Penicillin gave D-Day landings an unlikely boost, Churchill papers show
Newly released documents reveal that the D-Day landings were aided by the import of penicillin from America, as Britain struggled to produce sufficient quantities of the antibiotic.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill expressed frustration in handwritten notes over Britain's inability to produce enough penicillin for the Normandy landings in 1944, leading to increased reliance on American supplies.
Preparations for D-Day included decisions on the quantities of penicillin to import, dosage for patients, and training medical staff, as most British doctors were unfamiliar with its use.
By May 24, 1944, sufficient penicillin was available for treating battle casualties in Emergency Medical Services hospitals, but not for ordinary civilian patients.
Hospitals were instructed to administer penicillin to battlefield patients en route, with injections given at intervals of no more than five hours, marking treated patients with a yellow 'PEN' label; penicillin became fully available to the general public in 1946.
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