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Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge crossing the Caen Canal near Bénouville in Normandy, France, originally known as the Bénouville Bridge and renamed after the winged horse emblem of the British 6th Airborne Division.^[1]^[2] It gained historical significance as the site of Operation Deadstick, the first combat action of the Allied D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, when 181 British airborne troops from the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, led by Major John Howard, landed by glider just after midnight to seize the bridge intact.^[3]^[1]^[4] The operation aimed to secure both Pegasus Bridge and the nearby Horsa Bridge over the Orne River to protect the eastern flank of the Normandy landings from German counterattacks, particularly by the 21st Panzer Division, and to establish a vital link between airborne drop zones and Sword Beach.^[1]^[4] Despite challenging nighttime glider landings—with all three of the Horsa gliders assigned to the bridge touching down within 40 yards of the target—the bridges were captured in under 15 minutes following a brief firefight, with minimal Allied casualties, including the death of Lieutenant Den Brotheridge, the first British soldier killed by enemy action on D-Day.^[3]^[4] The troops held the position against German assaults until relieved by Lord Lovat's Commandos later that morning, ensuring the success of the broader Operation Overlord.^[1] Today, the original 1934 Pegasus Bridge serves as the centerpiece of the Mémorial Pégasus museum in nearby Ranville, which opened in 2000 to honor the 6th Airborne Division's role in the Battle of Normandy.^[2] The bridge was replaced by a modern structure in 1994, while the museum grounds also feature a replica Horsa glider, a Bailey bridge, military artifacts, and the nearby Café Gondrée, the first French building liberated on D-Day.^[4]^[2] The site remains a key commemorative location, drawing visitors to reflect on the precision and bravery that marked this pivotal early phase of the Allied liberation of Western Europe.^[3]

Historical Background

Construction and Early History

The Canal de Caen à la Mer, linking the inland city of Caen to the Channel port of Ouistreham, was constructed between 1837 and 1857 under a decree initiated during the July Monarchy to enhance navigation for regional commerce and to control flooding along the Orne River through canalization and embankment works.^[5] In the early 20th century, infrastructure improvements included widening and deepening the waterway between 1907 and 1910, followed by an increase in depth to 6.10 meters by 1912 via the addition of the Montalivet barrage, allowing passage for larger vessels with drafts up to approximately 6 meters and capacities of 3,000 tonnes.^[6] These enhancements supported agricultural exports, industrial transport, and flood mitigation in the flood-prone Orne valley, bolstering Normandy's economic connectivity to the sea.^[5] To accommodate increasing local road traffic while maintaining navigability, a new bascule bridge was built over the canal at Bénouville in 1934 by the Paris engineering firm Daydé & Pillé, replacing a turning bridge (a type of swing bridge) installed during the canal's original construction in the 1850s.^[6] The year-long project culminated in completion by November 1934, with inaugural testing conducted on November 16, providing a 25-meter-wide opening for maritime passage.^[6] Situated between the villages of Bénouville and Le Port in Normandy, France, the bridge facilitated everyday civilian and occasional military vehicle crossings essential for regional mobility.^[6] Upon opening, the bridge fell under the stewardship of bridgekeeper Auguste Niepceron, who managed its daily operations to ensure reliable service for local users throughout the war until June 1944.^[6] No major modifications or maintenance issues were documented in the pre-war years, reflecting the structure's modern design and the canal system's ongoing stability.^[5]

Strategic Role in World War II

Following the German occupation of France in the summer of 1940, the area around Bénouville in Normandy, including the bridge over the Caen Canal, came under direct Nazi military occupation in the German-occupied zone of France, which was progressively militarized.^[7] By 1942, under orders from Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the region was integrated into the Atlantic Wall, a vast network of coastal fortifications designed to repel an anticipated Allied invasion. The bridge site was fortified with concrete pillboxes, machine-gun emplacements, and anti-tank obstacles manned by the 716th Static Infantry Division, a low-mobility unit composed largely of older conscripts and foreign volunteers tasked with static defense along the Normandy coast.^[8] ^[9] In the planning for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy launched on 6 June 1944, Pegasus Bridge emerged as a critical objective to secure the eastern flank of Sword Beach, the landing zone for British and Canadian forces. Capturing the bridge intact was essential to prevent German reinforcements from the east, particularly from Le Havre, from reaching the invasion beaches and disrupting the amphibious landings.^[9] This action would also block the route to Caen, denying Panzer divisions such as the 21st Panzer a direct path to counterattack the beachhead and allowing Allied armored units from Sword and Juno Beaches a protected avenue of advance inland.^[8] ^[9] British intelligence conducted extensive pre-invasion reconnaissance, including thousands of aerial photographs of German defenses around the bridge, to assess fortifications, troop dispositions, and potential demolition charges on the structure. These efforts, combined with special operations intelligence, informed the strategic prioritization of the bridge within the broader 6th Airborne Division's mission to protect the left flank of the Normandy beachhead.^[8]

Engineering and Design

Features of the Original Bridge

The original Pegasus Bridge was a Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge, a type of movable structure where the deck pivoted upward using a counterweight system to facilitate navigation on the Caen Canal. The Scherzer mechanism involved the bascule span rolling backward along a curved treadplate or rocker, which minimized the structural stresses compared to traditional pivot designs and allowed for a more compact counterweight placement within the span itself. This engineering approach, patented by William Scherzer in the late 19th century, was chosen for its reliability in handling frequent openings in a tidal waterway environment.^[10] Key dimensions of the bridge included a main span of 25 meters and a roadway width of 6 meters, providing sufficient capacity for standard vehicular passage while spanning the 25-meter-wide navigable channel below.^[11] When raised to an angle of approximately 82 degrees, it offered vertical clearance for maritime traffic, though specific ship tonnage limits varied with canal regulations; the design accommodated vessels typical of early 20th-century inland navigation. The structure's steel framework, comprising girders and trusses, was supported by robust concrete abutments anchored into the canal banks to resist erosion from tidal currents and ensure long-term stability. The bridge, constructed in 1934, was extended by approximately 5 meters in the early 1960s.^[10] Operationally, the bridge relied on manual controls, including winches and gear systems connected to the counterweight—estimated at around 106 tonnes of concrete—to raise and lower the span in a process that took several minutes. Basic electric lighting was installed along the roadway and control points for visibility during low-light conditions, aiding safe crossings and maintenance. During the German occupation prior to 1944, these features saw only minimal defensive modifications, such as reinforced railings, without altering the core lifting apparatus. The bridge remained in service until 1994, when structural wear necessitated its replacement by a near-identical modern version.^[12]^[10]

The 1994 Replacement

By the mid-1990s, the original Pegasus Bridge had deteriorated after decades of use and required replacement to support increasing traffic loads while maintaining its historical significance. In 1994, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of D-Day, French engineering firm Spie Batignolles undertook the project to dismantle the worn structure and construct a near-identical replica.^[13]^[14]^[4] The new bridge is a steel Scherzer rolling lift bascule bridge designed for enhanced durability and functionality. It features a main span of 43.2 meters, a roadway width of 11.6 meters, a total bascule span length of 45.70 meters, and a total weight of 630 tons, making it wider and stronger than its predecessor to accommodate heavier vehicular and pedestrian traffic.^[13]^[15] Construction emphasized preservation of the bridge's iconic appearance and engineering principles from the 1930s original, with modern reinforcements to the foundations for long-term stability. The project ensured minimal interruption to local canal and road traffic during the build.^[13] To honor its World War II legacy, the original bridge was carefully dismantled and relocated to an adjacent site along the canal, where it now forms a central exhibit at the Mémorial Pégasus museum.^[2]^[4]

The D-Day Assault

Planning Operation Deadstick

Operation Deadstick was the codename for the initial airborne assault to capture the Caen Canal Bridge, later known as Pegasus Bridge, and the nearby Orne River Bridge, designated Horsa Bridge, as part of the broader Operation Tonga—the airborne component of the Allied invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord.^[9]^[16] The operation was led by Major John Howard, commanding officer of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Ox & Bucks), a unit within the British 6th Airborne Division.^[17]^[18] Howard's force was reinforced with two platoons from B Company and a platoon of 30 Royal Engineers (sappers) specialized in demolition and obstacle clearance, totaling 181 men tasked with securing the bridges to protect the eastern flank of the Sword Beach landings and prevent German counterattacks toward Caen.^[9]^[16] Planning emphasized a coup-de-main assault—a rapid, surprise seizure of key objectives—to take the bridges intact, prohibiting the use of explosives by the assault force to preserve their functionality for Allied use.^[9]^[18] The mission required landing gliders within 50 yards of the bridges to overwhelm the defenders before they could destroy the structures, a high-risk tactic that demanded precise navigation and coordination.^[16] To achieve this, planners selected six Airspeed Horsa gliders, each capable of carrying a platoon of troops, anti-tank guns, jeeps, and engineering equipment, towed by Albermarle and Stirling aircraft from Tarrant Rushton airfield in Dorset, England.^[17]^[18] Training for Operation Deadstick began in early 1944 at Tarrant Rushton, focusing on night glider operations to simulate the low-light conditions of the D-Day assault.^[9]^[16] Howard's men conducted rigorous rehearsals, including multiple night flights and landings, as well as full-scale exercises at Exminster near Exeter, where they practiced assaults on mock bridges spanning the River Exe and Exeter Canal using live ammunition and simulated glider crashes.^[18] These sessions honed the coup-de-main tactics, emphasizing speed, silence, and immediate seizure of objectives, with Howard instilling a doctrine of decentralized decision-making to adapt to the uncertainties of glider landings.^[9] Intelligence assessments indicated that the bridges were guarded by approximately 50 soldiers from the German 736th Grenadier Regiment, commanded by Major Hans Schmidt of the 716th Infantry Division.^[16]^[18] The garrison's defenses were considered light, consisting of a single anti-tank gun, barbed wire, and a small pillbox, with limited armored support available in the immediate area, allowing planners to anticipate a swift overrun if the gliders landed accurately.^[9]^[17] This evaluation, drawn from reconnaissance photos and agent reports, shaped the decision to forgo heavier reinforcements in favor of surprise and mobility.^[16]

The Glider Landing and Capture

At 00:16 on June 6, 1944, the first of three Horsa gliders carrying men of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, touched down just 47 meters from Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal near Bénouville, Normandy, landing 16 minutes ahead of the scheduled time of 00:20 despite challenging nighttime conditions and anti-aircraft fire en route.^[19]^[20] The lead glider, piloted by Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork and Staff Sergeant John Ainsworth, crashed through barbed wire defenses with its nose, allowing Major John Howard and his 30-man coup-de-main force to disembark rapidly and fan out toward the bridge.^[21] The second glider landed similarly close, but the third veered off course and crashed into a nearby pond, resulting in the immediate drowning of Lance Corporal Fred Greenhalgh as troops struggled to exit the submerged wreckage.^[22]^[23] Under the cover of surprise, the British assault force immediately engaged the German defenders, a platoon from the 736th Grenadier Regiment guarding the site. Lieutenant Den Brotheridge, leading No. 1 Platoon, fired the first shots of D-Day while charging a machine-gun post on the bridge's eastern side, lobbing grenades and using his Sten gun to suppress the position; tragically, he was struck in the neck by return fire and became the first Allied officer killed in the Normandy invasion.^[24]^[21] His men quickly overran the post, neutralizing the gunner and silencing the alarm, while other platoons stormed the guardrooms and trenches, using smoke grenades, Sten guns, and bayonets in close-quarters fighting to subdue the approximately 50 German troops on duty.^[17]^[25] Within ten minutes, the bridge was fully secured intact, with sappers from the 249th (Airborne) Field Company, Royal Engineers, confirming no demolition charges were immediately attached but promptly destroying a nearby cabin storing explosives and fuses to prevent any potential rigging by surviving guards.^[20]^[26] The rapid action resulted in two British fatalities—Brotheridge from enemy fire and Greenhalgh from the crash—along with several wounded, while German losses included at least two killed outright and around 20 captured, with others fleeing into the darkness; the success was signaled by radio with the code phrase "Ham and Jam," confirming both Pegasus and the nearby Horsa Bridge were under Allied control.^[22]^[17]

Defense and Relief

Following the successful capture of the bridge shortly after midnight on 6 June 1944, the men of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, under Major John Howard, established defensive positions around the site, anticipating German retaliation. Initial counterattacks began around 02:00, involving infantry and armored elements from the 21st Panzer Division, including tracked vehicles and gunboats approaching from downstream. The defenders repelled these assaults using a combination of captured German weapons, such as the MG 34 machine gun seized during the initial fight, and anti-tank equipment brought in the gliders, notably PIAT projectors that proved effective at close range against approaching armor, including forcing two German gunboats to retreat around 09:00.^[1]^[27] The airborne force held the vital crossing intact against sporadic sniper fire, mortar barrages, and probing attacks for approximately 12 hours, from the time of landing until midday. Relief finally arrived around 13:00 in the form of Lord Lovat's 1st Special Service Brigade Commandos, advancing from Sword Beach after overcoming their own delays and enemy resistance en route. Accompanying the column was bagpiper Bill Millin, who played "Blue Bonnets over the Border" across the bridge under ongoing sniper fire, as ordered by Lovat, boosting morale despite the inherent risks. This link-up marked the end of the isolated holding action, with the commandos integrating into the defense to consolidate the position.^[1]^[28] The total engagement at the bridge spanned from roughly 00:16 to 13:00, resulting in the site being secured with only minimal additional British casualties beyond the two losses during the initial assault—Lieutenant Den Brotheridge killed and Lieutenant David Wood wounded—while capturing around 60 German prisoners. This steadfast defense prevented any effective German armored thrust toward the vulnerable eastern flank of Sword Beach, allowing the seaborne landings to proceed without immediate interference from the east and contributing to the overall success of the Normandy invasion's first day. Later that month, on 26 June 1944, the structure was officially renamed Pegasus Bridge in honor of the British 6th Airborne Division's winged horse emblem, a designation that endures today.^[1]^[29]

Legacy and Commemorations

Post-War Recognition

Following the successful capture of Pegasus Bridge during Operation Deadstick, Major John Howard, the commanding officer of the assault force from the 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 16 July 1944 by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in recognition of his exceptional leadership and the precision of the glider-borne operation.^[18] Several other participants received the Military Cross for acts of gallantry, including glider pilot Lieutenant Brian "Sandy" Smith and Lieutenant Dennis Sweeney for their roles in the landings and securing the position under fire; co-pilot Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork received the Distinguished Flying Medal for his skillful landing that enabled the rapid seizure of the bridge.^[24] These awards underscored the critical importance of the coup de main raid in the opening hours of D-Day. The operation's success was widely recognized in post-war analyses as pivotal to the broader Allied invasion, with the intact bridges preventing an immediate German armored counterattack from the east that could have threatened the Sword Beach landings and potentially disrupted the entire Normandy campaign.^[1] Military historians credit the hold on Pegasus Bridge with limiting the 21st Panzer Division's ability to mount a coordinated response, thereby safeguarding the eastern flank of the beachhead and contributing to the eventual Allied breakthrough, an outcome that saved countless lives in the initial phases of the liberation.^[24] Early commemorative efforts included the 6th Airborne Division's return to Normandy in 1946 for its first post-war pilgrimage, during which members installed a plaque featuring the division's Pegasus emblem at the bridge site to honor the fallen and the victors of Operation Deadstick.^[30] Veterans' accounts from this period, preserved in division records and initial regimental histories, emphasized the operation's extraordinary accuracy—such as the gliders landing within 47 yards of the target—highlighting the rigorous training and courage that defined the mission.^[18] Major Howard's personal reflections, documented in his private diaries shortly after the war, further detailed the raid's tactical brilliance and the human cost, including two fatalities among the 181 men involved, providing foundational narratives for later publications on the airborne assault.

Memorials and Museums

The original Pegasus Bridge, constructed in 1934, was relocated in 1994 to the grounds of the Memorial Pegasus museum in Ranville, Normandy, following its replacement by a modern structure immediately adjacent to the site due to structural deterioration.^[12] This preservation effort ensured the historic bascule bridge, bearing bullet holes from the D-Day assault, remains a central exhibit for visitors to the museum park.^[31] The Memorial Pegasus museum, dedicated to the 6th Airborne Division's role in the Normandy campaign, was inaugurated on June 4, 2000, by the Prince of Wales in the presence of veterans and dignitaries.^[32] It houses a full-scale replica of the Airspeed Horsa glider used in Operation Deadstick, alongside hundreds of artifacts including uniforms, weapons, photographs, and personal memorabilia donated by British Airborne Forces veterans.^[2] The site also includes military vehicles such as a M3 half-track and artillery pieces, with an on-site café providing refreshments amid the exhibits.^[23] At the bridge site, additional memorials honor the airborne troops, including commemorative plaques detailing the capture of the bridges and the contributions of units like the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.^[33] The nearby Café Gondrée, owned by the Gondrée family during the war, is recognized as the first French house liberated by Allied forces on June 6, 1944, and now functions as a memorial space adorned with wartime photographs, badges, and visitor-donated items.^[34] In the United Kingdom, Pegasus Wood at Temple Newsam House in Leeds serves as a living memorial, with an avenue of trees and a stone plaque planted in 1994 to commemorate the veterans of the Pegasus Bridge operation.^[35]

Modern Anniversaries and Events

The 40th anniversary of the D-Day assault on Pegasus Bridge in 1984 was marked by significant commemorative activities, including veteran reunions that brought together survivors of the 6th Airborne Division for reflections on their glider-borne operation, accompanied by wreath-laying ceremonies at the bridge to honor the fallen.^[36] The 50th anniversary in 1994 coincided with the replacement of the original bridge by a larger bascule design to accommodate modern canal traffic, transforming the event into a pivotal moment of preservation and remembrance. Celebrations included parachute drops by Allied veterans recreating the airborne assaults, alongside gatherings of international dignitaries who attended ceremonies highlighting the bridge's role in securing the eastern flank of the Normandy landings.^[37] In 2024, the 80th anniversary featured parades and formal ceremonies at Pegasus Bridge, where British and French officials paid tribute to the diminishing number of surviving veterans through speeches and honors.^[38] Veteran visits emphasized personal stories of the 1944 capture, with events drawing crowds to witness reenactments and reflective gatherings that underscored the ongoing international alliance forged on D-Day.^[39] The 81st anniversary in 2025 featured a midnight ceremony at Pegasus Bridge on June 6, including a procession from Bénouville and fireworks.^[40] Annually, on June 5 and 6, Pegasus Bridge hosts reenactments of the glider landings and bridge seizure, allowing participants and visitors to experience the precision of Operation Deadstick.^[36] Guided tours provide in-depth narratives of the site's strategic significance, while educational programs engage school groups with interactive sessions on the airborne division's contributions to the Normandy campaign.^[41]

Current Status and Preservation

The Memorial Pegasus Museum

The Memorial Pegasus Museum, located adjacent to the original Pegasus Bridge in Ranville, France, was inaugurated on 4 June 2000 by HRH the Prince of Wales to commemorate the British 6th Airborne Division's pivotal role in the Battle of Normandy from June to September 1944.^[2] As a successor to the earlier Airborne Forces Museum established in 1974 by General Richard Gale, it focuses on the airborne operations that secured key objectives during the D-Day landings, particularly Operation Deadstick.^[32] The museum's core collections highlight the human and technical aspects of the assault, featuring a full-scale replica of the Airspeed Horsa glider that transported the coup de main party to the bridge site; this replica was itself inaugurated in 2004 by the Prince of Wales.^[42] Personal artifacts from key figures, such as Major John Howard—the operation's commander—and Lieutenant Den Brotheridge—the first British officer killed on D-Day—bring the soldiers' stories to life, including Brotheridge's donated flask preserved by his family.^[43] Other exhibits include uniforms, weapons, parachutes, letters, photographs, and memorabilia from Operation Tonga, illustrating the precision and risks of airborne warfare.^[44] Educational programs at the museum center on interactive experiences that contextualize the global significance of D-Day and airborne tactics, with displays allowing visitors to explore tactics through models and multimedia. Guided tours lasting about one hour, documentary films, and historical documents engage audiences, while smartphone-based access provides augmented content for self-guided exploration of exhibits.^[45] Annual events feature talks by veterans and their descendants, and tailored visits for school groups emphasize the operation's strategic impact and lessons in courage and innovation. In 2025, the museum marked its 25th anniversary with a temporary exhibition commemorating 80 years of the Comité du Débarquement and its role in historical transmission.^[46] The museum's role in preservation extends to its integration with the Liberation Route Europe network, promoting ongoing education about World War II liberation efforts.

The Bridge in Modern Times

The Pegasus Bridge, a modern bascule bridge installed in 1994 to replace the original structure, serves as an essential component of the local transportation network in Bénouville, Normandy. It carries everyday road traffic along the D513 route toward Caen, supporting commuters and regional travel while spanning the Caen Canal. The bridge also accommodates maritime activity by periodically raising its span to allow passage for pleasure boats navigating the 15-kilometer canal linking Ouistreham to Caen, with operations coordinated to minimize disruptions to road users.^[47]^[48]^[4] As part of France's public infrastructure under the management of the Ports de Normandie authority, the bridge undergoes routine structural inspections and upkeep to maintain its operational reliability in a coastal environment prone to saltwater exposure. These efforts ensure the bridge's continued functionality for both vehicular and nautical traffic, with the 1994 design incorporating durable materials suited to long-term use.^[4] In contemporary times, the bridge is seamlessly woven into Normandy's tourism ecosystem, drawing history enthusiasts as a symbolic landmark of the D-Day operations. It functions as a key photo opportunity and viewing point for the estimated 5 million annual visitors exploring the region's World War II sites, with the site's free public access further integrating it into guided tours and self-directed itineraries, amplifying its role amid sustained post-80th anniversary interest from 2024's record crowds of over 2.5 million D-Day-related visits.^[49]^[50]^[51]

References

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VENEZ REVIVRE L'AUBE DU 6 JUIN 1944 5 & 6 Juin 1944 Le Musée rend hommage aux soldats britanniques qui ont libéré puis tenu le Pégasus Bridge
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Rating 4.8 (1,173) The highlight at the museum is the original Pegasus Bridge, with its WWII bullet holes ... The site is very pleasant & close to the River & the Famous Bridge.
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[43]
Pegasus Memorial Museum à RANVILLE - Caen la mer Tourism
Documents, films and period objects. Guided visits to the museum. The famous Pegasus Bridge and a life-size replica of a Horsa glider can be seen in the park.
[44]
Horaires des ouvrages du port de Caen-Ouistreham EN
Several bridges span the canal. They open regularly, at different times, to allow ships and boats through. Road traffic comes to a halt while the bridges are ...Missing: modern daily cycles
[45]
Pleasure traffic | Ports de Normandie
To access the marina you have to sail up a 15 km canal which features Pegasus Bridge and views of the Château de Bénouville before arriving at Caen city centre, ...
[46]
Pegasus Bridge - BENOUVILLE : Normandy Tourism, France
The bridges of Ranville and Bénouville were recaptured in the early hours of the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944 by the British 5th Parachute Brigade.Missing: 1994 replacement 5 million Spie Batignolles
[47]
D-Day battle sites every American should see as epic invasion ...
Jun 1, 2023 · The epic battle draws an estimated 5 million visitors to Normandy each year. Many of them arrive in early June when the region is alive with ...
[48]
80th Anniversary of D-Day: Record Attendance for This Outstanding ...
Jun 21, 2024 · A total of 2.5 million visits from French and foreign tourists and day-trippers were recorded between 1 and 9 June, with over 755,000 unique ...