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m10bob -> RE: Omaha beach (smokeC) (5/21/2004 5:18:29 PM)
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The Air Corps(mostly 9th U.S.air force that day)was to bomb the heck out of the beach defenses but they released late.(Remember,they went in in the dark during inclement weather,and Americans were not pros at night bombing).
Then,the Navy(in theory)was to take out the beach defenses(if any were left),but it was done from a distance(so as to not give warning of the armada's approach).Ergo,when A. Co of the 116th hit that beach,NONE of the defenses had been taken out.
The scene on the beach for the approx 25% of Co A who survived,was "every man for himself,get off the beach"..The panic and confusion was multiplied by the constant mortar,MG,and direct artillery fire coming down on the beach from the Germans,(who were at a height advantage).
The need to drop smoke was never a consideration,in light of the fact the defenses were expected to be knocked out before anybody even got to the beach.
The error of "over-expectations" was repeated at other times during the war..
"The Germans are beaten and fighting with men and boys"(was a common myth),because even when this was the case,the rifle was just as deadly once pointed in the direction of the enemy).
Too,likely the most glaring example of Allied over-optimism was "Market-Garden"..
BTW,The Air Corps got in trouble(wrongfully)for missing the Normandy beaches on D-Day,and so,when Operation Cobra was ready to kick off,the bombers went in ready to hit the enemy with a "nervous-finger" on the bomb site button,and when the lead plane dropped,all dropped,(even though most of the planes had not approached the enemy lines yet).
Members of the American advance RCT's took direct hits,and a MG was killed with his troops.
Long-winded story when the initial question was "Why no smoke",but just wanted to explain the mentality of the moment and point out that it was not a singular moment,but had a commonality in war planning.
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