A new port and one we've been looking forward to. We've been to Omaha beach and Pointe du Hoc, but never to Utah beach and the area the US paratroopers landed to defend the beaches from attack from the west.
The first stop was at Batterie de Crisbecq with two naval 210mm (8") in fortified bunkers as well as other heavy weapons. These guns fired on the invasion beaches on D-Day and were eventually destroyed by the battleship Nevada and other Navy ships.
The gun in the foreground is a German 88mm antiaircraft flak gun.
We next traveled to Utah beach where a number of monuments and artifacts were displayed. This is an M4 Sherman tank, of which the US built thousands.
Statues depicting soldiers assaulting the beach from their Higgins boat.
Depiction of a Higgins boat
Utah beach itself. Here the tide is low, just as it was on the morning of June 6, 1944. Soldiers had to cross hundreds of yards of beach while under fire.
Monument to the Navy and particularly the men piloting the landing craft. There is a similar monument to the Underwater Demolition Teams that overnight prepared the beaches for the landing craft. The UDT is the precursor to the Navy SEALS.
Utah Beach Memorial
On to the area where US paratroopers landed and the most famous town of that area, St. Mere Eglise. A paratrooper, John Steele, found himself hung up on the steeple of the town church. A depiction of his predicament is on display at the church.
John survived, was captured by the Germans and escaped two hours later.
A stained glass window in the church showing the Virgin Mary surrounded by descending paratroopers.
Statue atop the Airborne Museum across from the church.
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