The Normandy Landings on D-Day in France during World War II. A part of a wrecked LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) on the Normandy beachhead. A U.S. Navy LCU (Landing Craft Utility) on the shore. 'US 87' written on the LCU. Several soldiers on the shore. Men going up a gangway to the LCU. A U.S. Navy LCT (Landing Craft, Tank) moving in towards the shore. Several soldiers on the craft. 'US 541' written on the side of the craft. German prisoners standing crowded on the LCT. The LCT moving towards a U.S. Navy attack transport.
The Normandy Landings on D-Day in France during World War II. A U.S. Navy LCT (Landing Craft, Tank) and an LST (Landing Ship, Tank) beside the Normandy coast. Few men standing beside the rail on a U.S. Navy attack transport ship. Men standing by the ship drinking from cups. British Royal Navy Bobtail Cruiser approaching the shore. Rocket launchers on the ship.
U.S. 9th Air Force air attacks against France on the D-Day during World War II. U.S. 9th Air Force C-47 Skytrain aircraft and gliders marked with invasion stripes on an airfield in England. Airborne infantrymen on the airfield. Men load equipment aboard a CG-4A glider. Infantrymen board the aircraft. Air borne medical units board the aircraft. Tug aircraft and gliders being joined by a line. C-47 aircraft taxi and take off towing the gliders from the airfield. Aerial view of the aircraft on the air field. The aircraft fly over a light house. Aerial view of an invasion fleet underway in the English Channel for the invasion of Normandy. U.S. Army Air Forces B-26 Marauder in flight over the English Channel. Ships and landing crafts at the Normandy beach. U.S. Army Air Forces B-26 Marauders blast communication lines in Normandy. Billows of smoke rises as bombs hit the targets. Aerial view of the invasion fleet heading towards Normandy.
Clip begins with footage of an attack transport ship and a tug boat alongside one another, before cutting to a scene of U.S. medical corpsmen lowering medical gear over the side of the ship they are on, presumably onto a smaller ship below that is out of sight. A WW2 LCVP Higgins Boat is then seen maneuvering through semi-choppy water, presumably toward the beaches of Normandy during D-Day invasion. Three groups of planes in formation are then shown far overhead, before the clip cuts back to footage of Higgins Boats. Low level shot across choppy seas of many more Higgins Boats in the water. View of another LCVP moored beside a much larger attack transport ship.
Distant view of Notre Dame church in Saint Lo (2 Rue Carnot, 50000 Saint-Lô, France) after Allied bombings of World War II. One tower of Notre Dame church blown off by artillery fire. CIC patrol on outskirts of St Lo. Patrol men consult a map. Three soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division take shelter behind a wall. Another soldier looks over city through binoculars.
U.S. troops and Coast Guardsmen assemble for religious service on a pier in the port of Weymouth, England, three days before the invasion of Normandy, France, in World War 2. A Roman Catholic Military Chaplain conducts the mass. Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L) numbers 89 and 93 are tied up at the dock in the background. (These craft are part of LCI(L) Floltilla 10, operated by the United States Coast Guard.) A small dog stands at the feet of the Chaplain, as he conducts the mass. The service finishes as the Chaplain administers the sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist) to the troops. In concluding scenes, U.S. Landing Craft Infantry are seen underway from England, to join Assault Groups for the invasion of Normandy, France. One of the craft is seen to be Number 87 and another number 495.