WWII - 1944, France: Normandy Utah Beach Landing by French 2nd Armored Div; Destruction of Nazi Equipment, Near St. Denis Le Gast; Armor & Bridge Construction, Gavray; German Prisoners, La Rochelle 31Jul-01Aug44

WWII - 1944, France: Normandy Utah Beach Landing by French 2nd Armored Div; Destruction of Nazi Equipment, Near St. Denis Le Gast; Armor & Bridge Construction, Gavray; German Prisoners, La Rochelle 31Jul-01Aug44 INV 945. Flash slate: 31Jul44. Camera: H. Downard. Landing, 2nd French Armor Div, Utah Beach. R1. US LST & ?? offshore unloading, men wave from front of LST. CUs waving & V-signs, also waving from upper deck. Men holding small FFF flag; DUKW arrives (brief). 11:12:38 Flash slate: same. 01Aug44 R2. Officer (General LeClerc?) leading men walking past on Rhino barge. Ships behind; walking along beach. MCU US officer talking to French officer; US two-star general; leaving in jeep. 11:13:39 Flash slate: same. 01Aug44 R3. French farmer (?0 pouring wine or cider for officer & soldiers, he toasts & drinks. French soldiers on rows of tanks in field; checking & cleaning machine guns. 11:14:25 INV 947. POV down country road past much destroyed equipment & soldiers . 11:15:20 Flash slate: camera - Miller. Destroyed German tanks & dead Nazis. Overturned car. Soldiers checking wreckage & debris / clothing. US army truck dragging off car; destroyed tank & CUs. 11:16:20 INV 948. Tank thru village; jeep & trailer past sign: St. Lo 33 km, highway 38. MPs directing traffic. Half-tracks etc past. CU tank crewman. 11:17:24 Flash slate: Camera T/4 Taylor, 31Jul44, Armour, Gavray, France. US tank passing thru damaged town; half-tracks. 2-star General. LS men building Bailey bridge, pushing into place; carry sections, unloading steel from truck & attaching. CUs. Man w/ jackhammer. Pushing bridge into place. GOOD. 11:20:02 LS towards small bridge across creek, truck & trailer across, onto road past new bridge under construction. 11:20:19 High angle down onto town & army constructing road; truck crossing narrow bridge. Tanks crossing. 11:20:35 INV 949. German prisoners of war / POWs marched along road past trucks headed to front. MCUs faces, feet. Townspeople watch. WW2; Free French; Advancing; Construction; NOTE: Good exposure & shots.