Photographer Howard Nckelson captured this image at an overrun enemy mobile artillery position just moments before an unfortunate friendly fire incident from several American fighter aircraft.

Overrun enemy position

The reality of the "battlesleds" was that, as soon as the tanks began to advance, they received increasing direct fire from enemy tanks and anti-tank cannons. The tanks, forced to return fire and take evasion action, had to change direction abruptly or stop to fire and in some cases, back up. This maneuvering caused some of the sleds to topple and the soldiers riding fell victim to near-misses directed at the tanks. The sleds made a debut and a hasty exit from military history during the breakout.

Battlesleds results

Fifth Army Commander Mark Clark, First Special Forces Commander Robert T. Frederick (later CO of the 45th Infantry Division) and II Corps Commander Geoffrey Keyes, along with fellow officers, inspect maps while military correspondents and photographers look on.(rudeerude)