Garand Picture of the day #105 Rangers on D-Day Color

[Mark in Rochester]

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

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[FrankB]

I have seen this photo before but did not notice the cross cut gas cylinder lock screw before. Doesn't that seem early for that???

[Mark in Rochester]

Frank

[goo]

i think the 'bazooka' was used to launch climbing ropes for getting up the cliffs

[Mark in Rochester]

Let me try again

The M7 was adopted 11 Feb 1943 per S. Duff - red book p168. It could be a early "non returning" spring type lock screw.

The popet valve screw was adopted 13 Jan 1944

I imagine that these were issued only with grenade launchers at the time and not to every rifle.

[FrankB]

I just think it is pretty cool when pictures can verify what is written in the refrence books. Now if there are any carbine pictures with type 3 bands from WWII....oh sorry wrong forum!
Thanks for the info on the grenade launchers!
Frank

[Mark in Rochester]

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

[Fredtheobviouspseudonym]

If it's the same one I saw about two years ago IIRC the guy with the bazooka was killed on D-Day at Pointe du Hoc.

Freedom isn't free.

[Louis of PA]

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

[Louis of PA]

Our naval guns, Rudder's men and aerial bombing made a bit of a mess. And then the cleaning lady failed to come by and straighten up.

Louis of PA