My father was with No 3 Commando on this day and crossed the bridge with the unit. He went on to Amfreville, Bas de Breville etc and was the victim of a mortar bomb attack during the breakout in August. He ended up in hospital for a period and then was assigned duties at the POW camp outside Tilly Sur Seulles. He met a young woman who was visiting her grandmother who lived there and the rest is history. Dad died in 1985 and mum in 2004. Thanks for this, a brilliant depiction of events.
My father was also with 3 Commando who landed at Sword beach and was with Lord Lovatts group that relieved the Paras on the bridge . He fought all the way into Holland , where he got injured and lost a leg . Despite this he worked for many years until he was succumbed to MS . He passed away in 1998 .
Thank you gentlemen for the sacrifice your families made to relieve my family from oppression..! My respect shall remain eternal... ZWH FRL Nederland. 🇳🇱
I love talking to vets from way back. I had a friend whose mother was in a retirement facility. I loved going there, because the elderly people there had the best stories and experiences. It's a shame much of our culture in the States throw away those people, essentially.. My dad lived in Czechoslovakia before and during WWII. The Germans occupied and put the boys in their military. He fought on the Russian front, got hit by a grenade, miraculously survived, then the Russians started coming through to gather up the boys and take them off to labor camps to die. The stories my dad had....holy crap. Throughout my life, anytime I heard someone here in the States bitch that they had it tough, I'd laugh.
My adoptive Dad and his twin were both involved in this action - both survived, though dad got a bit of grenade shrapnel that split his lip and his knee open. They told me their stories over the years, and I was replaying them in my head watching this. I am 63 now, and those brave brothers are both long gone.
My Grandfather was part of the British Airborne division for this, he landed successfully but was shot not long after landing, he survived and passed away two years ago aged 97. He was presented with his Legion De honours medal a few years ago.
My dad was badly wounded defending the Bridge he was a PARA he was blown up by a mortar and had a chunk out of his elbow which meant for the rest of his life he could not fully extend his arm he also had a large chunk blown out of his calf. He had nearly a full war pension because of his injuries but when trying to get work later he used to have friends attended the medicals for him. Dads picture is on the wall of the cafe he returned once and met the daughter he met as a child at the time.
He was part of the down fall of the natze grip on our country. Arram bridge was taken and held by great men like your dad. God bless him and all the brothers he fort along side him. RESPECT ❤ them.X
It bothers me that I no longer know any veterans of either World War, I used to know so many growing up; I miss listening to the unimaginable first hand accounts of their war and survival.
Incredible story, well told. Many thanks from a grateful American (whose father fought in Europe as a tank platoon leader in the US 8th Armored Division). Without the initial successes and sacrifices of heroes such as those of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry the course of the war would have been very different, indeed. God bless them and those like them.
I visited this site a couple of months ago. As an American veteran, I thought it important not just to visit the American sites but also the British and Canadian sites as well. The narrator mentions that the original bridge had been replaced with a new one some time ago. What's not mentioned is that the original bridge was kept, and now sits at the Pegasus Bridge Museum, located just northeast of where the new bridge crosses the canal. You can actually see the old bridge in the ariel shot at 3:28, near the center of the shot. The old bridge is a bit smaller than the new one, but they made it look the same. If you zoom in you can see it. The original still has dents in the steel from the battle.
I am from Uruguay, 84. In the 50s and 60s I had a neighbor of British descent here who had served in WW1. Fine person he was, never talked about war but I learned from others that he was a pilot. Name Teddy Davenport. His British-born father, name Arthur D., was co-founder of the famous Uruguayan football club Peñarol. I also knew another Anglo-Uruguayan who had trained in Canada to become a RAF Spitfire pilot in WW2, name Mr John Hyland. Both men made it back to Uruguay.
I had the pleasure of knowing lt Dennis Fox later major Fox from #6 glider, he related his experience of this operation to me and in his home he showed me the books he was mentioned in. He was a great character a regular in the local pub and always carried two hip flasks one vodka one whisky which he was happy to share. He now rests in Harkstead church yard, even his dog was called whisky.
I’ve been there, met the daughter in question Speaking as an ex military pilot, the flying on that day was incredible, they put semi airworthy, overloaded, unpowered, crates within meters of the bridge in pitch black night No margin at all for anything Bloody incredible and hats of to them all. Hell of a job
Pitch black, no radar or GPS, just a map, a compass, and a stopwatch and the pilots, and navigators landed within metres of their target. Air Chief Marshall Leigh-Mallory called it the greatest flying feat of the Second World War.
As a Norman, with a family who lived though WWII, this era is rooted deep inside of me. Thank you so much for this clear and lively description of the coup de main. Neil Barber is indeed a font of knowledge on the subject, and a humble man. Keep making such videos.
Excellent video, my Dad was in the 6 th airborne division and was one of the brave men who flew into France in a glider, He never talked much about the assault and. I do wish I talked to him more about it when he was alive. He came home and met my Mum and as they say the rest is history and. I was born March 1962. Thank you Dad for what you did.
My grandfather was in the Ox and bucks light infantry during ww2 this is the first documentry on Pegasus bridge that I have found that is very detailed. Thank you
This mission never ceases to amaze me... The horsa pilots did such an amazing spectacular job and the actual assault troops did their jobs without thought and again achieved such a spectacular result.. It's stuff of legend's ..
Like other comments, my wife and I had the privilege of meeting John Howard at Cafe Gondree, summer of either 1993 or 1995, as we toured Normandy following my father-in-law’s unofficial (& possibly illegal) personal diary and route plan of his Normandy campaign. He landed on D+6 with the 92nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regt. Major Howard was clearly a seasoned raconteur and we thoroughly enjoyed him sharing his stories for a good 20 minutes. He even graciously autographed a couple Pegasus Bridge postcards. We gave one to my father-in-law, which he was very pleased to receive from such a famous veteran.
Todd as a member of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion participated in the defence of the bridges after the initial coup de Main had been successful.
I was going to skip this one thinking that it is a story i’ve seen a lot and a place i have visited. But yet again you surprised me with your research, battlefield depiction and focus on the individuals as a means to tell the bigger story. Thank you for your hard work.
I was at Pegasus Bridge last summer. The assault and capture is an even more incredible story when you stand on the terrain and see what they achieved. Your video brings it alive brilliantly. Thank you and well done.
@Peter Whent. My mother and her friends went to the cinema three days running to see Gone With the Wind, and finally got in. Her friend's brother was in the Airborne attack and they didn't know if he had survived. When the Pathe News came on, it showed British troops being relieved by the Commando brigade under Lord Lovat, and the brother was in the footage. They jumped up to go home and tell the mother and when they were half-way there, they realized they would have to start queuing the next day to see the movie again.
I with a bunch of bikers visited Pegasus Bridge a few years ago, when you realise how extremely close the gliders landed next to the bridge it really hits it home to you how brave the troops were.
Stil on my bucket list is a pelgrimage to the Normandy beaches. This video stirred up the smeldering ashes to a bum fire to finaly take action and go and plan for it. I salute you for your fine work with this report on this heroic action on a the finest day of WWII. From a Dutch man who is now free because of these brave man.
A fantastic video of one of my favourite stories of World War 2. I highly recommend Stephe E Ambrose's book 'Pegasus Bridge' - not mentioned in this video, but covered in the book, is the fantastic story that even though there was still a firefight going on, the glider party first knew that Lord Lovett and the 1st Special Service Brigade had arrived was when they heard the sound of bagpipes playing and saw Lovett and his piper Bill Millin, in berets, simply marching across the bridge with the rest of the SSB behind them. Different breed entirely.
When they landed, German soldiers refused to fire on Millin…because, according to them, they thought the man playing the pipes in that horror had to be INSANE. He was…insanely brave.
Fascinating that in the famous film about D-Day, The Longest Day, actor Richard Todd played Maj. John Howard. Todd took part in the actual battle and was played in the film by a minor actor, Patrick Jordan.
Lieutenant Todd arrived with the paratroops after the glider landings and participated in the defence of the bridge. His commanding officer was the splendidly named Lietenant Colonel Richard Pine-Coffin (and apparently nick-named "Wooden-Box" by some of his men). The Regimental padre, Captain Parry, landed with them. The popular officer, often referred to as Pissy Percy, the Parachuting Parson died defending the wounded when the regimental aid post was overrun.
Indeed, there is a scene featuring Todd in the role of Maj. Howard arriving on Pegasus bridge and (I believe,) speaking to Patrick Jordan playing Todd himself...essentially Todd respectfully relieved himself (of duty,) on the bridge in the Movie, a rather nice twist.
He was first offered to play himself but turned that role down. Fun fact: The beret he wore in the movie is the actual beret he wore during the real attack, but with a different insignia.
My great uncle Arthur Lawrence flew Glider 4. The video says he flew off course but this is untrue. The Halifax towing his glider accidentally released the glider early. The landed about 8 kilometres away from the true target but fought numerous fights with landing paras to get the bridges within 24 hours.
The original 1944 Pegasus bridge was replaced in 1994 by a brand new one resembling the original one . The old bridge had become to weak for modern traffic, but was preserved due to british veterans collecting money for over 6 y and today is to be seen at the nearbye Memorial Pegasus, the Pegasus war museum..
I was about to write the same. I visited the bridge and some beaches during the 75th anniversary as well as some nearby wargraves and Merville battery. So much was laid on during my stay, with so many world leaders present, it was an amazing sight.
My parents visited Normandy & Pegasus bridge right around the annual anniversary in June several years ago. My father was an Air Force officer & huge military history buff which was part of the influence that made me join the US Army & become a huge history & military history buff. The Roman Empire & WW2 are my two favorite eras. Anyway during their trip they ran into Major John Howard who led the assault on Pegasus bridge & got his autograph. I also read Colonel Hans Von Luck’s memoir “Panzer Commander” which describes his experiences as a commander under Rommel in the 7th Panzer Division & other commands which led to him earning a Knight’s Cross. Anyway, Von Luck & Howard became close friends after the war & often hung out at the Pegasus Bridge cafe yearly to reminisce & catch up on things until Von Luck passed at the ripe old age of 86 in 1997. Von Luck was fluent in German obviously but also French & English. We often over simplify things like the war by framing it as “Allies good” & “Axis Bad” but life is far more nuanced & gray as we all know. I think it’s amazing when former adversaries become close friends as we learn so much from the differing perspectives. Von Luck was respected as capable & just man. Another great story is the Stigler-Brown incident in which Luftwaffe fighter pilot Franz Stigler escorted Brown’s ravaged B-17 to safety at great personal peril to Stigler. Stories like this are amazing. It’s a shame how quickly we forget history. Now we have so many spewing toxic rhetoric & divisive nonsense as they take so much for granted in modern times. We have people picking fights & claiming victimhood over the pettiest things. 60million perished in WW2 often brutally & painfully yet they way many speak of modern times, it’s the most hateful, genocidal, & violence period in history. 🫤🤔 Anyway, be kind everyone & stay safe. My single best advice that I give it to keep learning & experiencing in order to reduce your hypocrisy & limit your ignorance. We’re all hypocrites & ignorant on some things but it’s a matter of degrees. Sadly, it seems like the most ignorant & toxically hypocritical among us are the ones who are propped up & praised the most. We live in backwards & upside times but that doesn’t mean you have to follow this nonsense. Avoid complacence & stat vigilant. 🙂👍
I've walked across the original pegasus bridge..... riddled with bullet holes.... visited point du hoc, omaha gold sword and juno it is a memory that will live with me forever
Great video, I met John Howard a few years ago, before he died. He was so happy that I knew who he was. So proud to of had Pegasus Bridge as my battle honour
Great little video. I was lucky enough to work with Billy Grey, a Bren gunner and the first man out of glider 1 on the night. He was best friends with Wally and they got up to some crazy stuff that Billy told me about. Such brave men and each year I still raise a glass of something at 00:12 on June 6th.
Superb, and very well researched, account of this small, but important event. I was there some 30+ years ago and was astounded by the fact that three gliders landed safely, in a very small field, at night, and with obstacles on their approach. All due to many hours of meticulous training. Excellent video!
When I was about 14 or so my mother would take me to Tarrant Rushton to watch the glider flying by the Dorset gliding club, and whilst on the perimeter tracks would let me drive to learn control of the car, not knowing at the time of the historic importance of the airfield during WW2. loved watching this video and have so much respect for those brave allied soldiers who fought for our freedom.
I know this channel isn't really new anymore, but its new to me. The content is outstanding. Thanks for all ghe work you're putting into it - really fantastic
Outstanding production and very entertaining. I had read Pegasus Bridge: June 6, 1944 by Stephen Ambrose so I had a general idea of what happened and where. Your use of Google maps and drone with places marked completed the story. Inspired that you got the recordings of so many principal players to augment your narration. Keep up the good work. Two thumbs up and I subscribed
Ditto, Ambrose”s Pegasus Bridge is an excellent read and your video provides great detail from the use of current day mapping. Well done and God Bess the Ox and Bucks!
An excellent production illustrating the absurdity of the plan that somehow was pulled off. I have visited the bridge and museum on three occasions and each time I am in awe of what was achieved - most definitely a must for any D-Day enthusiast!
A really more than excellent reconstruction of the event! Showing the viewer both a good overview and the necessary details so anyone has a realistic picture of what happened and of the heroes involved. Excellent job! And for the British heroes, I salute you and know i am eternally indebted. Something I won’t be able to repay.
I was in the Royal Green Jackets - We were very proud of our regimental battle honour Pegasus bridge that was won by the Ox and Bucks light infantry then amalgamated into my regiment Royal Green Jackets.
What an exceptionally well made video. The script, graphics, editing and narration are of the very best quality; more than equal to anything produced by the major TV channels.
My dad was in the 12th Para (Yorkshire). He had just turned 18 when he jumped into Normandy in the early hours of 6 June. He passed away in 2018 just before his 92nd birthday❤ He often mentioned Breville and how important that was.
The first seaborne landing troops to reach the paras at the bridge was the 17 Field Company RE from Sword beach. There are numerous sources that record this including Richard Todd's autobiography. Lovats commandos arrived about an hour later. Great video great story well told.
Except the first troops on the bridge were not paras they were from 1st battalion oxs and bucks LI which became part of the Royal Green jackets ham Nd jam swift and bold 😮
@@malcolmdonnison3987 I didn't say the first troops on the bridge were paras, but perimeter secured around the bridge was the paras as they reinforced the glider landings. Cheers
Bloody hell. Showing the tactical overview and ground, and then the way you overlay the photos with google earth, absolutely spot on. Really glad to have found your channel!!
Thank you for this video, particularly the integration of the veterans' interviews and the helpful bird's eye views. I drove across "Pegasus Bridge" recently while on holiday and this has been most informative.
The aerial shots and pictures are great but to really be able grasp how spectacular a feat this was, you have to stand on the site. From the landing to taking and holding the bridges, just incredible. I'm so thankful to The Wife for setting us up with the Ambrose Band of Brothers tour in 2019, Pegasus Bridge being the first stop in Normandy. Thanks for another wonderful presentation!
My mate went in on a glider and fought with the commandos . What a brave man he was ,he took out a pillbox on his own and I am so proud of him and his memory
Excellent video, thank you. Having been to the bridge and stood where the first glider landed you appreciate what a stunning piece of flying it was by the pilots . Very brave men all of them.
I have just come back from here, I have done 5 trips in a row to Normandy and I learn something new every trip, and realise that there are 10 more things to do and see, with each trip. Many thanks for this video presentation and thanks to our brave troops.
One of my favourite stories is about the filming of this episode in The Longest Day. Major John Howard was played by Richard Todd, who, as a junior officer had been part of the 7th Parachute Regiment force that relieved the the Ox and Bucks at Pegasus Bridge. He was offered the part of playing himself, but opted for the part of John Howard, who was a consultant on the film.
As a towed glider pilot I am totally impressed that these guys could set their gliders down where they did. I kept saying to myself..."no frigging way" as I watched the simulation on the video!!! It's true you only get one shot at the landing. But that's exactly what thrilled me about this type of flying. More incredibly, these were nighttime landings with people shooting at them!!! True heroes!
Daaamn, I have seen maybe all the ww2 documentaries that there are out there! But this made me actually understand exactly what and how happened. Please keep on!
I took part in a charity walk in 2004 for the British Legion and The NVA and on the 6th of June had the honour to meet Wally Parr and his son Barry in the middle of Pegasus Bridge,a moment I treasure, thanks for this excellent and detailed account of the action.
I have read a couple of books on the taking of the bridges and found your video giving me a better view of the terrain and the actions of the soldiers on the ground. Thank you.
A great rendition of the start of something very special in History. It was a great adventure not to forget those very brave souls who didn't make it through. Brave brave men, I only hope that Britain has the same courage as these men had.
I visired Pegasus Bridge 30 years ago on a school trip and was very lucky to of met Major Howard he answered all our questions and told his story of the fay that was D day.
An excellent video and account of this Operation, thank you. And thank you to the brave men that undertook this incredible feat of bravery, skill, and determination. Never to be forgotten.
This was an outstanding video. The attention to detail is wonderful, with a great voice to narrate. These men were incredible, true hero's and I hope through the ages they are remembered for their courage and bravery.
Great video! Really love the way you use Google Maps (or whatever) with additional graphics (arrows etc) to describe the action. The aerial pics with the super imposed photos from the period are put together seamlessly & give you a good insight into how the battles evolved. Thanks for sharing!
@George the Patriot unfortunately i dont know his regiment i know he ended up in Greece as he was awarded freedom of the city he built a armoured car to carry the prime minister around i believe its in a museum out there somewhere
@jamieevans6395 so I guess he came in later to support the Glider troops at the bridge? Was he member of 7th Para Bn? This Bn is not associated with WW2 in Greece
Well done video again! I really hope you're finding these worthwhile to make, because they are most certainly entertaining and very well presented. Keep up the great work!
This is astonishingly good.....I've never seen such detail presented on this incredible mission. Well done and thank you; it moved me a lot. Such ordinary men doing extraordinary things.
@@BattleGuideVT I had no idea the landing ground was so small with no margin for error. The drone footage with superimposed period images is quite brilliant. But hearing the men speak is truly amazing.
About a month ago I visited Pegasus bridge with my son and dad, we had a drink in Café Gondrée and I saw and elderly lady in the back of the café preparing a salad. Thanks to this video I know now it was the daughter of the café owner looking at the picture. I feel that it is such an honour and privilege to have been to this place and seen the lady that was there during the takeover of the bridge.
I'd like to upload the producer of the video for the quality. The use of the maps and the overlays images is amazing. The production really puts you in the shoes of all the soldiers and it's amazing to see the glider coming into land. Well done
Nice job, really liked the drone shots. In the movie Major Howard was played by Richard Todd, who was also there, not far from Howard on Pegasus Bridge. I have several favorite movies, this, is one of them. When realism was important, not visual effects.
Congratulations.A truly magnifying telling of an event that is already a legend .I have watched many a you tube tribute to the Pegasus Bridge story . This is the finest of them all . The detail is illuminating in its information and the pride infused in the narrating . The glider pilots excelled .An elite group of men in a generation of heroes . Thank you . Alan RAF 51 Sqd . Respect and admiration of all involved .
I've only just discovered this channel and ive already started binge watching videos. There are so few videos on Pegasus Bridge that i was so happy to find such a good one
Great documentary!! My great uncles from 🇺🇸 fought along side the French and British. What a daring operation and successful. Thank God such brave soldiers lived .
An excellent video. I visited the site a few years ago, and I remember the sense of sheer, total disbelief that I had when I saw the tiny size of the actual landing-ground. What piloting!
My father was with No 3 Commando on this day and crossed the bridge with the unit. He went on to Amfreville, Bas de Breville etc and was the victim of a mortar bomb attack during the breakout in August. He ended up in hospital for a period and then was assigned duties at the POW camp outside Tilly Sur Seulles. He met a young woman who was visiting her grandmother who lived there and the rest is history. Dad died in 1985 and mum in 2004. Thanks for this, a brilliant depiction of events.
Thank you so much Frank.
Thank you for sharing. Your father is still with you
My father was also with 3 Commando who landed at Sword beach and was with Lord Lovatts group that relieved the Paras on the bridge . He fought all the way into Holland , where he got injured and lost a leg . Despite this he worked for many years until he was succumbed to MS . He passed away in 1998 .
Thank you gentlemen for the sacrifice your families made to relieve my family from oppression..!
My respect shall remain eternal...
ZWH FRL Nederland. 🇳🇱
I love talking to vets from way back. I had a friend whose mother was in a retirement facility. I loved going there, because the elderly people there had the best stories and experiences. It's a shame much of our culture in the States throw away those people, essentially..
My dad lived in Czechoslovakia before and during WWII. The Germans occupied and put the boys in their military. He fought on the Russian front, got hit by a grenade, miraculously survived, then the Russians started coming through to gather up the boys and take them off to labor camps to die. The stories my dad had....holy crap. Throughout my life, anytime I heard someone here in the States bitch that they had it tough, I'd laugh.
My adoptive Dad and his twin were both involved in this action - both survived, though dad got a bit of grenade shrapnel that split his lip and his knee open. They told me their stories over the years, and I was replaying them in my head watching this. I am 63 now, and those brave brothers are both long gone.
You were one lucky kid hearing them stories . Thanks for posting
Respekt to you’r dad and his brother for that assault 🫡💪🏾
It is wrong to mourn or weep for these men who died. Thank God that such men LIVED.
-General George Patton, USA, WWII., Third Army.
I salute your dad, what a man. And if it wasn't for him and many other like him, we weren't be here today ❤❤❤
Make sure you pass the story on to other younger members of your family. Don't let their memories of bravery die out!!
Landing those gliders at night was the finest piece of flying in ww2 in my humble opinion
My Grandfather was part of the British Airborne division for this, he landed successfully but was shot not long after landing, he survived and passed away two years ago aged 97. He was presented with his Legion De honours medal a few years ago.
My dad was badly wounded defending the Bridge he was a PARA he was blown up by a mortar and had a chunk out of his elbow which meant for the rest of his life he could not fully extend his arm he also had a large chunk blown out of his calf. He had nearly a full war pension because of his injuries but when trying to get work later he used to have friends attended the medicals for him. Dads picture is on the wall of the cafe he returned once and met the daughter he met as a child at the time.
He was part of the down fall of the natze grip on our country. Arram bridge was taken and held by great men like your dad. God bless him and all the brothers he fort along side him. RESPECT ❤ them.X
I wonder if he knew my dad
🇺🇸 82nd Abn (Ret)
A salute of Honor to my British 🇬🇧 Paratrooper Brothers.
We Had HUGE boots to fill.
Great documentary.
It bothers me that I no longer know any veterans of either World War, I used to know so many growing up; I miss listening to the unimaginable first hand accounts of their war and survival.
They are fading fast even the youngest would be in their 90's today
@@sammymartin7891 indeed... all the more important to tell these stories.
Agreed... time waits for no man.
such is the cycle of life sir, I dream of these things every night
I'm a combat Vietnam vet '68. If I tell any descriptive story, most roll their eyes and won't believe it.
Incredible story, well told. Many thanks from a grateful American (whose father fought in Europe as a tank platoon leader in the US 8th Armored Division). Without the initial successes and sacrifices of heroes such as those of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry the course of the war would have been very different, indeed. God bless them and those like them.
I visited this site a couple of months ago. As an American veteran, I thought it important not just to visit the American sites but also the British and Canadian sites as well. The narrator mentions that the original bridge had been replaced with a new one some time ago. What's not mentioned is that the original bridge was kept, and now sits at the Pegasus Bridge Museum, located just northeast of where the new bridge crosses the canal. You can actually see the old bridge in the ariel shot at 3:28, near the center of the shot. The old bridge is a bit smaller than the new one, but they made it look the same. If you zoom in you can see it. The original still has dents in the steel from the battle.
I am from Uruguay, 84. In the 50s and 60s I had a neighbor of British descent here who had served in WW1. Fine person he was, never talked about war but I learned from others that he was a pilot. Name Teddy Davenport. His British-born father, name Arthur D., was co-founder of the famous Uruguayan football club Peñarol. I also knew another Anglo-Uruguayan who had trained in Canada to become a RAF Spitfire pilot in WW2, name Mr John Hyland. Both men made it back to Uruguay.
I had the pleasure of knowing lt Dennis Fox later major Fox from #6 glider, he related his experience of this operation to me and in his home he showed me the books he was mentioned in. He was a great character a regular in the local pub and always carried two hip flasks one vodka one whisky which he was happy to share. He now rests in Harkstead church yard, even his dog was called whisky.
My uncle jack lally was in #6 If you have any info on the operation I would love to hear about it
I’ve been there, met the daughter in question
Speaking as an ex military pilot, the flying on that day was incredible, they put semi airworthy, overloaded, unpowered, crates within meters of the bridge in pitch black night
No margin at all for anything
Bloody incredible and hats of to them all. Hell of a job
Pitch black, no radar or GPS, just a map, a compass, and a stopwatch and the pilots, and navigators landed within metres of their target.
Air Chief Marshall Leigh-Mallory called it the greatest flying feat of the Second World War.
As a Norman, with a family who lived though WWII, this era is rooted deep inside of me. Thank you so much for this clear and lively description of the coup de main. Neil Barber is indeed a font of knowledge on the subject, and a humble man. Keep making such videos.
Thank you Nathalie
We are your Brothers. Except in 1066 When Norman's kicked are Arse ,William the Conqueror, But Look at Legercy he and Norman Left all across Britain.
OUTSTANDING. 82nd Airborne vet here. Once a paratrooper always a paratrooper no matter what country.
1\508 here. 1980-1983
Thanks for sharing. my father in-law was part of the brave men who took Pegasus Bridge, an amazing man who's medals are proudly displayed in my home.
Never ceases to amaze me how, not withstanding the professionalism and shear bravery, was so much left to luck.
Truly wonderful analysis.
Excellent video, my Dad was in the 6 th airborne division and was one of the brave men who flew into France in a glider, He never talked much about the assault and. I do wish I talked to him more about it when he was alive. He came home and met my Mum and as they say the rest is history and. I was born March 1962. Thank you Dad for what you did.
Those men are beyond brave. Salute to them. Thank you for honoring their memory with this video.
Thanks for watching!
My grandfather was in the Ox and bucks light infantry during ww2 this is the first documentry on Pegasus bridge that I have found that is very detailed. Thank you
Thanks
Those Paras holding that bridge were just tremendous. Top boys. Amazing stuff.
This mission never ceases to amaze me... The horsa pilots did such an amazing spectacular job and the actual assault troops did their jobs without thought and again achieved such a spectacular result.. It's stuff of legend's ..
We agree and it was one of the reasons we decided to share their story!
Like other comments, my wife and I had the privilege of meeting John Howard at Cafe Gondree, summer of either 1993 or 1995, as we toured Normandy following my father-in-law’s unofficial (& possibly illegal) personal diary and route plan of his Normandy campaign. He landed on D+6 with the 92nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regt. Major Howard was clearly a seasoned raconteur and we thoroughly enjoyed him sharing his stories for a good 20 minutes. He even graciously autographed a couple Pegasus Bridge postcards. We gave one to my father-in-law, which he was very pleased to receive from such a famous veteran.
Fantastic story thanks for sharing.
It sad that they are gone, such brave men, who were mostly just boys, like my daddy and uncles. I miss them..
Richard Todd, the actor who lead the assault in "The Longest Day" movie, actually participated in the real assault on that bridge.
Todd as a member of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion participated in the defence of the bridges after the initial coup de Main had been successful.
simply amazing!!
I was going to skip this one thinking that it is a story i’ve seen a lot and a place i have visited. But yet again you surprised me with your research, battlefield depiction and focus on the individuals as a means to tell the bigger story. Thank you for your hard work.
Thank you very much.
This is the Best condensed documentary of Pegasus Bridge I ever seen. Great narrator voice, ariel views, and voices of veterans was excellent.
I was at Pegasus Bridge last summer. The assault and capture is an even more incredible story when you stand on the terrain and see what they achieved. Your video brings it alive brilliantly. Thank you and well done.
@Peter Whent. My mother and her friends went to the cinema three days running to see Gone With the Wind, and finally got in. Her friend's brother was in the Airborne attack and they didn't know if he had survived. When the Pathe News came on, it showed British troops being relieved by the Commando brigade under Lord Lovat, and the brother was in the footage. They jumped up to go home and tell the mother and when they were half-way there, they realized they would have to start queuing the next day to see the movie again.
@@patryan1375 Lovely story. I'm sure they didn't mind queuing again after giving the mother the happy news.
I with a bunch of bikers visited Pegasus Bridge a few years ago, when you realise how extremely close the gliders landed next to the bridge it really hits it home to you how brave the troops were.
Stil on my bucket list is a pelgrimage to the Normandy beaches.
This video stirred up the smeldering ashes to a bum fire to finaly take action and go and plan for it.
I salute you for your fine work with this report on this heroic action on a the finest day of WWII.
From a Dutch man who is now free because of these brave man.
Well said sir 👏
A fantastic video of one of my favourite stories of World War 2. I highly recommend Stephe E Ambrose's book 'Pegasus Bridge' - not mentioned in this video, but covered in the book, is the fantastic story that even though there was still a firefight going on, the glider party first knew that Lord Lovett and the 1st Special Service Brigade had arrived was when they heard the sound of bagpipes playing and saw Lovett and his piper Bill Millin, in berets, simply marching across the bridge with the rest of the SSB behind them. Different breed entirely.
When they landed, German soldiers refused to fire on Millin…because, according to them, they thought the man playing the pipes in that horror had to be INSANE. He was…insanely brave.
Thanks for the kind comment!
@@jimreilly917 nothing like the skirl of bagpipes across a battlefield to raise the heckles.
Fantastic book that
To have witnessed it would be unbelievable.
As a former airborne ingeneer officer I can only express my full respect to those guys who succeed to make this fantastic assault.
Haha ingeneer
Fascinating that in the famous film about D-Day, The Longest Day, actor Richard Todd played Maj. John Howard. Todd took part in the actual battle and was played in the film by a minor actor, Patrick Jordan.
Lieutenant Todd arrived with the paratroops after the glider landings and participated in the defence of the bridge. His commanding officer was the splendidly named Lietenant Colonel Richard Pine-Coffin (and apparently nick-named "Wooden-Box" by some of his men). The Regimental padre, Captain Parry, landed with them. The popular officer, often referred to as Pissy Percy, the Parachuting Parson died defending the wounded when the regimental aid post was overrun.
@@IntrospectorGeneral Thanks much for the additional history. Very interesting!
Indeed, there is a scene featuring Todd in the role of Maj. Howard arriving on Pegasus bridge and (I believe,) speaking to Patrick Jordan playing Todd himself...essentially Todd respectfully relieved himself (of duty,) on the bridge in the Movie, a rather nice twist.
He was first offered to play himself but turned that role down. Fun fact: The beret he wore in the movie is the actual beret he wore during the real attack, but with a different insignia.
Wow .. I’m blown away at the detail and actual pictures. Thank you
My great uncle Arthur Lawrence flew Glider 4. The video says he flew off course but this is untrue. The Halifax towing his glider accidentally released the glider early. The landed about 8 kilometres away from the true target but fought numerous fights with landing paras to get the bridges within 24 hours.
The glider crew normally release the glider from the bomber.
The original 1944 Pegasus bridge was replaced in 1994 by a brand new one resembling the original one . The old bridge had become to weak for modern traffic, but was preserved due to british veterans collecting money for over 6 y and today is to be seen at the nearbye Memorial Pegasus, the Pegasus war museum..
I was about to write the same. I visited the bridge and some beaches during the 75th anniversary as well as some nearby wargraves and Merville battery. So much was laid on during my stay, with so many world leaders present, it was an amazing sight.
Yes I was fortunate to visit this in 2014.
You can see where bullets struck the bridge.
@@georgesouthwick7000 I think a single bomb was dropped on it too. I don’t think it exploded but you can see the big gash it made on the old bridge.
It is a good thing that that veteran, the original bridge, will survive for generations yet to be born.
All the effort to show the aerial visualization is epic!
Amazing vid!
Thanks Jake, it was great fun to build and glad you enjoyed the video!
My parents visited Normandy & Pegasus bridge right around the annual anniversary in June several years ago. My father was an Air Force officer & huge military history buff which was part of the influence that made me join the US Army & become a huge history & military history buff. The Roman Empire & WW2 are my two favorite eras.
Anyway during their trip they ran into Major John Howard who led the assault on Pegasus bridge & got his autograph. I also read Colonel Hans Von Luck’s memoir “Panzer Commander” which describes his experiences as a commander under Rommel in the 7th Panzer Division & other commands which led to him earning a Knight’s Cross. Anyway, Von Luck & Howard became close friends after the war & often hung out at the Pegasus Bridge cafe yearly to reminisce & catch up on things until Von Luck passed at the ripe old age of 86 in 1997. Von Luck was fluent in German obviously but also French & English.
We often over simplify things like the war by framing it as “Allies good” & “Axis Bad” but life is far more nuanced & gray as we all know. I think it’s amazing when former adversaries become close friends as we learn so much from the differing perspectives. Von Luck was respected as capable & just man. Another great story is the Stigler-Brown incident in which Luftwaffe fighter pilot Franz Stigler escorted Brown’s ravaged B-17 to safety at great personal peril to Stigler. Stories like this are amazing.
It’s a shame how quickly we forget history. Now we have so many spewing toxic rhetoric & divisive nonsense as they take so much for granted in modern times. We have people picking fights & claiming victimhood over the pettiest things. 60million perished in WW2 often brutally & painfully yet they way many speak of modern times, it’s the most hateful, genocidal, & violence period in history. 🫤🤔
Anyway, be kind everyone & stay safe. My single best advice that I give it to keep learning & experiencing in order to reduce your hypocrisy & limit your ignorance. We’re all hypocrites & ignorant on some things but it’s a matter of degrees. Sadly, it seems like the most ignorant & toxically hypocritical among us are the ones who are propped up & praised the most. We live in backwards & upside times but that doesn’t mean you have to follow this nonsense. Avoid complacence & stat vigilant. 🙂👍
I've walked across the original pegasus bridge..... riddled with bullet holes.... visited point du hoc, omaha gold sword and juno it is a memory that will live with me forever
Great video, I met John Howard a few years ago, before he died. He was so happy that I knew who he was. So proud to of had Pegasus Bridge as my battle honour
He was quite a character!
Great little video. I was lucky enough to work with Billy Grey, a Bren gunner and the first man out of glider 1 on the night. He was best friends with Wally and they got up to some crazy stuff that Billy told me about. Such brave men and each year I still raise a glass of something at 00:12 on June 6th.
Superb, and very well researched, account of this small, but important event. I was there some 30+ years ago and was astounded by the fact that three gliders landed safely, in a very small field, at night, and with obstacles on their approach. All due to many hours of meticulous training.
Excellent video!
Glad you enjoyed it Billy!
When I was about 14 or so my mother would take me to Tarrant Rushton to watch the glider flying by the Dorset gliding club, and whilst on the perimeter tracks would let me drive to learn control of the car, not knowing at the time of the historic importance of the airfield during WW2. loved watching this video and have so much respect for those brave allied soldiers who fought for our freedom.
I know this channel isn't really new anymore, but its new to me. The content is outstanding. Thanks for all ghe work you're putting into it - really fantastic
Thanks Ciaran.
Outstanding production and very entertaining. I had read Pegasus Bridge: June 6, 1944 by Stephen Ambrose so I had a general idea of what happened and where. Your use of Google maps and drone with places marked completed the story. Inspired that you got the recordings of so many principal players to augment your narration. Keep up the good work. Two thumbs up and I subscribed
Brilliant Doug thanks for subbing!
Came here to write exactly this comment.
Now I've got a new travel goal and target date to visit Bénouville.
Thank you for the inspiration.
@@macblastoff7700 Thanks for the kind comment Matt.
Ditto, Ambrose”s Pegasus Bridge is an excellent read and your video provides great detail from the use of current day mapping. Well done and God Bess the Ox and Bucks!
An excellent production illustrating the absurdity of the plan that somehow was pulled off. I have visited the bridge and museum on three occasions and each time I am in awe of what was achieved - most definitely a must for any D-Day enthusiast!
Glad you enjoyed it!
A really more than excellent reconstruction of the event! Showing the viewer both a good overview and the necessary details so anyone has a realistic picture of what happened and of the heroes involved.
Excellent job!
And for the British heroes, I salute you and know i am eternally indebted. Something I won’t be able to repay.
Best documentary I have ever seen on this particular operation. Well done. You have honored these heroes with your superb work.
The ages of these brave guys are staggering. Great docu, thanks for a great watch.
Thank you!
Amazingly well produced. A great tribute to the incredibly brave people involved.
By the end of every one of these videos, I find myself welled up. Thank you for your awesome work.
Glad you like them!
I was in the Royal Green Jackets - We were very proud of our regimental battle honour Pegasus bridge that was won by the Ox and Bucks light infantry then amalgamated into my regiment Royal Green Jackets.
Marvellous. Thank you. And of course, to those exceptional men who protected us from Nazi tyranny.
It was quite an undertaking!
This is bloody well done! Very exciting - thorough researched and editied. thanks for posting...
What an exceptionally well made video. The script, graphics, editing and narration are of the very best quality; more than equal to anything produced by the major TV channels.
This is probably the best account of the action I have ever seen, no wait it is the best. Cheers mate, very well done.
Thank you very much.
My dad was in the 12th Para (Yorkshire). He had just turned 18 when he jumped into Normandy in the early hours of 6 June. He passed away in 2018 just before his 92nd birthday❤ He often mentioned Breville and how important that was.
The first seaborne landing troops to reach the paras at the bridge was the 17 Field Company RE from Sword beach. There are numerous sources that record this including Richard Todd's autobiography. Lovats commandos arrived about an hour later.
Great video great story well told.
Thank you Michael.
Hurrah for the CRE
Except the first troops on the bridge were not paras they were from 1st battalion oxs and bucks LI which became part of the Royal Green jackets ham Nd jam swift and bold 😮
@@malcolmdonnison3987 I didn't say the first troops on the bridge were paras, but perimeter secured around the bridge was the paras as they reinforced the glider landings. Cheers
Great visualisation of a terrific achievement. Not even a single reference to anyone stopping for tea!
Bloody hell. Showing the tactical overview and ground, and then the way you overlay the photos with google earth, absolutely spot on. Really glad to have found your channel!!
Thank you for this video, particularly the integration of the veterans' interviews and the helpful bird's eye views. I drove across "Pegasus Bridge" recently while on holiday and this has been most informative.
The aerial shots and pictures are great but to really be able grasp how spectacular a feat this was, you have to stand on the site. From the landing to taking and holding the bridges, just incredible. I'm so thankful to The Wife for setting us up with the Ambrose Band of Brothers tour in 2019, Pegasus Bridge being the first stop in Normandy.
Thanks for another wonderful presentation!
Excellent storytelling. Having been there in person, you explained the situation incredibly. Great work.
Love how this is put together. Also love hearing those old guys tell their accounts.
My mate went in on a glider and fought with the commandos . What a brave man he was ,he took out a pillbox on his own and I am so proud of him and his memory
Excellent video, thank you. Having been to the bridge and stood where the first glider landed you appreciate what a stunning piece of flying it was by the pilots . Very brave men all of them.
Amazing skills indeed!
I have just come back from here, I have done 5 trips in a row to Normandy and I learn something new every trip, and realise that there are 10 more things to do and see, with each trip. Many thanks for this video presentation and thanks to our brave troops.
One of my favourite stories is about the filming of this episode in The Longest Day. Major John Howard was played by Richard Todd, who, as a junior officer had been part of the 7th Parachute Regiment force that relieved the the Ox and Bucks at Pegasus Bridge. He was offered the part of playing himself, but opted for the part of John Howard, who was a consultant on the film.
As a towed glider pilot I am totally impressed that these guys could set their gliders down where they did. I kept saying to myself..."no frigging way" as I watched the simulation on the video!!! It's true you only get one shot at the landing. But that's exactly what thrilled me about this type of flying. More incredibly, these were nighttime landings with people shooting at them!!! True heroes!
Indeed it was some achievement!
Daaamn, I have seen maybe all the ww2 documentaries that there are out there! But this made me actually understand exactly what and how happened. Please keep on!
I took part in a charity walk in 2004 for the British Legion and The NVA and on the 6th of June had the honour to meet Wally Parr and his son Barry in the middle of Pegasus Bridge,a moment I treasure, thanks for this excellent and detailed account of the action.
I have read a couple of books on the taking of the bridges and found your video giving me a better view of the terrain and the actions of the soldiers on the ground.
Thank you.
A great rendition of the start of something very special in History. It was a great adventure not to forget those very brave souls who didn't make it through. Brave brave men, I only hope that Britain has the same courage as these men had.
I visired Pegasus Bridge 30 years ago on a school trip and was very lucky to of met Major Howard he answered all our questions and told his story of the fay that was D day.
That was great, learned alot. My dad was there on D-day. Wish I could remember all his stories 😢
Thank you 😊
I like this narrative style, conveying the excitement of the action.
An excellent video and account of this Operation, thank you. And thank you to the brave men that undertook this incredible feat of bravery, skill, and determination. Never to be forgotten.
Never heard this story before. Much gratitude for the sacrifice of these heroes.
This was an outstanding video. The attention to detail is wonderful, with a great voice to narrate. These men were incredible, true hero's and I hope through the ages they are remembered for their courage and bravery.
Great video! Really love the way you use Google Maps (or whatever) with additional graphics (arrows etc) to describe the action. The aerial pics with the super imposed photos from the period are put together seamlessly & give you a good insight into how the battles evolved. Thanks for sharing!
I had the greatest honour of meeting Major John Howard outside cafe Gondree during the Normandy 50th anniversary in 1994. Respect.
Excellent video. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Well prepared and presented. Thank you.
I don't know why the Pegasus Bridge story hasn't been made into a short TV mini series. It's a fantastic story
Yes it is. Funny enough, I remember this story very well from playing call of duty.
@@razorback9374 which CoD? I don't remember playing that
@@daledavies_me it was the first one that came out on console. In
2003.
Ambrose, who wrote Band of Brothers, started his DDay journey with a book called Pegasus Bridge. Howard became a good friend.
@@paulcochrane1028 it's a decent read. I've read it a few times.
Great video. Would love to see you do a documentary on the 1st Canadian parachute battalion. My dad was in the 1st and jumped on d day.
What was your Dad's name? I have the "jump list"...my friend Jock Hendrie may have sat beside him in the plane!
@@artlevert181 j.r. Alcorn. If you got the full list, check if there was a Ronald McDonald.
My grandad was part af the parachute regiment who took this bridge, my dad used to go to the original one every year ❤
The OX and Bucks Light Infantry?
@George the Patriot unfortunately i dont know his regiment i know he ended up in Greece as he was awarded freedom of the city he built a armoured car to carry the prime minister around i believe its in a museum out there somewhere
Parachute Regiment or Ox and Bucks Regiment??
@@tigermoth7580 parachute regiment
@jamieevans6395 so I guess he came in later to support the Glider troops at the bridge? Was he member of 7th Para Bn? This Bn is not associated with WW2 in Greece
11 on a 10 scale. Extremely well done - the battle and the video.
Well done video again! I really hope you're finding these worthwhile to make, because they are most certainly entertaining and very well presented. Keep up the great work!
The team are really enjoying making them.. even our seasoned historians are learning more by taking a really close-down look at the action!
This is astonishingly good.....I've never seen such detail presented on this incredible mission. Well done and thank you; it moved me a lot. Such ordinary men doing extraordinary things.
Thanks for the kind comments Mark!
@@BattleGuideVT I had no idea the landing ground was so small with no margin for error. The drone footage with superimposed period images is quite brilliant. But hearing the men speak is truly amazing.
About a month ago I visited Pegasus bridge with my son and dad, we had a drink in Café Gondrée and I saw and elderly lady in the back of the café preparing a salad. Thanks to this video I know now it was the daughter of the café owner looking at the picture. I feel that it is such an honour and privilege to have been to this place and seen the lady that was there during the takeover of the bridge.
I'd like to upload the producer of the video for the quality. The use of the maps and the overlays images is amazing. The production really puts you in the shoes of all the soldiers and it's amazing to see the glider coming into land. Well done
Nice job, really liked the drone shots. In the movie Major Howard was played by Richard Todd, who was also there, not far from Howard on Pegasus Bridge. I have several favorite movies, this, is one of them. When realism was important, not visual effects.
My dad was at Okinawa . He never talked about he is 97 and fading. He is a good man and respected. He has been a good father.
Thank you for making the video, great work, It was such a remarkable, tactical masterclass.
Congratulations.A truly magnifying telling of an event that is already a legend .I have watched many a you tube tribute to the Pegasus Bridge story .
This is the finest of them all .
The detail is illuminating in its information and the pride infused in the narrating .
The glider pilots excelled .An elite group of men in a generation of heroes .
Thank you .
Alan
RAF 51 Sqd .
Respect and admiration of all involved .
What a fantastic video, thank you my friend
I've only just discovered this channel and ive already started binge watching videos. There are so few videos on Pegasus Bridge that i was so happy to find such a good one
Thanks Gary, hope you enjoy the others, next one coming soon!
Great documentary!! My great uncles from 🇺🇸 fought along side the French and British. What a daring operation and successful. Thank God such brave soldiers lived .
Brilliant video - thanks for posting. So much bravery on that day, it really does bring tears to the eyes.
An excellent video. I visited the site a few years ago, and I remember the sense of sheer, total disbelief that I had when I saw the tiny size of the actual landing-ground. What piloting!
I am feeling shame to watch this documentary for free... Nicely made
Thanks David, glad you enjoyed it! You could always check out our Patreon ;)
Although our time in Normandy was limited, I think we could have squeezed this one in, had I known about it. Thanks for a another wonderful video!