Pegasus Bridge

The special bascule bridge, the Pegasus Bridge, also known as the Bénouville Bridge, links Caen and Quistreham, and on the night of 5 and 6 June 1944 it and a few other bridges were targeted by the Allies during D-Day, the Allied invasion of German-occupied France. 'Operation Deadstic' was designed to ensure that the bridges were secured to, among other things, prevent German tanks from attacking the eastern flank during the Allied landing on 'Sword Beach'.

The operation was led by Major John Howard and the British troops arrived in 3 gliders, two of which managed to land so close to the Bénouville bridge that they were able to surprise the German soldiers and thus prevent the German reinforcement from reaching Sword Beach. Since then, the bridge has been called Peagsus, in honour of the amazing effort, and the name actually comes from the shoulder emblem worn by British forces during the operation, the winged horse Pegasus.

Finally, visit the small "Airborne Troops Museum" in Bénouville, located on Avenue Major Howard only about 100 m from the Pegasus Bridge. Unfortunately, the original bridge had to be replaced in 1994 but can still be visited in the museum park.

Incidentally, it is also said that the 'Cafe Gondrée', at the Pegasus Bridge, was the first French house to be liberated on D-Day.