D-Day Normandy Landings 1944 This 5 day World War 2 tour
visits the landing grounds of the greatest military operation in history.
We stand on the Normandy assault beaches of Sword, Juno, Utah, ‘Bloody’ Omaha
and Gold, where the only Victoria Cross was won on D-Day 1944. We
tour the Airborne Landing sites at Ste Mere Eglise, Pegasus Bridge, Ranville
and Merville to learn of those momentous events of the 6 th June some 66
years ago. We visit Arromanches and visualise the logistics that enabled
the biggest assault landing in history; the German heavy guns at Longues
and the scene of the US Ranger’s dramatic attack on Point du Hoc. We
include Bayeux’s CWGC Cemetery and the opportunity to visit the famous
Bayeux Tapestry that records a pictorial history of the battle of Hastings
in 1066
Date: 5 Days 4 Nights - Monday 19 th July to Friday 23 rd July
2010
Day One Depart Dover on P&O Ferries for your crossing
to Calais. We take a leisurely drive down to Ranville Commonwealth
War Graves Cemetery: The History of the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission - A para and his dog and the culture of remembrance,
after which you will then arrive at your hotel.
Day Two The American Sector Beaches and Airborne
Landings Utah Beach: The defences, the action and the US 4
th Division’s pressure to link with their Airborne Forces
St Mere-Eglise: The airborne landings of the 82 nd
and 101 st Airborne Divisions and Museum we then stop
in St Mere-Eglise after which we journey to Point du Hoc: The
scaling of the cliffs by Col Rudder and his American Rangers and
Bloody Omaha Beach: What happened at the water’s edge?
Then our final destination of the day is American Military
Cemetery Saint Laurent: Where 32 pairs of brothers and a father
and son are buried. Scene and inspiration of Spielberg’s epic ‘Saving
Private Ryan’
Day 3 The Guns, The Pipeline, The Biggest Harbour in the World
and Bayeux Tapestry
Port en Bessin – Where PLUTO came ashore
andthe
assault by 47 Royal Marine Commando then onto Longues Battery – The
Guns and the tale of their destruction then onto Arromanches: The
administration of combat supplies for the biggest amphibious military operation
in history, visiting Mulberry Harbour and Museum a short
stop in Arromanches and our final destinations Bayeux Military
Cemetery and The Bayeux Tapestry
Day 4 - The British & Canadian Beaches we
start at Sword Beach: The objectives, the landing of the
British 3 rd Division and Hobart’s Funnies of the 79 th Armoured Division,
The Free French, Jerry’s attack from the sea and Lord Lovet’s Commando
then onto Juno Beach: The Canadian 3 rd Division landing
and where Churchill, de Gaulle and King George later visited a short stop
in Courseulles and
our final destination is Gold Beach: The landing of the
50 th Northumbrian Div, its objective and the only VC on D-Day.
Day 5 – The British Airborne Landings we start at Merville
Battery: The raid, its planning, preparation, execution and
a vist to the Museum our next stop is at Pegasus
Bridge: The landing of the glider-borne assault by 52 nd Foot
Ox & Bucks Light Infantry and discover the importance of the 2 bridges
across the River Orne and Caen Canal visiting the Museum we
then depart for your return journey home by P&O Ferries. Our
Hotel:
The Ibis Caen Centre hotel is in the heart of the historic city of
William the Conqueror. From the hotel, you can visit on foot the two
Abbeys and the Ducal Castle. Being modern, spacious and comfortable,
with a cosy bed and a functional bathroom. Your room has everything
you need. The restaurant is also a la carte.
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