Omaha beach

[Lerxst]

I have just been looking at Saving Private Ryan. Lots of Americans got killed on Omaha beach. A terrible blood bath. The people fighting have my upmost respect and I wouldn't want to be on either side. So, don't take what I have to say below as flippant - I am just totally confused!

I know the allies bombed the coast beforehand and ended up killing more French civilians than German Machine gun posts or blowing up mines on the beach.

No war historian am I but the film suggests that heavier gear should have been arriving with the troops but landed somewhere else by mistake.

Having looked round a bit on t'interweb I cannot seem to find any answers to the following: why didn't they just take a look with binoculars to check things out before sending 100s of men to their deaths. You know, peek over the front of the landing craft or something. If nothing had been bombed or damaged I'd be turning round and communicating back to base!

Or am I completely naive and not a suitable military strategist candidate?

Any thoughts?