In 1974 the Airborne Forces Museum was opened on the west bank of the Caen Canal at Bénouville by the D-Day Commemoration Committee. It was opposite the glider landing site and close to the Bénouville Bridge. The museum was opened by British General Sir Richard Gale who had been the divisional commander of the 6th Airborne during the Normandy Landings. Because of problems caused by the end of the lease the museum closed in 1997.[2]
The Bénouville Bridge had been renamed Pegasus Bridge on 26 June 1944 in honour of being the first objective taken by the airborne troops in the Normandy campaign.[1] In 1993 the Bridge over the Caen Canal was removed and replaced by a new structure.[1] The bridge was placed on waste ground close to its original position.[1]
With the closure of the first museum a campaign was started by Raymond Triboulet and the D-Day Commemoration Committee to raise funds and find a site for a new museum.[1] In 1999 the original Pegasus Bridge was bought by the Committee from the French authorities for one Franc to be a focal-point for the new museum.[1]
The new museum Memorial Pegasus was opened on 4 June 2000 by the then-Prince of Wales, who was Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment.[1]
Airspeed Horsa replica
On 5 June 2004 a replica of the first Airspeed Horsa glider to land close to the Bénouville Bridge was officially inaugurated.[1] At the inauguration, the Horsa glider was shown to the Prince of Wales by Jim Wallwork, the pilot of the first glider to land in June 1944.[3]
Museumedit
The museum building exhibits artifacts, exhibitions and personal objects related to the 6th Airborne Division.[1]
^ abcdefghiMemorial Pegasus Ranville-Benouville Guide Book, English Version.
^Ben MacIntyre, "Pegasus Bridge conflict claims a fresh casualty", Times [London, England] 17 Sept. 1997: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.
^Michael Horsnell. "Glider hero returns for royal duty." Times [London, England] 26 Apr. 2004: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 21 Jan. 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pegasus Museum.
memorial, pegasus, ranville, lower, normandy, museum, memorial, airborne, division, normandy, landings, particular, capture, caen, canal, orne, river, bridges, pegasus, bridge, contents, history, museum, references, external, linkshistory, editin, 1974, airbor. Memorial Pegasus at Ranville in Lower Normandy is a museum and memorial to the 6th Airborne Division in the Normandy landings and particular the capture of the Caen canal and Orne river bridges 1 Pegasus Bridge at the Memorial Pegasus Contents 1 History 2 Museum 3 References 4 External linksHistory editIn 1974 the Airborne Forces Museum was opened on the west bank of the Caen Canal at Benouville by the D Day Commemoration Committee It was opposite the glider landing site and close to the Benouville Bridge The museum was opened by British General Sir Richard Gale who had been the divisional commander of the 6th Airborne during the Normandy Landings Because of problems caused by the end of the lease the museum closed in 1997 2 The Benouville Bridge had been renamed Pegasus Bridge on 26 June 1944 in honour of being the first objective taken by the airborne troops in the Normandy campaign 1 In 1993 the Bridge over the Caen Canal was removed and replaced by a new structure 1 The bridge was placed on waste ground close to its original position 1 With the closure of the first museum a campaign was started by Raymond Triboulet and the D Day Commemoration Committee to raise funds and find a site for a new museum 1 In 1999 the original Pegasus Bridge was bought by the Committee from the French authorities for one Franc to be a focal point for the new museum 1 The new museum Memorial Pegasus was opened on 4 June 2000 by the then Prince of Wales who was Colonel in Chief of the Parachute Regiment 1 nbsp Airspeed Horsa replica On 5 June 2004 a replica of the first Airspeed Horsa glider to land close to the Benouville Bridge was officially inaugurated 1 At the inauguration the Horsa glider was shown to the Prince of Wales by Jim Wallwork the pilot of the first glider to land in June 1944 3 Museum editThe museum building exhibits artifacts exhibitions and personal objects related to the 6th Airborne Division 1 A three acre park contains the Pegasus Bridge the replica of the Horsa glider and memorials to the men who captured the Caen canal and Orne river bridges References edit a b c d e f g h i Memorial Pegasus Ranville Benouville Guide Book English Version Ben MacIntyre Pegasus Bridge conflict claims a fresh casualty Times London England 17 Sept 1997 7 The Times Digital Archive Web 21 Jan 2013 Michael Horsnell Glider hero returns for royal duty Times London England 26 Apr 2004 10 The Times Digital Archive Web 21 Jan 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pegasus Museum Memorial Pegasus 49 14 32 N 0 16 18 W 49 2423 N 0 2717 W 49 2423 0 2717 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Memorial Pegasus amp oldid 1147468760, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
