AUDRAIN COUNTY - Wednesday marks the 77th anniversary of the Battle of Exercise Tiger and commemorations are planned for the day to honor those who served in the military.Â
According to the United States Exercise Tiger Foundation (USTF), Exercise Tiger was a secret naval operation to rehearse the D-Day invasion during World War II, off the coast of England. German Navy warships struck the eight U.S. Navy tank landing ships, sinking two and ruining a third.
During the battle, 749 U.S. soldiers died 201 were from Missouri. Exercise Tiger events were declassified in August of 1944. Â
The USTF has its national office in Columbia and the Missouri Exercise Tiger Army & Navy Anchor Memorial is located outside the Audrain County Courthouse in Mexico. Susan Haines, the national executive director of the USTF, said memorials and commemorations are to honor the Missourians who lost their lives on April 28, 1944. Â