A U.S. Navy transport boat crew scanning the sky and horizon for hostile German aircraft; D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Machine guns ready

The 5"/25 (127 mm) battery aboard the U.S. Navy battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40) prepares to fire during the bombardment of Saipan, 15 June 1944. Note the time-fuze setters on the left side of each gun mount, each holding three "fixed" rounds of ammunition; the barrels of 20 mm machine guns at the extreme right; and triple the 14"/50 (34.5 cm) guns in the background.

Awesome Firepower

Smoke pours from the USS Arizona on Battleship Row, during the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Also visible are USS California, listing at left, USS Maryland, right of the plume, with the capsized USS Oklahoma directly beside it, and USS Neosho at right.