Next Stop: Pointe Du Hoc and Omaha Beach – Amazing Color Pictures of the 2nd Rangers embarking in Weymouth

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.

8200717848_3177372717_k
2nd Ranger battalion marches through Weymouth to the landing craft moored in the harbor [via]

p013186.jpg
June 1st 1944, note the Weymouth Pavilion in the background [Via]
8203886842_c757d92703_k
LCA’s awaiting the Rangers, LCI(L)-497, 84 and LCH-87 [Via]
8208734753_28efffb8f7_k
[Via]
12131429296_13436a71d2_k
[Via]

8122642814_18b5824d01_k
5th Rangers loading LCA of the HMS Prince Baudouin, LCI(L) 497, 84 and LCH-87 [Via]
12075632145_f537e89486_k
[Via]

6836930961_c73e7cb11c_b
5th or 6th ESB (Engineer Special Brigade) embarking a LST, destination: Omaha Beach [Via]
6831249505_d6473f6f99_b
[Via]

p013203.jpg
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]

6340892084_2cb488a82c_b
5ht ESB embarking onto their LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicles Personnel), destination: Omaha Beach [Via]
6340145531_79cea2542f_b
[Via]
6340134625_eab8c2da39_b
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]

6340889232_a081b07152_b
[Via]
6364258057_654ef6f5c4_b
[Via]
443540406_d9cf354090_b
LCA-521 LCA-1377 with Rangers on their way to Pointe Du Hoc [Via]

p013167.jpg
[Via]
p013166.jpg
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]

Joris Nieuwint

Joris Nieuwint is a battlefield guide for the Operation Market Garden area. His primary focus is on the Allied operations from September 17th, 1944 onwards. Having lived in the Market Garden area for 25 years, he has been studying the events for nearly as long. He has a deep understanding of the history and a passion for sharing the stories of the men who are no longer with us.

@joris1944 facebook.com/joris.nieuwint