Prep for the Normandy Landings

  By Virginia Choi • June 4, 2014 Uncategorized

British troops walking up the gangway of SS Empire Lance from Southampton on the way to France. (June 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5237.

Winston Churchill shows off his famous "siren suit" to General Dwight D Eisenhower, during a tour of Allied invasion forces in Kent. (May 12, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, # H 38458.

U.S. Army half-track antiaircraft machine gun vehicle backed into the well deck of a U.S. Navy LCT in prep for the Normandy invasion. (Late May or early June, 1944). Source: U.S. National Archives, # USA C-751.

U.S. Engineers are briefed on their objectives for the forthcoming invasion. Left to right: Albert V. Ottolino, Howard D Kraut, J. H. James. (May 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, # EA 25370.

Royal Air Force parachute packers on an RAF glider station folding coloured parachutes for use by airborne troops during the Normandy invasion. Source: Imperial War Museums, # TR 1782.

Men of 22nd Independent Parachute Company, 6th Airborne Division being briefed for the invasion. (June 4-5, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, # H 39089.

Eisenhower's message to Normandy invaders. (June 1944). Source: World War II Database.

German Army Field Marshal Erwin Rommel at the Atlantic Wall near Ouistreham, Normandy, France. (May 30, 1944). Source: German Federal Archive, Bild 101I-300-1863-09.

Paratroops of 6th Airborne Division blackening their faces in front of an Albemarle aircraft at RAF Harwell. (June 5, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, # H 39066.

Glider pilots of 6th Airborne Division and RAF crews are briefed at RAF Harwell for the D-Day invasion. (June 5, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, # H 39062.

"Angels with dirty faces" --Airborne troops smile from their Horsa glider as they prepare to fly out as part of the second drop on Normandy on the night of D-Day. (June 6, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, H 39182.

Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, 2 TAF, addresses air and ground crews at Hartford Bridge, Surrey, on the forthcoming invasion of Normandy. Source: Imperial War Museums, # CH 13271.

Royal Engineers of the 693 Road Construction Co. line up at a Field Cashiers office in the UK to exchange English money for French currency. (June 1, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5149.

Members of the Womens Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) repair and pack parachutes for use by airborne troops during the Normandy invasion. (May 31, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, TR 1783.

U.S. Army M4 Sherman tanks and other equipment loaded in a LCT, readying for the invasion of France. (Late May or early June, 1944). Source: U.S. National Archives, # USA C-724.

Private Clyde Peacock and the rest of the 1st Military Police Platoon of the US 1st Army wait in England to board transports to Normandy. (Early June, 1944). Source: U.S. Army.

Alan Brooke, Winston Churchill, and Bernard Montgomery at Montgomery's mobile headquarters in Normandy, France. (June 12, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, #4905-03 TR 1838, Photographer: Horton.

Final Embarkation: 3 British soldiers of 51st Highland Division in a landing craft pass the time by reading a booklet on France which they were issued before embarkation. (June 6, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5207.

American troops marching through a British port town on their way to the docks. (June 1944). Source: Center of Military History.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order of the day: "Full victory-nothing else" to paratroopers in England. (June 5, 1944). Source: U.S. National Archives, # 111-SC-194399

General-Field Marshal Erwin Rommel conducted inspections of the Atlantic waves. (February 1944). Source: German Federal Archive, Bild 101I-719-0206-13.

Private Clarence C. Ware applies last second make-up to Private Charles R. Plaudo (members of the 101st Airborne Division) in England before D-Day. June 1944. Source: U.S. National Archives, # 111-SC-193551.

The "Fighting First Division." Photo taken just before D-day. On the far bottom left is 2nd Lieutenant John Burkhalter, who landed on Omaha beach in Normandy. Source: Joseph Giove III of High Rock Cafe.

Captain Lasdun of 693 Road Construction Co., Royal Engineers, uses a blackboard to brief the men aboard LST 406 at a south coast port. (June 4, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5157.

Vehicles and men aboard LST 406 with other landing craft during the passage to Normandy. (June 6, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5160.

Men of 4 Commando, 1st Special Service Brigade, being briefed by Lt Col R. Dawson just before embarking for Normandy. (June 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5098.

British troops study French guidebooks onboard LCT 610 taking 13th/18th Royal Hussars to Normandy. (June 4 or 5, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5109.

4 Coast Guardsmen, proceeding as scouts in an LCM to the French invasion beach shortly before H-hour, get their heads together and display their full accord with General Sherman on the subject of war ("War is hell"). Source: U.S. National Archives, # 26-G-2410.

"You name it Boss, we'll hit it." An inscription chalked on the Turret Two of battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33). Source: U.S. National Archives, # 80-G-244214.

A paratrooper boards an airplane that will drop him over the coast of Normandy for D-Day. (June 6, 1944). Source: Army.mil.

Operation Tonga. 4 'stick' commanders of 22nd Independent Parachute Company, British 6th Airborne Division, synchronize their watches at about 11 p.m. prior to take off from RAF Harwell, Oxfordshire. Officers, left to right: Bobby de la Tour, Don Wells, John Vischer, Bob Midwood. (June 5, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, H 39070.

A gun crew mans a Bofors gun stand ready to open fire on any surprise enemy aircrafts as England prepares for D-Day. (June 6, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums, B 5152.

General Montgomery chats with troops near Caen. (July 11, 1944). Source: Imperial War Museums.

Artillery equipment is loaded on before the assault. (June 1944). Source: Center of Military History.

Port in England; in foreground, jeeps are being loaded onto landing craft tanks. (June 1944). Source: Center of Military History.

Paratroopers before leaving for Normandy. Source: U.S. National Archives, RG-208-MO-10H.

American troops in a landing craft tank awaiting the signal for the assault. (June 1944). Source: Center of Military History.

Commando kids in Fort Custer, Michigan. (January 1944). Source: Veterans History Project, Bernard Horowitz.

A soldier at Camp Grant. Illinois. (April 1943). Source: Veterans History Project, Bernard Horowitz.

A soldier in uniform. (1943). Source: Veterans History Project, Gale E. Garman.

Seven soldiers; Ken, Bud, Shirey, Ken, Syd, Bob, Kraut. Source: Veterans History Project, Kenneth T. Delaney.
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