On June 6, 1944, Allied forces crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, to liberate Western Europe from the occupation of Nazi Germany. Come see the original flag that was carried on Landing Craft Tank 595 – one of the first vessels into combat on D-Day. This historic flag will be on display at MOHAI in the Faye G. Allen Grand Atrium from September 10–October 10, 2017.
Among the first vessels into combat on D-Day–considered by many to be a turning point in the war against Nazi Germany–was Landing Craft Tank (LCT) 595. Sent on a mission to deliver American Army swimming tanks to locations off Utah Beach, these LCTs were critical if the Allies had any chance of breaking through the Nazi strongholds.
After the attack, LCT-595’s captain told US Navy Boatswain George Edward Rudisill to remove the tattered flag and fly a new full one. Rudisill asked to keep the battle-worn remains of the original D-Day flag. He preserved the keepsake in a shoebox, along with the only known photograph of LCT-595.