American, 1944. Battle worn flag, the header with stencilled "USN LCT703 1944 3x 5," severely damaged through use, numerous tears, holes, and battle damage, the fly end blown out reducing the flag area by 30%. 850 x 1290 mm (maximum). A historic D-Day flag, flown on LCT Mk VI (Landing Craft Tank) 703, and cut down from the vessel when it hit a mine off Dog Green Sector Omaha Beach, early on the morning of June 6th, 1944. LCT 703 was built in Quincy, Illinois, launched in December 1943, transported to Britain, and equipped for D-Day. It was assigned to deliver its cargo of 4 tanks in the second wave of the assault on Omaha Beach starting at 7am. Its tanks were sent off further inshore, but still floundered in high seas as the flotation devices could not cope. An account by an officer around 9am on LCT 614 on Dog Red sector (adjoining) describes how "Three LCT's had gone off to the Dog Green sector...(the beach sector where company A of the 116th-the Bedford Boys-suffered so badly when they landed at H hour)..two of those three LCTs took severe hits. LCT 703 struck mines that knocked out her engines, and before other LCTs could pull her off, several shells struck her, setting her on afire and swamping her. She lay off the beach burning for the rest of the morning." Soon after, an American destroyer sailed closer inshore and pounded the German gun positions, making the ongoing assault on the beaches below somewhat easier. This flag was cut down from the stern flag pole of the burning ship by the Botswains Mate Harold Shook. It was purchased in 1998 in an estate sale in Ohio.
American, 1944. Battle worn flag, the header with stencilled "USN LCT703 1944 3x 5," severely damaged through use, numerous tears, holes, and battle damage, the fly end blown out reducing the flag area by 30%. 850 x 1290 mm (maximum). A historic D-Day flag, flown on LCT Mk VI (Landing Craft Tank) 703, and cut down from the vessel when it hit a mine off Dog Green Sector Omaha Beach, early on the morning of June 6th, 1944. LCT 703 was built in Quincy, Illinois, launched in December 1943, transported to Britain, and equipped for D-Day. It was assigned to deliver its cargo of 4 tanks in the second wave of the assault on Omaha Beach starting at 7am. Its tanks were sent off further inshore, but still floundered in high seas as the flotation devices could not cope. An account by an officer around 9am on LCT 614 on Dog Red sector (adjoining) describes how "Three LCT's had gone off to the Dog Green sector...(the beach sector where company A of the 116th-the Bedford Boys-suffered so badly when they landed at H hour)..two of those three LCTs took severe hits. LCT 703 struck mines that knocked out her engines, and before other LCTs could pull her off, several shells struck her, setting her on afire and swamping her. She lay off the beach burning for the rest of the morning." Soon after, an American destroyer sailed closer inshore and pounded the German gun positions, making the ongoing assault on the beaches below somewhat easier. This flag was cut down from the stern flag pole of the burning ship by the Botswains Mate Harold Shook. It was purchased in 1998 in an estate sale in Ohio.
/105205/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
