On the anniversary of the D-Day Normandy landings, George Clooney and Matt Damon were transported back to WWII as they filmed scenes for their new movie The Monuments Men.

All week the acting duo have been spotted in full military fatigues at the unusual location of Pontins resort in Camber Sands, as they film beach scenes for the wartime epic.

And a more appropriate time to shoot the movie could not be more emotive, as Director Clooney, 52, will no doubt have used the resonance of the 69-year anniversary of the Allied Troops' European invasion, to re-tell his historic story through film.

Date to remember: George Clooney films scenes for The Monuments Men on the D-Day anniversary of the Normandy landings

George was joined on the beach in Rye by Bill Murray, John Goodman, Hugh Bonneville and Jean Dujardin.

Carrying guns and wearing a mix of metal helmets and berets, the team waited on a military vessel in the sea surrounded by the camera crew and equipment.

The set-up looked similar to that day on June 6th 1944, where thousands of Allied troops descended onto the beaches of Normandy in northern France to initiate a major offensive against the Germans.

Sunny day: The weather performed for George on the watery set of his latest film

Ready to land: The cast wait in a military vessel as they prepare to film their arrival onto a beach Cultural saviours: The film follows a crew of Art Historians and Museum Curators as they unite to recover renown works of art stolen by the Nazis before they can be destroyed Allied troops: The French, Americans and British unite in the forms of Dujardin, Goodman and Bonneville At work: The cast - who are staying at Pontins resort - looked hard at work as they filmed scenes for the film, directed by George Clooney Battalions of paratroops and glider-borne troops were also dropped behind Nazi enemy lines to coincide with the midnight assault - that the Prime Minister Winston Churchill called 'Operation Neptune' - under the command of General Bernard Montgomery. The dunes of Camber Sands were fortified and used for exercises during the Second World War, but it seems the film production are using the beach and village to replicate a coastal area of Germany. According to the Rye and Battle Observer, local residents were 'confronted by the strange sights of a crashed German Messerschmitt on Camber Sands and an empty antiques shop at Rye's Strand being converted into what appears to be a German butcher's shop.' At work: The cast - who are staying at Pontins resort - looked hard at work as they filmed scenes for the film, directed by George Clooney Hard work: The cast looked worn out as they waded through water to get to the British shore Good time: French actor Jean smiles at John Goodman in front of the rolling cameras during one shot

Marching off the boats, George led his crew into the water and past a set of Czech Hedgehogs - a static anti-tank obstacle defence made of angled iron - covered in barbed wire. But their landing did not represent an attack rather the beginning of a recovery mission, as the film tells the story of an Allied group who were responsible for saving pieces of art and other significant cultural items from the Nazis during World War II. The film is co-written, produced and directed by Clooney, with the script based on the book The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel. Resonant: George leads John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Bill Murray and Hugh Bonneville on the beach of Camber Sands Realistic: Every detail of the WWII was considered, including anti-tank blockades, Czech Hedgehogs Troops: Jean Dujardin and John Goodman are part of the team led by Clooney, sent to recover priceless art from the Nazis Takeover: The production took over the Camber Sands dunes to film The Monuments Men The filming is supposedly to run until the end of June, and in that time the cast and crew will stay at the Pontins Resort, having bagged 85 rooms at the family holiday destination. And it sounds as though they're making the most of their all-inclusive stay after being spotted enjoying a cabaret on Tuesday night. 'They’ve been in and out — you can’t miss them,' a source told The Sun. Big change: From The Artist to an art curator, Dujardin had a military makeover

Silver foxes: George Clooney looked handsome on set as he chatted with co-star Bill Murray

Legend: 62-year-old Bill Murray looked the part as he donned a khaki officer uniform during filming 52-year-old George - who is directing and producing the film - and his main star Matt were also spotted enjoying a slap up meal of fish and chips in nearby Rye. And it seems as though the pair are really making the most of their current budget lifestyle after being spotted working out at a free local gym earlier this week. Members of the public were left stunned when the Hollywood pair rocked up at the council-run gym in Cambridge, where they enjoyed an hour-long training session. Self-promoting: George Clooney wears a T-shirt featuring his own Tequila brand on location in Rye Still directing: Even without his military fatigues on, George was leading the way Still in character: George gets around in a classic army jeep Matt first appeared on Saturday night and did an hour-long session on the weights and exercise machines, returning the next day with his director and co-star George. The pair even borrowed the sports hall so they could play basketball with their bodyguards for an hour. Sports centre manager Liane Shadrack, 42, said: 'You do not expect to be working out next to Matt Damon. It was quite bizarre. Long shoot: George will be filming his war epic in Rye until the end of June

Not as luxurious as Hollywood: The A-lister stars might be used to mansions and five-star hotels, but it looks as though they're just at home in Pontins Family trip: Hugh Bonneville brought his wife and son to the shoot location for a summer holiday 'I think some members found it a bit distracting and maybe didn't work out to their full potential that night. He was just completely laid back, chatting to staff and members. 'We were really busy on the Sunday and we only had one slot left between 1pm and 2pm so I said to Matt Damon that I would reserve it for him. 'It was great that he came back and brought George Clooney with him. Everyone was in shock. They are both so handsome.'

Down to earth: Matt Damon and gym manager Mustafa Ustamehmetoglu in the weights room of the Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre in Cambridge on Saturday night