Pegasus Bridge: The First Battle of D-Day

Pegasus Bridge: the first battle of D-Day. On the night of 5 June 1944, a force of 181 men, led by Major John Howard, took off from southern England in six Horsa gliders to capture Pegasus Bridge, and also "Horsa Bridge", a few hundred yards to the east, over the Orne River. The force was composed of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry; 20 sappers of the Royal Engineers of 249 Field Company (Airborne); and men of the Glider Pilot Regiment. The object of this action was to prevent German armour from crossing the bridges and attacking the eastern flank of the landings at Sword Beach.

This video brings to life some of the true stories of those who fought around this bridge on that fateful morning. Using footage from the present and the past, and also through animated maps we follow the men in their footsteps through the paths they took on D-Day.

00:00 Introduction
01:43 Bridges over the Orne
03:19 Cafe Gondree
04:16 Cafe Picot
04:44 Major Howard
05:13 Horsa Glider
06:51 Madame Lea Vion
07:49 German Garrison
09:20 Glider Assualt
12:40 Den Brotheridge
13:57 Horsa Bridge
15:13 Sgt Wagger Thornton
16:14 Ham and Jam
16:49 7th Para
18:10 Commandos