BMW GS Normandy Invasion - 23-25th March 2007
We took the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre, arriving at 07:30 for our Normandy Invasion.
First stop was Pegasus Bridge, the objective of 6th Airborne Division on the night of 5th/6th June 1944 was to secure the road bridge across the Caen canal. Three gliders came down close to the bridge, and the advanced party stormed the defences.
Next to Pegasus Bridge is the Gondree Cafe, the first property in France to be liberated.
The original bridge has been relocated nearby, but the modern bridge is of the same design.
Close to Utah beach we were flagged down by a damsel in distress. Tim took the role of advanced party and rode on to St Mere Eglise to secure a restaurant for lunch (at least that was his excuse).
The rest of us stopped to try and dig out their VW which had sunk in the sand. Despite our gallant efforts it was not possible using "GSer" power alone and the tide was coming in ! A tractor from a nearby farm was required to drag the car from the beach.
St Mere Eglise was made famous by the paratrooper John Steel and by the film "The Longest Day". John Steel managed to land on the church and his chute caught on the steeple. He hung there while the fighting continued on the ground for two hours before being cut down by the Germans, taken prisoner and later released by the Americans. An effigy of John Steel is to be seen on the church steeple.
Pointe-Du-Hoc is a 100 metre high cliff jutting out into the Channel overlooking Utah Beach to the left and Omaha Beach to the right. There were six 155mm cannon in heavily reinforced concrete bunkers that were capable of hitting either beach with their big shells. Pointe-Du-Hoc was stormed by the US 2nd Ranger Battalion.
The German battery at Longue-sur-Mer, just west of Arromanche still has its guns in place, as well as its forward command post.
We stayed overnight in Arromanches. Sunday morning we visited the museum, and then walked along the beach to see the remains of the Mulberry artificial harbour.
