normandypart2

[normandypart2]

On to the beaches and bridges. All the Normandy beaches are very popular for sunbathing and water sports. Juno beach here. It is not difficult to imagine the landing craft coming ashore with stiff resistance

Canada’s beach had a gentle slope compared to others

Some authentic remnants remain. Thousands of these and other barriers were planted in the shallow water

And this major gun bunker is right near the Juno visitor centre……. Huge gun would have been mounted on top. Not a pill box style like in Private Ryan where the Germans fired thru slits.

And the Canadian cemetery a few km from Juno beach.

A key objective for the British was to land gliders (28 soldiers each) and secure 2 key bridges near the beaches at midnight before the beach landings. If not saved the Germans would blow them up to stop the advance. This photo shows the gliders landed within 50m of the target bridge in the dark!!!

At the Pegasus Bridge museum both an authentic glider(but not used on DDay) and the original bridge are preserved

Glider is made of only plywood strips and a thin canvas skin

A long day but very educational and exciting.

I knew virtually nothing before about the World Heritage Tapestry linen ( scores of people dedicate their life to the study of this historical treasure). And we in North America know little of the Pegasus bridge story( named after the airborne unit that captured it intact.

Even after a long day Gwamma polishes up nicely in a new dress bought in July in Lakefield to easily outshine the plump Americans.