The GMC CCKW

This is my favorite photo from the Normandy landings. It just intrigues me every time I see it. The thoughts running through these soldiers minds must have been overwhelming.

A great picture on a solemn anniversary.

Interesting partial account:

http://books.google.com/books?id=L3d2Cp ... #PPA281,M1

I cannot imagine it

They were all hero's that day...

Learn sumpin new every day....

I had ALWAYS wondered about this!

"Zaloga clarifies a number of interesting but obscure points about D-Day. While several sources note Major General Corlett's suggestion to use amtracs as in the Pacific invasions, few follow this tantalizing lead. Zaloga notes that, "in fact, the US Army had shipped over 300 amtracs to Europe in 1944, but the lack of demand for their use in the Overlord plan meant that they were reserved for Operation Swordhilt, a contingency operation in which Patton's uncommitted Third Army was intended to reinforce Overlord in the event of failure at one of the beaches." Zaloga, the armor expert, also adds a great deal of clarity to the role of US tanks on Omaha Beach. Most sources tend to suggest that the majority of the armor foundered in the English Channel and thus the role of tanks was negligible. Zaloga points out that both DD and tanks with wading trunks were used, as well as Sherman dozer tanks. Although many of the DD tanks sank, enough of the tanks with wading trunks made it ashore to play a decisive role in silencing the German resistance nests. Furthermore, the popular idea that arrogant American commanders spurned the use of Britain's specialized armored engineer tanks is disputed by Zaloga; the V Corps did in fact request over 100 British "funnies," but British industry could not meet the demand in time for D-Day. Zaloga also does a fine job pointing out just how crucial naval support was in suppressing enemy defenses and making up for the lack of heavy weapons ashore. On the other hand, Zaloga notes that the Americans had not trained to employ close air support and had included no air liaison teams in the invasion force."


D-Day 1944 (1): Omaha Beach
by Steven Zaloga
Edition: Paperback
Price: CDN$ 13.31
A Fresh Look at a Well-Known Subject, Aug 27 2003

(I have no association with this author or book. I just found it on the web today)