Operation Tonga: Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Battery

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Operation Tonga: Pegasus Bridge and the Merville Battery
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Jon Cooksey
SeriesElite Forces Operations Series
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:144
Dimensions(mm): Height 246,Width 246
Category/GenreSecond world war
ISBN/Barcode 9781844152032
ClassificationsDewey:940.544941
Audience
General
Illustrations 50 Illustrations

Publishing Details

Publisher Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Imprint Leo Cooper Ltd
Publication Date 30 April 2023
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

The seizure of Pegasus Bridge by six glider borne platoons of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry under Major John Howard very early 6th June 1944, is one of the better-known stories of D-Day. Landing just yards from vital bridges over the River Orne and the Caen Canal near Benouville, Howard's men took and held the bridges in a remarkable coup de main operation with minimal casualties. The 7th Parachute Battalion dropped in soon afterwards to relieve Howard's men and the action remains, by any standards, a remarkable feat of arms. But it was only one act in a much grander production put on by 6th Airborne Division that night to secure and protect the eastern flank of the Allied landings inland from Sword, the British landing beach. Key bridges over the Dives had to be blown to foil possible German counter attacks and to north east, at Merville, a battery of guns which the allied planners thought could wreak havoc on the beaches and ships at sea, had to be eliminated. The task fell to the men of the 9th Parachute Battalion, whose actions in assaulting the Merville Battery became another D-Day epic - but for very different reasons. 50 illustrations

Author Biography

Jon Cooksey is a respected Military Historian and Battlefield Tour Guide.