King Tiger
Active Member
The first 24 hours will be the most critical, both for us as well as the Allies.
It will be the longest day.
~ General Erwin Rommel
It will be the longest day.
~ General Erwin Rommel
King Tiger's World War 2 Battlefield Tour (Europe)
- Thread starter King Tiger
- Start date
King Tiger
Active Member
One of the greatest battle in the history of World War II.
Operation Overlord was the codename for invasion of Europe by Allied forces.
It is the largest and greatest seaborne invasion ever assembly.
The invasion fleet, from 8 different navies, comprising 6,939 vessels :
1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels.
The invasion began with an large overnight airborne invasion inland by
23,000 mens from US 82nd, 101st Airborne Divisions and British 6th Airborne Division,
follow by massive air and naval bombardments.
Battleships, cruisers and destroyers provide heavy shore bombardment and full fire support
beyond the suppression of shore defenses overlooking landing beaches
and support to break up enemy concentrations as Allies troops moved inland.
The Invasion 06 June 1944
Operation Overlord was the codename for invasion of Europe by Allied forces.
It is the largest and greatest seaborne invasion ever assembly.
The invasion fleet, from 8 different navies, comprising 6,939 vessels :
1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels.
The invasion began with an large overnight airborne invasion inland by
23,000 mens from US 82nd, 101st Airborne Divisions and British 6th Airborne Division,
follow by massive air and naval bombardments.
Battleships, cruisers and destroyers provide heavy shore bombardment and full fire support
beyond the suppression of shore defenses overlooking landing beaches
and support to break up enemy concentrations as Allies troops moved inland.
The Invasion 06 June 1944
King Tiger
Active Member
British 6th Airborne Division mission is to cover the eastern flank of the invasion force,
securing bridges and destroying key objectives.
US 82nd Airborne Divisions mission is to protect the far western flank of the invasion in the Cotentin peninsula.
Capture Ste. Mere-Eglise from the German garrison stationed there as it was important because it straddled the main road between Carentan and Cherbourg.
101st Airborne Divisions mission is to secure four exits across the marshland near the coast for the invading US 4th Infantry Division at Utah beach.
I will start with British 6th Airborne Division first as they are the very first to land on D-Day.
securing bridges and destroying key objectives.
US 82nd Airborne Divisions mission is to protect the far western flank of the invasion in the Cotentin peninsula.
Capture Ste. Mere-Eglise from the German garrison stationed there as it was important because it straddled the main road between Carentan and Cherbourg.
101st Airborne Divisions mission is to secure four exits across the marshland near the coast for the invading US 4th Infantry Division at Utah beach.
I will start with British 6th Airborne Division first as they are the very first to land on D-Day.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
2. Pegasus Bridge
The mission of the airborne troops was to land at key objectives surrounding the invasion beaches,
prevent or disrupt any German counterattacks that could throw the invaders back into the sea,
and pave the way for the main landing force to move inland.
One of the crucial objective was the Pegasus bridges assigned to Major Howard’s glider force of the British 6th Airborne Division.
At 12:16 a.m. on June 6, the three gliders under Howard’s command banged down within 40 yards of the east end of Caen Canal bridge – soon to be known as Pegasus Bridge.
Somewhat shaken by the rough landing, the men nevertheless immediately attacked their objective and accomplished their assigned tasks without further orders.
Howard’s force had swept the surprised German defenders from the bridge with small-arms fire,
disconnected the enemy’s explosive demolition charges, and set up a defensive perimeter to hold the crossing against any counterattack.
The mission of the airborne troops was to land at key objectives surrounding the invasion beaches,
prevent or disrupt any German counterattacks that could throw the invaders back into the sea,
and pave the way for the main landing force to move inland.
One of the crucial objective was the Pegasus bridges assigned to Major Howard’s glider force of the British 6th Airborne Division.
At 12:16 a.m. on June 6, the three gliders under Howard’s command banged down within 40 yards of the east end of Caen Canal bridge – soon to be known as Pegasus Bridge.
Somewhat shaken by the rough landing, the men nevertheless immediately attacked their objective and accomplished their assigned tasks without further orders.
Howard’s force had swept the surprised German defenders from the bridge with small-arms fire,
disconnected the enemy’s explosive demolition charges, and set up a defensive perimeter to hold the crossing against any counterattack.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Pegasus Bridge on the extreme left of the photos, notice the 3 gliders near the bridge.
On the right, are the other objectives secure by the British 6th Airborne Division.
3 gliders from Major Howard’s unit.
On the right, are the other objectives secure by the British 6th Airborne Division.
3 gliders from Major Howard’s unit.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Pegasus Bridge today.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - Pegasus Bridge
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - Pegasus Bridge
KT cross reference with photo at actual site.
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
KT cross reference with photo at actual site.
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - Pegasus Bridge
Present Day - Pegasus Bridge
Present Day - Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - Pegasus Bridge
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - Pegasus Bridge
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
May 2010 - Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Jun 1944 - The site of the gilders landing
May 2010 - The same site, notice the house at the extreme left.
It is the Pegasus Bridge Cafe today.
May 2010 - The same site, notice the house at the extreme left.
It is the Pegasus Bridge Cafe today.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
1944 - Major Howard having french wine with the owner of Pegasus Bridge Cafe.
May 2010 - Notice the very same signboard "Pegasus Bridge"
May 2010 - Notice the very same signboard "Pegasus Bridge"
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Present Day - Rememberance at Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
German Gun defence at Pegasus Bridge
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
King Tiger
Active Member
Pegasus Bridge Cafe or, also known as Gondree Family cafe, they are the very first building to be liberated on D-Day.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
The daughter of the owner, Arlette, was a six-year-old child when British Airborne Forces landed at Pegasus Bridge.
She still live and work here today.
Fierce fighting was still going on and wounded British troops were soon being looked after in the cafe which over the years has become a shrine to returning veterans and is still owned by the same family.
During the war the Gondree family were at great risk as Arlettes mother was from Alsace, which spoke a dialect of German,
and this enabled her to understand conversations between German soldiers in the cafe and hand over the information to the resistance.
60 years later all British visitors are assured of a warm welcome at Gondree Cafe.
KT and wife have a break and drinks at Pegasus Bridge Cafe.
She still live and work here today.
Fierce fighting was still going on and wounded British troops were soon being looked after in the cafe which over the years has become a shrine to returning veterans and is still owned by the same family.
During the war the Gondree family were at great risk as Arlettes mother was from Alsace, which spoke a dialect of German,
and this enabled her to understand conversations between German soldiers in the cafe and hand over the information to the resistance.
60 years later all British visitors are assured of a warm welcome at Gondree Cafe.
KT and wife have a break and drinks at Pegasus Bridge Cafe.
Last edited:
King Tiger
Active Member
Tank at Pegasus Bridge
Just for fun, can anyone guess which/what tank is this ?
Just for fun, can anyone guess which/what tank is this ?
Last edited:
Similar threads
