10 Historical Disasters that People Tried to Cover Up

[@waterfallsandrain]

Please do another of these. This video has convinced me that there are without doubt many more of these “hidden” events, and we need to know.

[@Nightwing690]

FBI and CIA

[@douggaudiosi14]

Imagine all the disasters that where successfully swept under the rug

[@grae1987]

Just wait til he gets to the horrific event that happened back in 1997 when my little brother ate half of my chips while out getting McDonalds with my dad. My father helped him cover this up by telling me to shut up and just have my dinner... it wasnt until a month later when we would get takeaway again that id join them on the drive and find out the truth on accident.. after collecting KFC this time, my dad had a go at my brother when he reached for the chips inside the bag. He accused my brother of dropping chips down under the seats last time and leaving them there. This was a complete 180 to the initial story i was made to originally beleve, where my brother stated that he didnt eat any chips on the way home. After such a betrayal. I enacted swift sibling justice by punching and abusing him.. unfortunately i forgot that my dad was present. And because im the eldest. once we got home, i got grounded and Sent to my room........ without my KFC....and my chips, again

[@ferociousgumby]

@@grae1987 The horror! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE HORROR!

[@athena8794]

My father was almost a casualty in the Xichang Rocket incident. He was a Space Systems / Loral employee who had been on site babysitting the satellite that was to be launched. Once it was successfully installed in the rocket, he was sent home. The day after he left, the rocket plowed into the cliff above the hotel he had been staying in.

[@paulng]

A very long time ago, from 1982 to 1989, I worked for XEOS, Xerox Electro Optical Systems, who sold EOS to Loral. After I left I think it became part of a couple of other well known defense contractor companies and eventually ended at Lockheed Martin. All my time with them was spent working in Germany, but the program I was part of - MILES Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems - was pretty much worldwide. It was an Army contract. Prior to that I worked on an AF contract as a computer tech for Burroughs (Unisys) and before that I was a computer tech in the AF stationed for the most part in W. Germany.

[@athena8794]

@@paulng dad mostly worked on their GOES contracts. If you watched the weather on the us West coast in the late 80s, early 90s, it was through one of his satellites.

[@stevenzegalia3931]

@@paulng Space Systems Loral (which Simon mis-pronounced...understandably) was not part of the deal when Lockheed Martin bought Loral Corp. I worked for Loral/Lockheed Martin from 1993-1998. On the GOES program. I have been a satellite controller with NOAA for 20+ years.

[@stevenzegalia3931]

@@athena8794 BTW... The first LORAL GOES (GOES I/8) satellite was launched in April 1994. After check out took the GOES East position. Around a year latter the second (GOESJ/) was launched and took the GOES West position.

[@athena8794]

@@stevenzegalia3931 to be fair, I was very small and probably misremembered to dates. But I do vividly remember being fascinated with the GOES launch patch on his jacket because it was an ambigram.

[@cjthebeesknees]

You could do a part 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on and so forth on this subject, humans suffer from the disorder of making abrupt decisions.

[@Prosper_Dean]

Yes it's important to temper and equip our minds against the folly of reaction

[@Prosper_Dean]

We should be conscious and consider the nature of the lens through which our world is viewed. I believe each of our uniquely fashioned "lens" distill comprehension from mere perception. I believe that comprehension becomes greatest source for trust in the actions we take and respect for the power we hold. I hope you have a nice day and thank you for valuing conscience! 🌻

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

@CJ Clark ...and our species is really adept at acting as if nothing happened. Smmfh.

[@comettamer]

So we do

[@angelachouinard4581]

@@St.Linguini_of_Pesto Agree Even when it's readily apparent someone or some group F*ed up

[@martinstallard2742]

0:28 Chernobyl 1:49 the Kyshtvm disaster 3:13 the Xchang rocket disaster 4:27 the 1927 Mississippi flood 5:33 exercise tiger 6:14 the Nedelin disaster 6:57 the Burden park disaster 7:41 the Benton fireworks disaster 8:43 the Sverdlovsk air disaster 9:28 the Banqiao dam disaster

[@aaronstanley6914]

Thank you.

[@allienixon8959]

Love when people do this it’s so helpful!! Thanks

[@johnbockelie3899]

Chernobyl disaster, 1986. " Quick , Ivan!!, help me sweep this mess under the carpet!!".

[@johnbockelie3899]

Benton fireworks disaster. " Hmmm, the lights are off, it's dark in here.........let me light a match."

[@christophercripps7639]

Cover up in Stalin era CCCP (USSR in Cyrillic): Joe: "players on the team look different." Joe's son: "yes. They started to show bourgeoisie tendancies." Joe: "And?" Joe's son: "transferred to Siberian league."

[@jantschierschky3461]

When it comes to cover-ups the CCP are absolute world champions. Especially when it comes to natural disasters and CCP stuff ups.

[@michaelb1761]

Jocko had a survivor from Exercise Tiger on his show. He had a lot of other amazing stories from his time in the army.

[@mtacoustic1]

'Exercise Tiger is also known as the 'Slapton Sands disaster'; the name of the beach where it occurred.

[@joeyr7294]

Yesss....bring on the Whistlerverse

[@jscotthatcher380]

the world can't handle that much cocaine. 😜

[@IanAlcorn]

@@jscotthatcher380 Not for lack of trying.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Me: How is Chernobyl only No. 10 on this list? Me: *watches discussion of Khystym* Me: Oh.

[@anthonymort5202]

They often say that history rhymes the Mississippi flood kind of seems like what happened in New Orleans with hurricane Katrina

[@SiVlog1989]

Not watched the video yet, but I hope Hillsborough is there. In the FA Cup semi final on April 15th 1989 between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, poor crowd management by the local South Yorkshire Police led to a human crush among Liverpool supporters in the Central pens of the Leppings Lane end, behind one of the goals. This crush, caused by the police not directing supporters to the side pens, which were far less full, led to the death of 97 people. Despite the fact that the whole disaster was recorded on camera, the local police was able to avoid prosecution by covering up what happened by saying that the Liverpool supporters were drunk. This accusation, completely wrong at best, monstrous at worst, was swallowed whole by one of the most infamous publications in British Journalism, The Sun newspaper. In a front page headline, emblazened with the (in retrospect) ironic words "The Truth", the newspaper alleged that the Liverpool supporters obstructed rescue workers, urinated on police officers and pick pocketed the dead. In essence, they were accusing the survivors for killing their friends or family members who didn't come back. It was because of how monstrously false the story was that led to The Sun being boycotted by the Merseyside Community to this day. Fortunately, in 2013/14, the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which had scrutinised the evidence, found that it was in fact the police that was to blame, that ultimate responsibility lies with the Match day Commander, Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield. Having said that, the damage has been done. Nothing will bring back those who lost their lives and the police officers involved took the cowards way out by resigning to avoid being investigated Edit: disappointed that it's not on the video but I guess that there're too many covered up disasters in history 🤷‍♂️

[@barneymiller7894]

As an American, there is not a single part of this story that surprises me. 🤦‍♂️😭

[@SiVlog1989]

@@barneymiller7894 another disaster that got covered up that didn't make the list was one of if not the worst civilian disaster of WW2, the Bethnal Green Disaster. On March 3rd 1943, the East London community of Bethnal Green heard the air raid warning sirens sound, warning of a possible incoming air raid. However, as people were making their way to various shelters, a loud wooshing noise caused people to panic. Many of those who were panicking, made their way to a half finished London Underground station that was due to be (and ultimately was) named Bethnal Green. There was only one way in at the time, and in the frenzied rush to get below ground, a parent and child slipped on the steps at the entrance. Hundreds of people piled in behind, causing a tremendous bottleneck that became a human crush. As the dust settled, it became clear that 173 people lost their lives, and the ultimate irony was that there was no air raid that night, the wooshing noise that was heard was a new type of anti-aircraft missile that had an unfamiliar sound, that was being tested that night. The tragedy wasn't reported at the time as it was feared that it would damage morale in the war effort and it wouldn't be until the 2010's that the survivors got a proper memorial befitting of the harrowing tragedy

[@barneymiller7894]

@@SiVlog1989 I've read about that one, honestly tragic. Just scared people trying to get to safety

[@mikerandall995]

Watch it then 🤷‍♂️

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

@SiVlog heartbreaking, isn't it?

[@horticc]

As always Simon excellent work If you do a part two to this video please add the Halifax disaster. It amazes me how few people know about the incident.

[@sandybarnes887]

It was on Sideprojects a year ago if you're interested

[@davidstratton6374]

No one tried to cover up Halifax, which is the point of this vid.

[@babscabs1987]

6:50 imagine how bad it must've been if the Soviets tell you that you've suffered enough...

[@jonnunn4196]

The Soviets are one of many groups you'd never want to hear that phrase from ... it could easily be followed by being shot in the head to ensure that you won't suffer any more.

[@ComaDave]

The footage, though pretty grainy...is rather horrendous. People on fire trying to run away, only to run into the perimeter fencing.

[@waterfallsandrain]

That one deserves a stand-alone episode.

[@brett4264]

I only have heard of a couple of these and I'm 59 and keep up with current events. Wow!

[@wingerding]

They got covered up.

[@DarylBaines]

If you're going to include a football disaster cover-up, a worse one than you mentioned is Hillsborough. In 1989 (?), at the start of a game, over 90 fans were crushed to death due to police incompetence, and the police and media collaborated to cover up what happened and put the blame on the Liverpool fans. It took almost 30 years to get to ... as The Sun put it ... "The Truth"

[@sandybarnes887]

You'll Never Walk Alone

[@michaelb1761]

He did an episode on that on one of his many, many channels.

[@YouTubecanfuckagoat]

The game was broadcast live on TV.

[@St.Linguini_of_Pesto]

@Daryl Baines I had thought that would be the incident described, when he began describing that it was a -soccer- football match.. then he said the year, I'd thought that for sure that incident would be "higher" up on the list.

[@bitterspice5525]

I’m here for this.

[@ewok40k]

It is amazing Germans managed to do so much damage in exercise Tiger, despite Allies having near total air and sea control by 1944...

[@Mikeey1]

He's kind of ignored large parts of why so many died though. It's much bigger than just "U boats turned up". They were shooting their own troops with live ammunition thinking they weren't live. The soldiers hadn't been taught about their life jackets, so they put them on before jumping off the burning ships, the impact on the water lifted the life jackets up, and broke the soldiers necks as they didn't slow down at the same rate. And I can't remember why they didn't know about the U-boats but that was also a mess up as well

[@mccpcorn2000]

Surprised Hillsborough isn't included here.

[@anonymousrex5207]

Sounds like a preview for upcoming episodes of Into the Shadows... I'm already looking forward to them.

[@gordonwallin2368]

Thanks,....I guess...Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@rattyratstuff7125]

i have a new topic for top tens factboy. "the fastest man made objects" the fun comes from #1. we bombarded some distant alien civilization with a 4 foot thick manhole cover during a nuclear test. just think of it. youre sitting on the beach surrounded by green water and blue plants. 8 legged lizard doggos play around you as you watch your newest litter of children dig in the purple sand. you hear screaming. so you look up to see a bright object falling towards you. when it hits at 5.3 million miles per hour, pandemonium is unleashed. followed by mobilization to war due to their city being eradicated. BY A MANHOLE COVER

[@nicholastelsa1596]

This is the funniest shit I have read in awhile, my friend this , needs to be a premise of a movie

[@Mellon_]

Every day i wake up and another Simon Whistler channel appears before me .....

[@christophermcghee1663]

I would love to see a full episode on the Chelybinsk 40

[@z0phi3l]

He's done 2 Geographics episodes on the area

[@christophermcghee1663]

@@z0phi3l thanks!

[@matgeezer2094]

I live near Slapton Sands where the e-boat attack occurred in the lead up to D-day. The attack was hushed up, at the time, because of the need to keep D-day secret.

[@multiyapples]

Rest In Peace to those that passed away.

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

Great facts, Fact Boi (and team!).

[@scottnunnemaker5209]

Anyone else feel extremely fragile after watching videos like this?

[@thefanone]

The things I learned from you Simon!

[@ericnickerson1060]

Wow, never knew about operation tiger. Thanks for these videos

[@bazil19550607]

In the Kyshtym Explosion Kate Brown writes of the ZATO employees "They signed oaks of secrecy". No wonder the disaster cover-up was so effective. An oak is stronger than an oath and spellchecker will totally ignore the typo.

[@surferdude4487]

Each of these disasters deserves a video of its own.

[@SevCaswell]

The dam failure is already a video on one of his channels but there are so many I forget which one, might be geographics.

[@surferdude4487]

@@SevCaswell Maybe I've seen it. If there aren't enough hours in the day to watch all the videos Simon drops, isn't that proof of the Simon clones taking over KZbin theory?

[@cmhughes8057]

In this modern world it is getting harder and harder to cover up things (good on that) and people really should live as if what they do now will come to light. Maybe not today or tomorrow and it might take an hundred years but it will come to light.

[@chrissirvid5845]

Always interesting, informative and entertaining 👍 team

[@wilting_alocasia]

If anyone's interested about the Benton Firework disaster - Fantastic Horror did a great vid on it "Disaster of Web's Bait Farm"

[@pfadiva]

Yes, that was an excellent episode. Lots of details.

[@TheGhostOfFredZeppelin]

**Puts on tinfoil hat** 9/11

[@smithical100]

Chernobyl is a fantastic example of why the iron grip doesn't work. If the thought that saying "the plant needs fixing" will result in you being replaced, youll never be told when something needs fixing.

[@jaygee434]

Exercise Tiger was on the Slapton Sands near Torpoint here in Devon, there is a memorial to the soldiers who died during that exercise with a US tank It's a wonderful spot during peace time

[@iteerrex8166]

Simon, lately some of the topics are hinting at something. Not quite sure what, but there’s a subliminal massage there 😉😂

[@aceundead4750]

The footage from number 5 is disturbing no matter how many times iv seen it.

[@BR-jw7pm]

Herbert Hoover: a great humanitarian… If you conveniently ignore all the black people who suffered and died because of his actions…

[@anthonymort5202]

Hoover is one of the worst presidents

[@jorgelotr3752]

10:37 that's how you deal with problems: if anyone detects one, you fire that person and problem solved.

[@donaldkelly3983]

Russian incompetence, American racism, and soccer violence! This one had it all!

[@chrissirvid5845]

Always brilliant after multiple views 👏 the team.💙💛

[@barneymiller7894]

I had to organize the cover up of the 2018 "Andy found oil paints on LSD" disaster, so far the disinformation campaign is holding up. So is the wallpaper.

[@DanThompson1014]

No mention of the 1st month of COVID 19 or the 1918 Spanish fle?

[@The_RC_Guru]

All you guys asking for specific video coverages- the staff does what Simon says to and he doesn’t read through the comments anymore. This is an official business now for many years. Your “interaction “ with him will be zero and with his staff less than 1.7%.

[@ComaDave]

Another couple would be the Ryongchon disaster in North Korea, 2004 and the USS Indianapolis in WW2.

[@mattshaffer7699]

Soccer? Wtf? I rewound it twice to make sure.

[@anyawillowfan]

I know on Into The Shadows you just end the video with you leaving which makes sense, but have to say I'm missing the 'thanks for watching, like/subscribe' ending on this, and other channels, as it's sudden and makes the videos feel unfinished.

[@nicofolkersma2535]

At least in the Nedelin disaster you have the satisfaction of knowing that the idiot in command also died. Too often those responsible walk away scot free. Great episode as usual, Simon.

[@comettamer]

This seems like the beginning of a multi part series.

[@keryeeastin4022]

There's a movie about the Mississippi flood I think it's called the bathtub it's very moving and extremely sad

[@EarlFaulk]

Im not surprised someone was smoking in a fireworks factory. I know a guy who lost his hearing and three fingers because he was smoking around Fix A Flat.....which used butane in its old mixture. He did this despite a very bright and clear warning label on the package.

[@jackdenihan5333]

One thing I like to think about is the sweds at the their plant looking for a radiation leak before realizing it was coming from outside source

[@niesenjohn]

Herbert Hoover was known as the great humanitarian because he organized the relief effort to feed Belgium during its occupation in WW1 and helped house post war Europe with cheap pre fab wooden houses in 1918/19. While the federal relief efforts after the 1927 Floods were in many ways the 20th century preview of Hurricane Katrina 80 years later, it was more downplayed than covered up in effort to raise more relief money. However, the federal government DID cover up that they blew the levy in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana for no reason other than to look like they were doing something, despite the crest passing New Orleans without bursting the levies. Thousands of mostly black families were thus purposely flooded out of house and home for nothing more than a photo op.

[@karoltakisobie6638]

There is also a very successful cover up of dead Soviet cosmonauts. I think you have a video in it too.

[@tufferstv]

No mention of Hillsborough? Is Simon trying to cover that up?

[@mikes5637]

2 football disasters in one video might have been construed as a lack of variety. I'm sure he'll do another.

[@celter.45acp98]

Ok 20 seconds in & I'm going to guess a fair amount of these are going to be the soviets or Chinese

[@mathieuleader8601]

I wonder if the Orgrave mining incident will make this list

[@Dr.RichardBanks]

_WHISTLER_ *ITS* *ABOUT* *DAMN* *TIME*

[@gc6096]

More please

[@stalefurset9444]

Honorable mention: Baghdad Bob 🤣

[@twocvbloke]

You could make a whole series of soviet coverups, the amount of stuff that went on that we have found out about shows they just refused to admit they were a bunch of fuckups, not that much has changed given current events... :S

[@Prosper_Dean]

It's wild when I realize that they're the only superpower to fully collapse; revealing all their confidential records. I wonder how much stuff the USA or China collapsing might reveal! Every developing state has paid human collateral for that development.. and those two surely prioritized competitive development at least as highly as the USSR. I bet the cost of it all, paid in events such as these, will provide many many episodes more for Simon to cover 😰

[@griffinmckenzie7203]

Why am I not surprised at all that China and Russia make up the majority of this list? lol

[@chriswhite1761]

Burnden park is on manchester road in bolton. I lived across the road for 3 years and still live in bolton. For years the F.A and premierleague have done nothing to comemerate the dead.

[@shannonpincombe8485]

So....no mention of 3 Mile Island. I'm aware there was some reporting on the incident but the cover up regarding exposure for the locals was immense.

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@skullsarecute]

Horrible things happening because Russian government wants to celebrate may 7th? Apparently it’s innocuous yet horrifying, like the gender reveal party.

[@caseyjamieson380]

Had to replay one part to make sure I heard it correctly: fireworks ingredients "mixed by hand like a salad". Yikes.

[@ericthompson3982]

"Let the carrot out of the bag"? Is that a saying?

[@btetschner]

I once lived in a domitory named Hoover Hall, which it is possible it was named after Herbert Hoover (apparently no one know and it was already demolished).

[@douggaudiosi14]

Imagine all the disasters that where successfully swept under the rug

[@StelCreator]

There's an excellent book; 'Mistakes were made but not by me'. Seems related somehow 😏

[@anthonymort5202]

As soon as he said here are some disasters people tried to sweep under the rug I said to myself like Chernobyl then he says our first entry is Chernobyl and I'm like oh okay

[@jrmckim]

Recently in China there was a horrible carnival ride that killed people.. The families of the victims were told something different.

[@Dulcimertunes]

Commies lie. It’s how they hold power

[@Prosper_Dean]

Sure

[@endlessrage4062]

It warms my heart that the Burden 33 have been spoken of. BWFC. 💜

[@katiekane5247]

"I didn't do it, you didn't see anything, you can't prove nothing" - standard denial

[@goneutt]

The Led Zepplin song about the levy was a cover of a song about the 1927 flood.

[@StageRight123]

Every Led Zeppelin song is a cover.

[@geraldmartin7703]

Day 2 of Operation Tiger killed an additional 300 Americans when a miscommunication resulted in them storming a beach being shelled by the British. I once read that both days American soldiers also died because their backpacks were too heavy, upending them so they drowned upside down in the sea. Total deaths for Operation Tiger was actually 1,000; not 700. I'm a U.S. Army veteran; so facts like this strike home.

[@thelastpilot4582]

You left out all the unexploded nuclear devices the Americans have accidently dropped at home and abroad. Plus The fire at UK nuclear plant winscale. etc etc.

[@barneymiller7894]

Don't forget all the nuclear sources the USSR left all over the place to! The cold War really did more damage to the planet than it did to any of the participants.

[@bonsang1073]

he talks about unsuccesful cover-ups.

[@barneymiller7894]

@@bonsang1073 Ya.....no one talks about successful cover ups. They were successfully covered up. 🤔

[@rocketamadeus3730]

Liquid glass in fireworks? wut?

[@realityjunky]

Since the survival of hierarchical primates depends on their status, lying became a common adaptive trait. Watch videos of toddler behavior and notice that the cover-up is a natural part of being human. We're born with it.

[@Justin_L_Smith_]

The USS Indianapolis delivered parts for Little Boy. They were ambushed by a Japanese sub & sank. No one immediately came to help because the US government kept the mission that secret, plus 3 different Naval outposts received their distress call, but none acted it for various reasons. Several crew members died from shark attacks & dehydration. The government blamed the Captain. His crew worked for decades to get his name cleared. Sadly, the Captain committed suicide well before his men were successful in finally getting his name cleared. In 1953 in US vs Reynolds, family members sought damages from the US government after the unexplained deaths from a B-29 crash. The US government claimed this could not be divulged as it would risk national security, since top secret experimental equipment was used on the plane. So secretive in fact that the US Government said not even the Supreme Court Justices could be allowed to see the government's evidence & that they had no choice but to take the government's word. In 2000 the files were declassified. The government's claims of secret experimental equipment were 100% fraudulent, but there were details about the airplane's poor & unsafe conditions. This is the case that created the doctrine of State's Secret Privilege, which allows the US government to withhold evidence without over sight when claiming State's Secrets Privilege.

[@gregoryhawkins9172]

1,000 kilometers is 621 miles. I don't wanna die, that's no lie, it'd make me cry, my, oh my. I'll cry if I die. I'm willing to dye bright yellow fabric dark purple but I don't wanna die down dead & never live again forever & ever, amen.

[@mamacito1795]

Let the carrot out of the bag??? What witchcraft is this?

[@nationalist818]

Santa Susanna nuclear reactor melt down should be on this list. It was the first accidental melt down in the world and people still get cancer in the area of Chatsworth Ca,

[@calebsoard1]

I work as a river guide on the ocoee river and saw the crater it left behind

[@calebsoard1]

In benton tn lol

[@carlmagrath6389]

All you ppl who have survived cancer through chemo-therapy would be surprised how it all came about

[@ravenwind420]

Ya I think the biggest disaster is humanity as a whole. Love your videos btw. Please dont ever get a life Fact Boy.

[@deboralee1623]

?"...let the carrot out of the bag..."? (approx. 0:55) ?did i hear that correctly?

[@BatCaveOz]

Wait, wait, wait... at 0:50 did Simon say "Let the *carrot* out of the bag"?

[@deboralee1623]

ah, someone else who caught that.

[@Skunk6977]

Did you say, “…let the *carrot* out of the bag.”?

[@h0ckeyd]

Number four I'd never heard of but the conservative government and their papers did try to blame kids drinking for Hillsborough which should really be on here.

[@nobody6546]

👍 Always Great Vids Simon! 👴🏼NoBody

[@joeyr7294]

5:35 I feel like an incident like this should be covered up to keep the moral of the troops up. But then again it could have the adverse affect and enrage the troops....but immediately after the end of the war truth should come out...especially to family members!

[@stuartriefe1740]

This was definitely the thinking at the time.

[@chdphd]

I hate it when I let the carrot out of the bag

[@AdmRose]

I believe he meant to say that more Americans died during Exercise Tiger than died on Utah Beach.

[@J3scribe]

At what point did an Olympic size swimming pool become a standard unit of measure? I've heard this term used for decades and yet I couldn't even guess at how many gallons/liters an OSP holds, let alone its dimensions. Rant over. Cool video.

[@sandybarnes887]

The pool is 50m by 25m by 2 meters and holds 2.5 million liters or 2,500 cubic meters.

[@sandybarnes887]

550,000 imp gal; 660,000 US gal, assuming a nominal depth of 2 m.

[@Tully_23_32]

I might be a dumbarse but I'm not understanding but I've rewatched #6 Exercise Tiger over & over but still can't comprehend. Did the US troops die on a Utah Beach during a training drill or a Devon Beach in a training drill? If a Utah Beach does that mean the German's were in America waters or the German's were in English waters?

[@pfadiva]

"Utah Beach" was an Allied code designation for a French beach. The beach they died on was near Devon, England. The German U-boats were in the English Channel. The US state of Utah is entirely landlocked and has no ocean beaches.