Garand Picture of the day #105 Rangers on D-Day Color
Normandy Invasion Preparations, 1944
U.S. Army Rangers await the invasion signal in a landing craft. Photographed in an English port, circa early June 1944.
One man is holding a "Bazooka" rocket launcher. Another has an M1 "Garand" rifle.
Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
More on the 2nd Rangers on D- Day
D-Day: Interview with Two U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion Members Who Describe the Attack at Pointe-du-Hoc » HistoryNet
2nd rangers - getting up the cliffs
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goo
i think the 'bazooka' was used to launch climbing ropes for getting up the cliffs
Company C landed at H-Hour on Omaha Beach. Their mission was to clear the enemy from the top of Pointe du La Percee to prevent the enemy from placing enfilading fire on Omaha Beach where the 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions were to also land. At 6:30 a.m. on June 6, Company C arrived on English landing crafts amidst intense fire. Almost half their men were killed crossing the beach under horrific heavy fire. Using their fighting knives and bayonets, three men scaled the 100 foot cliffs and dropped the toggle ropes to their remaining Rangers below to enable them to more easily climb the cliffs and successfully put out of action this very important and deadly German defensive position.
more here 2nd Rangers Unit - Welcome to the 2nd Rangers home - Joining the 2nd Ranger Unit. - News
Photo from Pont duHoc, Normandy Beach
I visited Normandy Beach in the early 1990s; this is Pont DuHoc where our Rangers climbed up to sieze the point and find the cannons that threatened the invasion.
Under Colonel Rudder, they made it up the 100 feet in about 15 minutes. Over the next two or three days, over half of his command were casualties. He was wounded several times.
Regards