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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Photo Galleries
The Pegasus Memorial is dedicated to the men of 6th Airborne
Division and their role during the Battle of Normandy from June
to September 1944.
The capture of the River Orne bridge at Ranville and the bridge
across the Caen Canal at Bénouville is the most famous mission
of the airborne division. 180 troops of the Ox and Bucks Light
Infantry, commanded by Major John Howard, captured the
bridges after landing in Horsa gliders only metres from their
objectives.
In less than ten minutes both bridges had been captured intact.
The sea borne reinforcements commanded by Brigadier Lord
Lovat, crossed the waterways to reinforce 6th Airborne Division
on the eastern flank. Among these were Green Berets, 177
French Commandos commanded by Philip Kieffer.
On June 26th 1944, the Caen Canal bridge was baptised Pegasus
Bridge as a tribute to the British troops. Pegasus, the winged
horse, was the emblem worn on the sleeves of the men of the
airborne division.
Pegasus Memorial and Museum
Normandy
