Almost Seventy-two years on, we look back at the time thousands of US Rangers were loaded up and shipped out from Weymouth, destination: Pointe Du Hoc and Omaha Beach. These amazing color pictures tell the story of the brave troops embarking their ships and move off to their destiny.
2nd Ranger battalion marches through Weymouth to the landing craft moored in the harbor [via]
June 1st 1944, note the Weymouth Pavilion in the background [Via]
LCA’s awaiting the Rangers, LCI(L)-497, 84 and LCH-87 [Via]
United States Rangers from E Company / 5th Ranger Battalion, on board a landing craft assault vessel (LCA) in Weymouth harbor, Dorset, on June 4, 1944. The ship is bound for the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. Clockwise, from far left: First Sergeant Sandy Martin, who was killed during the landing, Technician Fifth Grade Joseph Markovich, Corporal John Loshiavo and Private First Class Frank E. Lockwood. They are holding a 60mm mortar, a Bazooka, a Garand rifle and a pack of Lucky Strike cigarettes. [Via]
Boarding the ship in early June 1944 – Operation Overlord LCVP USS Thurston (AP-77) boarding staff 5th ESB (Engineer Special Brigade) for Omaha. In the background the Weymouth Pavilion. [Via]
British Navy Landing Crafts (LCA-1377) carry United States Army Rangers to a ship near Weymouth in Southern England on June 1, 1944. British soldiers can be seen in the conning station. For safety measures, U.S. Rangers remained consigned on board English ships for five days prior to the invasion of Normandy. [Via]
