| Landing ships putting cargo ashore on Omaha Beach. “A panoramic view of the Omaha beachhead after it was secured, sometime around mid-June 1944, at low tide.” The Coast Guard-manned LST-262 is the 3rd beached Landing Ship Tank (LST) from the right, 1 of 10 Coast Guard-manned LSTs that participated in the invasion of Normandy, France, in June 1944. Among identifiable ships present are LST-532 (in the center of the view); USS LST-262 (3rd LST from right); USS LST-310 (2nd LST from right); USS LST-533 (partially visible at far right); and USS LST-524. Note barrage balloons overhead, ambulances at lower left, and crane at lower left center and Army “half-track” convoy forming up on the beach. LST-262 was 1 of 10 Coast Guard-manned LSTs that participated in the invasion of Normandy, France. USS LST-310, an LST-1 class Tank Landing Ship, was laid down at Boston Navy Yard on September 22, 1942, and launched into the mouth of the Charles River on November 23, 1942. Commissioned on January 20, 1943, with Lieutenant Wilfred P. Lawless (December 3, 1917 – August 22, 2006), United States Naval Reserve, of Charlotte, North Carolina, in command. USS LST-310 served in the invasion of Sicily, Salerno, and Normandy. Lieutenant Lawless was decorated for his ship handling during the Normandy Campaign. Decommissioned on May 16, 1945, she was scheduled to be converted into the Landing Craft Repair Ship Aeolus (ARL-42) at the Boston Navy Yard, but this was canceled with the end of the war on September 12, 1945. Reverted back to USS LST-310, she was struck from the Naval Register on March 12, 1946, and sold to Boston Metals Company of Baltimore, Maryland, for conversion to merchant service. As Motor Vessel Mercator, she was sold to the Panama Navigation Corporation and flagged as a Panamanian ship. In 1963, she was sold to the Argentinean shipping company Navemar Société Anonyme. Her fate is unknown. An LST-1 Class Tank Landing Ship, USS LST-262 was eventually commanded by Lieutenant Herman W. Klotz (July 1, 1902 – 1976), United States Coast Guard Reserve. She was laid down on September 7, 1942, at American Bridge Company in Ambridge, Pennsylvania. Launched into the Ohio River on February 13, 1943, USS-262 was commissioned on June 16, 1943. Assigned to LST Flotilla 12, LST Group 35, LST Division 69. Her commanding officers were Lieutenant Klotz, Lieutenant Victor M. “Vic” Hill (May 18, 1897 – April 2, 1950), United States Coast Guard Reserve, Lieutenant Junior Grade Kenneth V. W. Lawrence (September 26, 1912 – October 30, 1982), United States Coast Guard Reserve, and Lieutenant Frederick G. Stoye (August 6, 1912 – January 28, 1986), United States Coast Guard Reserve. LST-262 was operating in the Mediterranean area on April 4, 1944, and arrived in England on May 3, 1944. She was in service in the United Kingdom until July 1, 1944, when she was rammed by LST-373 resulting in a hole just forward of the port booby hatch. The compartment was dogged off and operations continued. On July 4, 1944, a temporary patch was placed over the hole, replaced by a permanent repair later. She continued operations in England until June 14, 1945, when she left for Norfolk. On July 1, 1945, she arrived at Norfolk and on July 6, 1945, at New York. Proceeding to New Orleans she arrived there July 18, 1945, and went to Orange, Texas, on availability until October 17, 1945, when she returned to Norfolk arriving November 15, 1945. On December 8, 1945, she went to Poole’s Island but returned to Norfolk for disposal. She was decommissioned at Norfolk on January 14, 1946. Struck from the Naval Register on June 19, 1946, she was sold for scrapping to N. Block and Company of Norfolk Virginia, on December 9, 1947. She received 2 Battle Stars for World War II service. Lieutenant Hill, who commanded LST-262 from 1943-1944, contracted tuberculosis during his war service and died soon afterwards. Another LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship, USS LST-524 was laid down on October 4, 1943, at the Jeffersonville, Indiana, Boat and Machine Company. Launched into the Ohio River on December 13, 1943, she was commissioned on February 9, 1944, with Ensign Earl B. Dodge (July 15, 1907 – October 3, 1993), United States Navy, in Command. USS LST-524 was assigned to LST Flotilla 36, commanded by Captain Daniel F. J. Shea (August 28, 1901 – April 9, 1968), United States Navy; LST Group 106, commanded by Commander Olin Perry “O. P.” Thomas Jr. (February 15, 1905 – February 16, 1959), United States Navy; LST Division 212. Motor Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Sewell N. Dunton was injured during operations in Normandy and broke his knee. LST-524 operated out of Yokohama, Japan for 2 cruises, September 20 – November 1, 1945, and November 15, 1945 – February 4, 1946. Redesigned ship Q040, she was decommissioned the same day her last cruise ended nd assigned to Commander Naval Forces Far East (COMNAVFE) Shipping Control Authority for Japan (SCAJAP). She was struck from the Naval Register on October 31, 1947. Transferred to the Maritime Commission (MARAD) on May 21, 1948, she was sold the same day for scrapping to Consolidated Builders, Incorporated, of Seattle, Washington. USS LST-524 earned 2 battle stars for World War II service. USS LST-532 was an LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship. Laid down on September 24, 1943, at Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company of Evansville, Indiana, and launched into the Ohio River on November 28, 1943. Commissioned on January 20, 1944, LST-532 was commanded by Lieutenant Marinus Pilkington (January 17, 1911 – December 23, 1968), United States Navy. LST-532 served in the invasion of Normandy. Following the war, she operated with the Service Force, United States Atlantic Fleet, making 3 tours to Europe; October 15, 1950 – January 24, 1951, January 21, – June 7, 1952, and September 3, 1953 – January 30, 1954. The ship was decommissioned on June 8, 1955, and renamed Chase County (LST-532) on July 1, 1955, after counties in Kansas and Nebraska. On April 15, 1967, she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service and served as USNS Chase County until struck from the Navy list on June 10, 1973. LST-532 earned 1 battle star for World War II service and 2 for Vietnam War service. Transferred to the Republic of Singapore, her fate is unknown. USS LST-533, an LST-491 Class Tank Landing Ship, was laid down on September 29, 1943, at t Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company of Evansville, Indiana, and launched into the Ohio River on December 1, 1943. Commissioned on January 27, 1944, Lieutenant Clarence E. Hanks, United States Coast Guard Reserve in Command. USS LST-533 participated in the invasion of Normandy. Rechristened USS Cheboygan County (LST-533), on July 1, 1955, she was decommissioned on December 1, 1955. Laid up for years, she was recommissioned on November 18, 1961, and served until July 1969. Struck from the Naval Register on September 15, 1974, USS LST-533 earned 1 battle star for World War II service. She was sold for scrapping by the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) on December 1, 1975. USS LCT-637, a Mark 6 Class Landing Craft Tank, was constructed by Bison Shipbuilding Corporation of North Tonawanda, New York, and launched into the Niagara River on January 18, 1944. Delivered to the United States Navy the next day, she was assigned to LCT Flotilla 19 under Lieutenant Commander Lanceferd B. Pruitt Jr. (October 5. 1907 – October 30, 1992). 1 of 36 LCTs, she served in the Normandy Campaign from June 6-25, 1944. Redesignated Landing Ship Utility, LSU-637 in 1949. During the Korean War LSU-637 participated in the Inchon landing and 5 other operations. On April 15, 1956, she was redesignated Landing Craft Utility LCU-629. On March 1, 1966, she was reclassified Harbor Utility Craft YFU-55 for Vietnam War service. She served in 10 amphibious operations, including the Tet counteroffensive. She was placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register on July 1, 1977. She was sold for scrapping in April 1978. LCT-637 earned 1 battle star for World War II service, LSU-637 earned 5 battle stars for Korean War service and as YFU-55 earned 12 campaign stars for Vietnam War service. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2112.jpg |
| Image Size | 3.07 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 6820 x 5410 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Coast Guard |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 15, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Omaha Beach |
| State or Province | Normandy |
| Country | France |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 26-G-2517 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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