Cricqueville-en-Bessin in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe

Pointe du Hoc

Heroic Ranger Commandoes

— Colonel James E. Rudder —

Pointe du Hoc Marker, English inscription image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

1. Pointe du Hoc Marker, English inscription

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

To the Heroic Ranger Commandoes D2RN E2RN F2RN Of the 116th Inf Who under the command of Colonel James E. Rudder Of the First American Division Attacked and took possession of the Point du Hoc

French:
Aux heroiques Commados de Rangers D2RN E2RN F2RN du 116eme d’Infanterie qui prirent d’assaut la Pointe du Hoc Les 6.7.8 juin 1944 sous le commadement du Colonel James E. Rudder de la 1ere Division Americaine

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1944.

Location. 49° 23.837′ N, 0° 59.36′ W. Marker is in Cricqueville-en-Bessin, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. Marker can be reached from Rue Talbot. This marker is located on the battlefield near Pointe du Hoc. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cricqueville-en-Bessin, Normandie 14450, France. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 29th Infantry Division Memorial (approx. 6.5 kilometers away); 6th Engineer Special Brigade Memorial (approx. 6.5 kilometers away); Royal Air Force 6 June 1944

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(approx. 6.5 kilometers away); Le port artificiel "Mulberry" d'Omaha Beach (approx. 6.5 kilometers away); Ever Forward (approx. 6.6 kilometers away); National Guard of the United States Memorial (approx. 6.6 kilometers away); 29th Infantry Division at Vierville-sur-Mer (approx. 6.6 kilometers away); Le sacrifice des soldats américains sur la plage de Vierville (approx. 6.6 kilometers away).

Pointe du Hoc Marker, French inscription image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

2. Pointe du Hoc Marker, French inscription

Pointe du Hoc Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

3. Pointe du Hoc Marker

This monument was designed to resemble a dagger plunged into the earth. The inscriptions are engraved onto the hilt.

Pointe du Hoc image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

4. Pointe du Hoc

The beach and cliff assaulted by the Rangers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

5. The beach and cliff assaulted by the Rangers

Entrance to the Observation Bunker and Machine Gun Position image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

6. Entrance to the Observation Bunker and Machine Gun Position

Obsevation Bunker and Machine Gun Position image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

7. Obsevation Bunker and Machine Gun Position

View of the English Channel from inside the Obsevation Bunker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

8. View of the English Channel from inside the Obsevation Bunker

Gun Emplacement image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

9. Gun Emplacement

Note bomb and shell craters are still visible.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

10. Gun Emplacement

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

11. Gun Emplacement

155mm Gun Position of D-Day image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 30, 2012

12. 155mm Gun Position of D-Day

"The Germans, after suffering bombardment before D-Day, moved the surviving 155mm guns from Pointe du Hoc and repositioned them in a hedgerow south of this location. They erected dummy guns made from wooden poles to fool Allied aircraft. Rangers found and destroyed the actual guns, positioned to fire at Utah Beach, on the morning of D-Day. This recaptured gun is similar to the guns destroyed that day." Point du Hoc pamphlet

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 803 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on October 25, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.