Pegasus Bridge

See also: Pegasus

Pegasus Bridge ( bridge PEGASE ) is the Code name which received during the Second world war the bridge of Bénouville, located on the Canal of Caen at the sea.

It is about a tilting bridge/raising type Scherzer. Initially built in 1935, the original was replaced by a new similar but broader bridge in 1994 (inaugurated at the time of the fiftieth birthday of the unloading of Normandy), and is now in a museum. The length of the tilting span is of 45,70 meters. The bridge carries the secondary road D 514.

The old bridge remains visible with the museum of Pegasus Bridge located between the channel and the Orne.

It owes this nickname with the British unit 6th Airborne Division (the 6th airborne division) which carried the name and the emblem of the PEGASE and which was in charge of its catch under the orders of the major John Howard.

The soldiers were brought by 3 Planeur S Horsa the June 6th 1944 a little after midnight and succeeded in being posed to a hundred meters close it bridge without pointing out itself by the German army. 3 other sailplanes carried another commando who was to take the second bridge on the Orne. Each commando was composed of approximately thirty men. During this operation 2 British soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded.

The history of Pegasus Bridge is also liéee with that of the coffee of the Gondrée family (located at 50 meters of the bridge).

Therese and Georges Gondrée, of high culture, polyglotes, achieved a key mission in the military strategy to take Pegasus Bridge. It is a question of the first French house to be released.

The General Sir Richard Scale, ordering the 6th British airborne Division and Francoise Gondrée are the authentic founders of the historical safeguard of this high place as well as Museum. All the collections and the files belong to the Foundation, only legitimates heiress of the management of the Museum as well as historical interpretation.

Popular culture

the events relating to Pegasus Bridge are reported in the film " the longest day ". The role of Major Howard is held there by Richard Todd, which actually took part in the defense of the bridge as an officer of the 7^ème battalion of parachutists.

the video game Call off Duty offers a level relating to Pegasus Bridge, but this one does not respect historical reality.

the video game Codename Panzer Phase One reports the catch of the bridge of Pegasus Bridge. After a small video sequence showing the landing of the 3 " Horsa" , launch your troops to the attack of the bridges Euston I & Euston II. Not very historical, but a reference moreover to the first combat of D-Day.

the board game Mémoire 44 offers a scenario which allows rejouer the battle for Pegasus Bridge. This scenario sticks rather well to historical reality.

the wargame Advanced Squad Leader proposes many scenarios on the battle for Pegasus Bridge, including a campaign making it possible to reproduce the whole of the actions around Benouville (Taken bridge then defense vis-a-vis the German counter-attacks). All that respecting much historical reality (if one excludes the play of countryside which, by definition, so much has to deteriorate that Ci).

External bonds

Museum of Pegasus Bridge
Wally Parr, hero of Pegasus Bridge

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