This week I’m highlighting color photographs taken as the Western Allies prepared for the invasion of Normandy (D-Day). The overwhelming majority of D-Day related color still film found in the National Archives document the pre-assault phase and not of the invasion area. Black-and-White photographs and other D-Day related documents from the National Archives can be found in our Online Catalog and in the new online exhibit “1944 – D-Day and The Normandy Invasion”.

Local Identifier: 111-C-1169, “American troops load onto LSIs at a port in Britain where barrage balloons have been anchored for protection against strafing and low level bombings.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1197, “These American troops are marching through the streets of a British port town on their way to the docks where they will be loaded into landing craft for the big assault.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1209, “Jeeps being driven into the open doors of an LCT at a port in Britain in preparation for D-Day.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1214, “Men and equipment are massed together in landing craft in preparation for the big assault on the European continent. England.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1218, “This is the last roll call for the men before they board landing craft for the big assault on the European continent.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1219, “View of an LCT with American troops and equipment loaded aboard awaiting the signal for the assault against the continent.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1232, “American troops at a British port descend into barges which will take them to troop ships from which they will launch the attack against Hitler’s Fortress Europe. Note Barrage balloons in the background.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1237, “American troops at a British port descend into barges which will take them to troop ships from which they will launch the attack against Hitler’s Fortress Europe.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1247, “Trucks which will carry supplies to front line troops when the assault against Hitler’s Europe begins, are being loaded on an LST in a British port.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1248, “Medics and litter bearers going up the ramp of an LCT which will take them to France for the assault against Hitler’s Europe.”

Local Identifier: 111-C-1258, “These American troops have loaded their equipment onto an LCT and are waiting the signal for the assault against the Continent.”