The story of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion scaling the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc on D-Day to attack a German artillery battery has captivated many students of Operation Overlord, especially since its hyper-realistic depiction in the epic film “The Longest Day” (1962).
The Germans had placed six 155-mm French-made guns on the point, each with a range of 10 miles, capable of hurling shells onto both Utah and Omaha beaches, as well as at the invasion fleet out in the English Channel. It was a simple fact that the guns had to be knocked out before they could be brought to bear to interdict the landings.
Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder and his 2nd Ranger Battalion were more than qualified for the job owing to their “special missions” training, and especially considering that planners were not sure that aerial bombing and naval shelling could eliminate the threat. Thus, Rudder’s Rangers were assigned to climb the 100-foot tall cliffs fronting the point and neutralize the position.
The full and somewhat controversial story of the assault is here, but read on to get the background on one of the most famous D-Day photos taken, showing Rudder’s command post with an American flag marking it, effectively signaling the success of the mission.
Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder, commander of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion, pictured at Pointe du Hoc, 7 June 1944. To his right (camera left) is a signal lamp on a tripod for communicating with ships off the point. U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph via Texas A&M Cushing Library.
The “AA Shelter” circled in red marks the antiaircraft bunker where Rudder set up his command post. Extract of top secret Allied “Bigot” map showing German gun emplacements and defenses at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, dated 21 April 1944 and used in preparations for D-day. Via Imperial War Museum.
The same location circled on a wider view of the point, showing the three landing sites for Rudder’s three companies comprising the “Provisional Ranger Force.” Reproduced from “Small Unit Actions” (U.S. War Department, Historical Division, Washington, DC, 1946).
Rudder’s redoubt scant hours after landing. In the caption, “COMO” indicates that Eikner is the communications officer; he’s also labeled “5” in this U.S. Navy photo, annotated by Lt. Frank L. Kennard of the 2nd Rangers.
A portion of the AA bunker in one of the most famous D-Day photos (actually D+2), showing Rudder’s Rangers in the area around the CP on the very edge of the cliffs. At this moment, the Rangers are being resupplied, with the men at right hauling ammunition and other supplies up the cliff by ropes. Notable in this shot are the four German prisoners being escorted away at top center-left, and the American flag draped on the ground to signal roaming Allied fighters that the pointwas in American hands.The white marks on the image are from a censor and are likely concealing the Rangers’ famous diamond insignia. U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph.
The AA shelter viewed from the East, with the observation platform added after the war. The niche in the cliffside in the photo taken on D-day is off the right-hand edge of the photo, on the other side of the line of fenceposts.The view is toward Utah Beach.
The same spot, with the same blocks of displaced concrete, during the Webmaster’s visit in 2006.
The platform for the 50mm flak gun that was installed in the open pit during the assault.
The door to the shelter’s interior, where Ranger medics under the direction of Capt. Walter E. Block established an aid station on 6 June.
The shelter viewed several days after the battle, showing two U.S. Navy officers inspecting the site. The door in the modern photo is directly behind the officer in the center. The same ventilation port is obvious in both photos. U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph.
Rudder’s cliff-edge command post clearly marked (“CP” just left of top center) on this aerial photo taken on the afternoon of 6 June. Notable is the profusion of shell craters from the pre-assault bombing and naval shelling.
