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BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme

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BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme
A photograph of Broadcasting House showing the art deco styling of the main facade. made from Portland stone
The Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme headquarters was at Broadcasting House in London
Country
United Kingdom
HeadquartersBroadcasting House, London, UK
Programming
Language(s)English
Ownership
OwnerBBC
History
Launch date7 June 1944 (1944-06-07)
Closed28 July 1945 (1945-07-28)
Replaced byBBC Light Programme

The BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme was a radio station in the mid-1940s.

History

Overview

At the outbreak of World War II, the BBC had merged its two nationwide radio services, the BBC Regional Programme and the BBC National Programme, into a single BBC Home Service. On 7 January 1940, this was supplemented by a station aimed at the British Armed Forces serving at home (until Dunkirk in France and Belgium), the BBC Forces Programme.

With the arrival of troops from the United States and Canada in the run-up to Normandy landings (also known as 'D-Day'), the Forces Programme was replaced by a service more tailored to the new audience, the BBC General Forces Programme, which also broadcast on shortwave for service people in the Asian theatre of operations.

When Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of occupied Europe began, it was felt by the Allied governments that a joint service of entertainment, news and information for the fighting troops would be a better use of resources than providing separate services from American Forces Network, the BBC and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation stations.

The combined station, called the Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme was fully operated by the BBC on behalf of the Allied forces, began broadcasting on 7 June 1944 shortly after 'D-Day', on 514 metres (583kHz) providing a service dominated by cabaret and swing music.

Closure

The station closed soon after Victory in Europe Day on 28 July 1945 when the British Forces Network, AFN and CBC had established their own services in the areas each force was occupying. The following day, the BBC Light Programme began.

See also

References

  • Martinsen, Svenn (2004). "Armed Forces Radio Stations". Radio Northern Star. Archived from the original on 14 March 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2006.
  • Millward, David (5 June 2004). "Morale-raising radio from the depths of Broadcasting House". The Daily Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. ISSN 0307-1235.
  • Grace, Alan (1997). This Is the British Forces Network: The Story of Forces Broadcasting in Germany. London: Alan Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-1105-0 – via Google Books.
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