USS Corry (DD-463) sunk on D-Day

USS Corry (DD-463) — the "DD" stands for "Destroyer Division" identifying the ship as a destroyer, and the "463" -- the hull number -- indicates that this is the 463rd destroyer built for the US Navy. The USS Corry was the lead destroyer of the Normandy invasion, which began on June 6, 1944 — D-Day — described by author Stephen Ambrose as the climactic battle of World War II.

The USS Corry and the USS Fitch (DD-462) were the first two ships to fire on German-occupied France in the Normandy Invasion. Less than one mile from the Normandy shore, the Corry was one of five frontline destroyers that bombarded Utah Beach in support of invading troops on D-Day.

The Corry was the only U.S. destroyer sunk on D-Day and the U.S. Navy’s only major loss that day. Normandy’s flag-raising story: As the Corry was going under, one crewmember rescued her American flag.

Because the Corry sank in shallow water near the shore — about 30 feet deep — her main mast and upper bridge remained above the surface of the water. The crewmember with the American flag swam and raised the flag up the mast. Though the Corry had gone down in the fighting, her flag could still be seen by all, proudly waving in the wind.

On the 50th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, in a remembrance ceremony off Utah Beach where the Corry was sunk, President Clinton placed a wreath on the water and described this patriotic flag-raising episode as one of the most stirring tales of D-Day.

Following is an excerpt from President Clinton's speech: “...But one man stayed aboard. He climbed the stern, removed the flag, and swam and scrambled to the main mast. There, he ran up the flag. And as he swam off, our flag opened into the breeze. In the Corry’s destruction, there was no defeat. Today, the wreckage of that ship lies directly beneath us — an unseen monument to those who helped to win this great war. Thirteen of the Corry’s crew rest there as well, and these waters are forever sanctified by their sacrifice.”

Photo 1:

Settled wreckage of USS Corry  June 6, 1944

 Photo 2:

USS COrry sinkin

Photo 3:

Second destroyer passes to the rear of sinking USS Corry.

Photo 4:

At left, USS Corry sinking, broken in a "V", with smoke screen chemicals spewing from her stern. A German shell hit the smoke generator. A second destroyer passes to the rear, as a rescue whaleboat approaches from lower right.

Photo 5:

USS Corry hit amidships at approximately 06:30 (H-Hour) on D-Day - June 6, 1944

Photo 6:

Two near misses off Corry bow from shore batteries