GIs and Mark IV Panzer, France

Caption reads:

“Infantry patrol pokes about the ruins of Portfarot,
passing a German MK 4 Tank. Buildings in background
still burns as evidence of American artillery barrage.”

August 1944

III-SC 192422, Credit NARA.


Dave

 

Kind of a strange, and I would almost say posed photo. The troops have no gear aside from their weapons. The uniforms look great, like maybe HQ Company. Shirts tucked in? In combat??

Just doesn't look quite right.

 

I actually thought the same thing while processing the photo.
It is just too neat.


Dave

 

Another weird thing. The longer I look at the Tank and the troops, the more it looks like none of them belong there. The contrast and focus seems different than the rest of the pic. I'd almost call it a photochop (I work with that all day).

Just has an overall "not right" feel to it.

 

I thought the original image was overexposed.

Therefore, I desaturated the image in PS CS II and adjusted contrast
and brightness, then resized for this thread.

Would you like a copy of the original unaltered scan?


Dave

 

Way too much effort being wasted chasing shadows. Then photo was taken on August 3rd 1944 in Pont-Farcy.
A follow up pic shows the PzIV (Pz Reg 3, 2nd Pz Division) after it was pushed to the side of the road

 

I found that photo as well at the Archives.

Caption reads:

"One knocked out German tank but there are plenty
more around. This tank was knocked out when Americans
took Pontfarcy, France."

Date: 5 August 1944

Photographer: McHugh

III-SC 192520, Credit NARA.


Dave

 

Nice photos.