World War II D-day Landing, 6 June 1944

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This photo was taken by a U.S. Coast Guard photographer under fire on D-Day, 6 June 1944. The photo shows the view from a Coast Guard-manned LCVP from the U.S.S. Samuel Chase (APA-26) as the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division soldiers disembark and wade through the surf raked by German machine gun fire from the French cliffs beyond the beach. This is the real scene that The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan are based on.

Small imperfections and blurs are from the original photo that was taken under fire, exposed to salt water and worse before reaching safety.

The USS Samuel Chase (APA-26), commanded by Coast Guard Captain Edward E. Fritzshe, was with Task Force Omaha. In spite of heavy naval and air bombardment, German opposition there was fierce and deadly — the most disastrous and damaging of the entire invasion. The ship departed Portland Harbor 5 June, anchored in the transport area at 0315 on 6 June. The first assault wave of landing craft was lowered at 0536 and by 0700, the men of Chase had launched 15 assault waves to the Omaha beachhead. At 0730, the ship began receiving a continuous stream of casualties. Six of Chase's boats failed to return, having become casualties to gunfire, underwater obstructions, or swamping. Chase returned to England with 322 battle casualties on board. Chase later saw action in southern France and the Pacific, including the invasion of Okinawa.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.