an unparalleled piece of military history. The flag is also in exemplary condition, certainly the finest to have surfaced.

Equally significant are the TOP SECRET "BIGOT" documents issued to Beckham. These materials, personalized with Beckham’s annotations and mission orders for minesweeping along Utah Beach, were intended for immediate destruction after the mission under the Official Secrets Act. Remarkably, Beckham defied this protocol, preserving this priceless documentation. These include D-Day Operation Order 3-44, a complete set of strategic documents covering the invasion in intricate detail, from minesweeper routes to landing schedules. It is the only known surviving set that was used in action and is often referred to as the D-Day bible — one of the rarest items from WWII.