As Americans pause to remember 9/11, the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the crash of flight Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, haunting images of destruction, courage and sacrifice likely leap to mind. We can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we learned of the attacks.
But even decades later, rarely-seen photos can still offer a unique perspective on the moments of that day that have shaped who we have become as a nation and military in the aftermath of the terror attacks.
The Navy Archives recently released a collection of photos taken by first responders and military members in the hours after American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon at about 9:37 a.m. on September 11, blazing a path of destruction that ended in an alley between the C and B Rings.
These vivid images offer a special glimpse into the events in and around the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
Fire crews work to put out the flames minutes after the attack, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl Jason Ingersoll)
The Pentagon seen from across VA-27 S Washington Blvd a few minutes after American Airlines Flight 77 hit the building, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Marine Corps/ Cpl Jason Ingersoll)
Pentagon employees gather in the South Parking Lot following the attack, 11 September 2001. (Courtesy of Alexandria Fire Department)
The first fire teams begin working to put out the flames in the minutes after the attack, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Navy/JO1 Mark Faram)
Pentagon employees along with members of the Crane Group gather in the South Parking Lot area following the attack, 11 September 2001. (Courtesy/Crane Group)
Fire crews work to put out the flames minutes after the attack, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl Jason Ingersoll)
Emergency response teams begin preparing triage areas outside of the Pentagon following the attack, 11 September 2001. (Courtesy of Alexandria Fire Department)
Pentagon employees walk away from the building along VA-27 S Washington Blvd following the attack, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Navy/JO1 Mark Faram)
Pentagon employees walk away from the building along VA-27 S Washington Blvd following the attack, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Navy/JO1 Mark Faram)
Fire crews work to put out the flames following the collapse of the E Ring, 11 September 2001. (Courtesy of Alexandria Fire Department)
An emergency response helicopter lands on Columbia Pike outside of the Pentagon, 11 September 2001. (Courtesy of Alexandria Fire Department)
Fire crews work to put out the flames after the E Ring of the Pentagon collapsed, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Jason Ingersoll)
Offices in the E Ring of the Pentagon are left exposed following the collapse of the neighboring section, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl Jason Ingersoll)
A triage team prepares to work, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Fire crews work to put out the flames following the collapse of the E Ring, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Fire crews work to put out the flames following the collapse of the E Ring, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Pentagon employees, law enforcement, and emergency response teams gather on VA-110 near the North Parking Lot, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Flames escape from E Ring office windows near the heliport control tower, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
A firefighter works to put out fires burning in the E Ring of the Pentagon near the heliport control tower, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Ai Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Triage teams prepare to work, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Fire crews work while standing amidst piles of debris, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
FBI personnel and emergency response teams work near the collapsed E Ring, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
U.S. Army personnel take a break from duty at the Pentagon, 12 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Volunteers and FBI personnel perform evidence sweeps near the point of impact, 11 September 2001. (U.S. Air Force/TSgt Louis Briscese)
Navy personnel return to their offices on the fourth deck of the E Ring to retrieve materials and view the point of collapse, 27 September 2001. (U.S. Navy/CDR George Navas)
This story was corrected to remove a typo regarding the flight number of the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.
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