Editing Robert Capa (section)

==== D-Day, Omaha beach, 1944 ====
{{Main|The Magnificent Eleven}}

A group of images known as "The Magnificent Eleven" were taken by Capa on [[D-Day]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c4/04/5d/c4045d946959d04ce27f96bbdcd2195f.jpg|title=Photo by Capa on D-Day|website=pinimg.com|access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref> Taking part in the Allied invasion, Capa was attached to the [[16th Infantry Regiment (United States)|16th Infantry Regiment]], 1st Infantry Division ("Big Red One") on [[Omaha Beach]].<ref>[http://www.nationalww2museum.org/learn/education/for-students/ww2-history/d-day-june-6-1944.html D-Day], National WWII Museum</ref><ref name=vanity/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reelfoto.blogspot.com/2012/12/robert-capa-20th-century-war.html|title=The Reel Foto: Robert Capa: 20th Century War Photographer|last=Jay|date=December 2, 2012|website=reelfoto.blogspot.com|access-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref> The US personnel attacking Omaha Beach faced some of the heaviest resistance from German troops inside the bunkers of the [[Atlantic Wall]]. Photographic historian [[A. D. Coleman]] has suggested that Capa traveled to the beach in the same landing craft as Colonel [[George A. Taylor]], commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, who landed 1½ hours after the first wave, near [[Colleville-sur-Mer]].<ref name="Coleman">{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/exposure-magazine/alternate-history-robert-capa-on-d-day-2657f9af914|title=Alternate History: Robert Capa on D-Day|last=Coleman|first=A. D.|date=February 12, 2019|website=exposure magazine|publisher=Society for Photographic Education|access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>

Capa subsequently stated that he took 106 pictures, but later discovered that all but 11 had been destroyed. This incident may have been caused by Capa's cameras becoming waterlogged at Normandy,<ref name=vanity/> although the more frequent allegation is that a young assistant accidentally destroyed the pictures while they were being developed at the photo lab in London.<ref>[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/3d37a03e-c8be-11e2-acc6-00144feab7de.html#slide0 Simon Kuper, "Interview: John Morris on his friend Robert Capa"], ''Financial Times'', May 31, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.</ref> However, this narrative has been challenged by Coleman and others.<ref name="Coleman"/> In 2016, [[John G. Morris]], who was picture editor at the London bureau of ''Life'' in 1944, agreed that it was more likely that Capa captured 11 images in total on D-Day.<ref name="Coleman"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/as-he-turns-100-john-morris-recalls-a-century-in-photojournalism/|title=As He Turns 100, John Morris Recalls a Century in Photojournalism|last=Estrin|first=James|date=December 6, 2016|website=Lens Blog|publisher=New York Times|language=en-US|access-date=February 18, 2019}}</ref> The 11 prints were included in ''Life'' magazine's issue on June 19, 1944,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slightly-out-of-focus.com/Capa_file/Capa%20images/d-day%20life/D%20DAY%201.jpg|title=''Life'' magazine story with Capa's images|website=slightly-out-of-focus.com|access-date=April 1, 2018|archive-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930161105/http://www.slightly-out-of-focus.com/Capa_file/Capa%20images/d-day%20life/D%20DAY%201.jpg|url-status=dead}}</ref> with captions written by magazine staffers, as Capa did not provide ''Life'' with notes or a verbal description of what they showed.<ref name="Coleman"/>

The captions have since been shown to be erroneous, as were subsequent descriptions of the images by Capa himself.<ref name="Coleman"/> For example, men described by ''Life'' as infantrymen taking cover behind a [[Czech hedgehog|hedgehog]] obstacle during the assault landing were in fact members of Gap Assault Team 10 – a combined US Navy/US Army demolition unit tasked with blowing up obstacles and clearing the way for landing craft after the beach had been secured.<ref name="Coleman"/><ref>[https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/d/d-day-the-normandy-invasion-combat-demolition-units.html Lt. (jg) H. L. Blackwell, Jr. Report on Naval Combat Demolition Units &#91;NCDUs&#93; In Operation "Neptune" as part of Task Force 122 (5 July, 1944)] (February 19, 2019).</ref>