| Original caption: “American paratroopers rush through field in assault on Arnheim [sic] amid bursting German Eighty-Eights.” United States Army Signal Corps photo by Technician 5th Grade Murray P. Poznak (January 21, 1923 – January 25, 2007) showing 2 American soldiers cross a field while 1 of them stands approximately 3 feet away from an explosion that kicks up a fountain of dirt. This United States Army Signal Photograph is often used to illustrate combat by Untied States Army paratroopers in the Netherlands. The original caption mentions that the explosion is caused by a German 88 millimeter (3.46 inch) Flak 36 gun, but Americans commonly called all German artillery “eighty-eights.” Insignia on the shoulder patch and helmets indicate these are United States Army 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Infantry Division soldiers. Historian Mark Bano writes, “Southeast of Opheusden, elements of the 502nd held the southwest flank of the division line near Dodewaard. Action in the area was mostly limited to patrolling, and many men were killed or wounded by the thousands of German land mines planted in the area. A press photographer visited this sector during October and told Schuyler Jackson that he wanted to get a great action photo. At a loss for what to do, the men decided to “stage” a picture. They planted some Composition C-2 [Research Department eXplosive (RDX) with a plasticizer and other ingredients; early plastic explosive] rigged with a remote detonator in a nice pile of mud and positioned 1 trooper to the rear of it. The trooper struck a pose with his weapon at the ready and at a given signal, the charge was detonated. The photographer snapped a still photo of the explosion and the photo was later published in many books, newspapers, and magazines. The caption said the pictures showed an American paratrooper near Arnhem, advancing under 88 millimeter fire. It was hailed as 1 of the great action shots of World War II.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii0538.jpg |
| Image Size | 625.32 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3355 x 2624 |
| Photographer | Murray P. Poznak |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 17, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Dodewaard |
| State or Province | Gelderland |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | ETO-HQ-44-17200 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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