After visiting the cemetery, we continued on the Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc. Nothing can prepare you for Omaha Beach. Our guide explained how the first wave suffered catastrophic losses - there were 50,000 German troops waiting for them and the first wave suffered 80% casualties. But they kept coming. The second wave had 50% casualties and by the time the third wave came ashore, casualties were down to 20%. In total, the Allies landed 150,000 men and an additional 100,00 arrived by air.
The Headlands
Bomb crater over 26 feet deep from a 1,000 pound bomb.
View from Pointe du Hoc which lies 4 miles west of center of Omaha Beach. On D Day, the US Army Provision Ranger Group attacked and captured Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs.
Observation bunker,
More bomb craters.
One of three German ammunition storage locations.
On June 7, 1944, a patrol from the 2nd Ranger Battalion located the main ammunition store. The Rangers utilized explosives to detonate the bunker and the 18 tons of store munitions inside. The massive explosion scattered concrete pieces weighing up to 40 tons as far as 100 feet away (above and below).
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