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HORSA BRIDGE

France / Basse-Normandie / Benouville /
One of two bridges taken by British 6th Airborne Division, landing in 6 HORSA gliders, as part of OPERATION OVERLORD to prevent German reinforcements reaching the Landing Beaches. This Bridge crosses the River Orne and was codenamed "JAM". The second bridge was PEGASUS BRIDGE over the CAEN CANAL, 500 metres to the West, codenamed "HAM"

www2.army.mod.uk/infantry/regts/the_rifles/history_trad...
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   49°14'25"N   -0°16'0"E

Comments

  • marshall19
    How did they manage to take it _before_ the invasion?
  • chris (guest)
    they landed by glider 6 hours before the main airborne and seaborne landings. these two bridges paved the way into france and where vital to the invasion. major john howard led a force to recapture the bridges, and lt. den brotheridge became the first allied soldier to die on d-day, shot in the neck whilst leading a charge over the bridges. read the book pegasus bridge by band of brothers author stephen ambrose
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This article was last modified 12 years ago