Gunner/Radio man SBD Dauntless South Pacific 1943-44

John R. Robbins 

American troops on board a Landing Craft Assault.

Operation Torch 

The amphibious assault on Tarawa in November 1943 was supported by the M4A2 medium tanks of C Company, I Marines Amphibious Corps Battalion. Most of the tanks deployed in the first day never made it to shore, being either knocked out by point-blank Japanese artillery fire from nearby bunkers, or drowned in deep shell holes. One of the few to survive the ordeal and make it to shore was 'Condor', only to fall victim to a US Navy dive bomber later that day.