German leaders were fooled into believing the invasion would occur at Calais, 200 miles north of the targets in Normandy. After bad weather forced the invasion to be postponed a day, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered operations to commence June 6. Just after midnight, 18,000 paratroopers and glider forces landed, followed by an aerial and naval bombardment meant to weaken German defenses. Before dawn, nearly 7,000 ships brought the first of 150,000 soldiers ashore at five different beaches along the coast. Few Allied forces achieved their objectives , but the operation paved the way for European liberation. 8,230 Americans were killed, wounded, captured, or declared missing on that day.