Slideshow: Peleliu

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Slideshow: Peleliu

Peleliu

D-Day, Peleliu

Rocket launching landing craft released salvos of rockets against Peleliu Island on D-Day preceeding landings of the First Marine Division.

Vought OS2U Kingfisher

A Vought OS2U Kingfisher flew over invasion shipping, as the first landing waves headed for the beach on September 17, 1944. The Eastern tip of Anguar is at right with beach "blue" on the far side.

Headed for the Beach

First Division Marines headed for the beach as their LVTs churned past the offshore line of LCI gunboats on 15 September 1944. Note the gunner saluting from the LVT (2) in the foreground.

Bombardment

Smoke and dust rose from the Peleliu shore during the final stages of the pre-invasion bombardment.

Devil Dogs

A Marine company of Devil Dogs embarked a landing barge from a Coast Guard-manned invasion transport standing off Peleliu. The dogs went in during the initial phases of the Peleliu invasion and were used for sentry and scouting duty. The dogs were also m

Marines took cover

Marines took cover on the Peleliu invasion beach, as they came under heavy fire from Japanese troops hidden in underbrush and in caves

Struggle for the Peleliu beachhead

In the struggle for the Peleliu beachhead, Marine infantrymen fought from the shelter of an amphibious tractor. Riflemen atop the amphibian fired at the Japanese while their comrades got a breather.

Japanese resistance

In capturing the airfield on Peleliu, U.S. Marines met with resistance from enemy troops. Japanese artillery placed in caves of "Bloody Nose Ridge" halted the U.S. advance for days.

Aerial view

First Marine Division aerial photograph of "Bloody Nose Ridge" taken by Kappel, Oct. 1944.

Alert

An unidentified Marine tilted his head back, alert, during the Peleliu operation.

Marines advance

Marines fired their weapons and threw hand grenades at the Japanese hiding in caves on the hillside.

Weary anticipation

A combat photographer captured this Marine in action at Peleliu, tired, unshaven, but wide-eyed and alert to the ever constant danger. He sucked in his lip as he steeled himself to the next attack.