The Most Famous D-Day Photograph

[Dave]

It was at LION-sur-MER that the most famous D-Day photo was taken – a view of QUEEN Beach, Red sector (taken by Sgt. Jimmy Mapham – later Gen. Montgomery’s personal photographer) around 0830 on 6/6 with No. 84 Field Company RE seen staggering ashore. The scene was incorporated into the OVERLORD EMBROIDERY on display at the D-Day Museum, PORTSMOUTH.

SOURCE

[paperclip]

That is a very impressive picture. Look at it long enough and it seems to come alive. You can almost hear the rounds zooming overhead.

[vetwarner]

Now I dont want to by any means belittle the jobs of the soldiers, but being a War Reporter I think has got to be one of the hardest roles to play on the battle field right?

I cant imagine trying to ignore the surrounding blaze of firing to get the perfect angle for a picture

[Indiescribe]

Hey, what about the pics taken at Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal. What do you think about it? It is one of the most enduring images of WWII.

[Jim]

Agree Indiescribe, the picture of the flag been raised on Iwo Jima is renowned world wide for the taking of this Island, Dave's picture is renowned for D-Day, two great pictures ..

[Spitfire XIV-E]

Yes I would say that the Mount Suribachi pic is certainly iconic. And I believe is also now a statue in Washington ?

[Dave]

That photo always reminds me of Ira Hayes and the song by Peter LaFarge, The Ballad of Ira Hayes.

Ira said:

"How could I feel like a hero when only five men in my platoon of 45 survived, when only 27 men in my company of 250 managed to escape death or injury?"

He died drunk early one morning,
Alone in the land he had fought
to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch,
was the grave for Ira Hayes.

From The Ballad of Ira Hayes