Us Official Photographs

Metz city before capture

This view of the city of Metz, France, was made by an 8th Air Force reconnaissance pilot on 11/19/44 just before its capture by Gen. Patton's 3rd U.S. Army. Smoke rising from the city is believed to be from fires started by heavy shelling. On the outskirts of the city, two fortifications (upper left and lower right) can be seen, both of which fell before advancing American Ground Forces.