D-Day Pegasus Bridge
To safeguard the right flank and to prepare for subsequent operations it was essential that two bridges, one over the CAEN CANAL, one over the RIVER ORNE, at BENOUVILLE were captured intact.
The operation would be carried out by Air landing troops from the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light infantry deploying in Horsa Gliders.
At 22:26 the gliders took off bound for Normandy. En route one of the gliders destined for the bridge on the R.ORNE tow roped snapped.
At the CAEN CANAL, the first glider landed at 00:15, on LZ X, impacting an earth bank and stunning the crew and passengers. One minute later the second glider landed breaking in two, the third glider landing at 00:18 skidded into a pond causing several injuries and a fatality.
The troops emerged from the gliders, engaged trenches, gun pits and a concrete bunker which it was believed held the demolition trigger.
After a brief fire fight, the bridge was secured at 00:24. The first house liberated in France was the Café Gondralle
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| Bridge over Caen Canal |
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| Bridge over River Orne |
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| Operation on the Caen Canal and River Orne |
The operation would be carried out by Air landing troops from the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light infantry deploying in Horsa Gliders.
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| Horsa Glider |
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| Horsa Glider |
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| Horsa Glider interior |
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| Air landing soldier in Horsa Glider |
At 22:26 the gliders took off bound for Normandy. En route one of the gliders destined for the bridge on the R.ORNE tow roped snapped.
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| Horsa Glider being towed |
At the CAEN CANAL, the first glider landed at 00:15, on LZ X, impacting an earth bank and stunning the crew and passengers. One minute later the second glider landed breaking in two, the third glider landing at 00:18 skidded into a pond causing several injuries and a fatality.
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| Gliders landing on the Caen Canal |
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| Glider positions at Pegasus Bridge |
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| Glider positions marked by memorial stones at Pegasus Bridge |
The troops emerged from the gliders, engaged trenches, gun pits and a concrete bunker which it was believed held the demolition trigger.
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| Troops assault the bridge |
After a brief fire fight, the bridge was secured at 00:24. The first house liberated in France was the Café Gondralle
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| Café Gondralle |
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| Northumbria ACF Pegasus Bridge |
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| Original Pegasus Bridge |
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| Ian / Lee Pegasus Bridge |