Memory Tracks
" L e s C h e m i n s d e l a M e m o i r e "
Normandy Battlefields Tours
"6th Airborne Tour"
Drop Zones and Landing Zone "N"
The Mission
"6th Airborne" Division had the heavy task of securing, in the first hours of the day on Tuesday June 6th 1944, the eastern flank of the future landing zones of the allied forces.
Formed in July 1942, the 1st Canadian Batallion of parachutists was Integrated to the 6th Airborne.
The insufficient number of planes available to ensure the towing of the gliders led to the organisation of two assault waves, two very distinct operations: TONGA and MALLARD.
TONGA operation must roll out in the very first hours of the day of June 6th and has 3 main objectives:
1. Take control of the Bénouville bridge (“Pegasus Bridge”, over the Caen canal to the sea), and the Ranville bridge (“Horsa Bridge”, over the Orne River). Prevent their destruction by the german army, and then wait for the troops planned to arrive by sea around 13:00 the very same day.
2. Seize the Merville Battery, whose guns appear to pose a threat for the forces arriving just a few hours later on Sword Beach.
3. Destroy 5 bridges located east of Orne River, on the Dives and Divette rivers, in order to limit the possibilities of German counter-attacks and keep and secure the zone between Orne River and the Dives.
The MALLARD mission, triggered in the evening of June 6th around 21:00, is aimed at providing support with men and heavy supplies to the airborne troops already engaged in the field.
No less than 246 Horsa and Hamilcar gliders are mobilised for this second half of the airborne assault, and must land between Amfreville and Ranville (landing zone “N”), and east of Saint Aubin d’Arquenay (landing zone “W”).
"6th AIRBORNE TOUR"
(Full-day tour)
The 6th Airborne Tour will take you in the footsteps of the Anglo Canadian airborne troops, parachuted or glided in the eastern flank of the allied landing zone on June 6th 1944.
5 major steps will mark your itinerary:
“Pegasus” and “Horsa” Bridges areas (Bénouville and Ranville bridges).
Crucial positioning for the allies, both bridges are stormed and conquered before 1 o'clock in the morning by Major John Howard’s men airborne into 6 Horsa gliders which took off from Tarrant Rushton airfield, in Dorset.
Drop Zone / Landing Zone “N”.
Today a peaceful agricultural area of 3.2 square kilometres, but once a makeshift landing zone for over 200 gliders and 3 Parachute Battalions.
Drop Zone "V" and The Merville Battery.
The Drop Zone "V" - the parachute zone of the 9th Battalion and the 1st Canadian Battalion - had this terrible characteristic of bordering the Dives Valley, flooded by the Germans. Many paratroopers tragically lost their lives from the first contact with the land of France by drowning in the marshes.
Located two or three kilometres northwest of the DZ "V", the Merville battery is a German fortified complex
including specifically four bunkers protecting crucial pieces of artillery and defended by a garrison of 160 men.
In a very unfavourable context, notably linked to the dispersion of the troops, and after difficult combats, the men of the Lieutenant-Colonel Terrence Otway take control of the position a little before 5 o’clock in the morning.
British military cemetary of Ranville.
On our way to Ranville, we will pass through the village of Bréville, theater of very violent fighting from June 6th to 12th. Once in Ranville, we invite you to stop for a moment of respectful tribute and recollection in this place where 2567 brave men are laid to rest, most of which were soldiers of the 6th Airborne, fallen in combat on June 6th, 1944, and in the following weeks.
Escoville Village and Drop Zone "K".
Located just 4 km from the areas controlled by the 6th Airborne on June 6, and less than 1 km north of the Drop Zone "K" (dedicated to the 8th Battalion’s parachuting), Escoville will remain on the front line for long weeks. The fighting there was fierce until the outbreak of Operation Goodwood which allowed the liberation of the locality on July 18, 1944, just two days before that of Caen.
It should be noted that Major John Howard will later consider the fighting of June 7, 1944 in Escoville as the most tragic day of his military career...
Museums
On this tour’s itinerary, you will have the opportunity to discover two museums of the utmost importance: Pegasus Memorial and the Merville Battery.
These two exceptional sites, specifically dedicated to the actions of the 6th Airborne, are ideally complementary and their visit will allow you to have an optimal understanding of the events of June and July 1944 on the eastern flank of the landing zone.
We have therefore chosen to include visits to the Pegasus Memorial and the Merville Battery Museum in the price of our service.
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Practical information
- Prior reservation required.
- Also accessible in "shared mode" from Caen and Ouistreham (only). See Rates page.
- Times : We recommend a departure at 08.30 for a return around 17.30.
- Rates, and pick-up / drop-off points : Please, see Rates and useful information page.
As a reminder, tickets to the Pegasus Memorial and the Merville Battery Museum are included in the price of the service.