information supplied to British by, 39, 68, 74, 76
Gondrée, Georgette, 54, 172, 175, 176
Gondrée, Thérèsa, 16, 29, 39, 54, 68, 76, 87, 125, 128–129, 167, 171–73
Goodwood, operation, 150, 161
Gray, Corporal Billy, 78, 81, 83, 86, 90, 117, 141, 148, 167
Brotheridge and, 43
on dash across bridge, 95, 96
during flight over channel, 20
and German antitank gun, 123, 132
and German gunboat, 147
Hickman and, 169
In NAAFI break-in, 49
Gray, Glen, 118
Guards Armored Division, British, 161
Halifax bombers, 19, 22, 55, 61, 87
Heckler, Ken, 11
Herouvillette, 152, 155–57
Hickman, Sergeant Heinrich Heinz, 19, 24, 29, 39, 54–55, 74, 76, 87, 94–96, 160, 169
Hill, Brigadier James, 46
Hitler, Adolf, 30, 53, 54, 94, 124, 127, 182
Holland, 39
Hooper, Lieutenant Tony, 21, 37, 59, 60, 78, 126, 153, 155, 159
Horsa gliders, 19–21, 25, 27, 28, 51–52, 55, 57, 59, 61, 65, 83, 88, 90, 92, 99, 121, 170, 172
Horne, Lena, 85
Hotspur gliders, 51
Howard, Ethel, 32
Howard, Jack, 32
Howard, Major John, 23–14, 27, 32–38, 73–87, 93, 102–117, 120–22, 125, 126, 129–139, 151–68, 170, 174, 175, 176–80, 181
assigned to Ox and Bucks, 35–36
background of, 32–33
briefings by, 80–81, 83
during crash landing, 89, 90, 92
and death of Brotheridge, 103
and D-Day planning, 58–59, 63–69, 73–74, 77–78
in defensive phase of battle, 156–59
in final D-Day preparations, 84–87
during flight over channel, 20–22, 28
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 172–73
and glider pilots, 81–82
Gondrée and, 171
injured in automobile accident, 165–67
in King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 33–35
on last furlough before D-Day, 25
on march to Escoville, 152–155
marriage of, 34–35
and operation Mush, 60–61
Poett’s orders to, 23, 63, 65–67, 73, 184–88
postwar career of, 167
put in command of D Company, 36
return to England of, 126–63
subalterns under, 37–38
training practices of, 40–45, 48–51, 55, 75–77
von Luck and, 168, 172
wounding of, 159–60
Howard, Joy Bromley, 20, 22, 24–25, 34–36, 40, 60, 87, 144–45, 160, 165, 166
Howard, Penny, 20, 22, 24, 25, 60, 167, 173
Howard, Terry, 20, 22, 24, 25, 40, 60, 167
Independent Parachute Regiment, German, 68
Italy, 19
ITV, 169
Jodl, Field Marshal Alfred, 53
Juno Beach, 182
Kane, Sergeant Joe, 126, 140
Kasserine Pass, Battle of, 168
Killean, Corporal, 144
Kindersley, Brigadier Hugh, 50, 57–58, 81–82, 135, 138, 148
King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 32, 35
Klare, Tommy, 118–19
Kortenhaus, Lieutenant Werner, 127, 147–48
Leclerc, General, 168
Le Havre, 47
Leigh-Mallory, Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh, 90n,
Le Port, 39, 94, 107, 109, 111, 115, 119, 136, 138–45, 148, 150, 181
Lion Sur Mer, 9
Longest Day, The (film), 11, 166, 170–72
Lovat, Lord, 64, 136, 146–47
Luck, Colonel Hans A. von, 14, 18–19, 24, 74, 87, 114, 127, 137, 143, 145, 154, 160–61
and German command structure, 124–25
Howard and, 168–172
planning of defenses by, 76
Rommel and, 18, 38–39, 52–54, 125
and SPVs, 138
training under, 54–55, 81
Ludendorff Railroad Bridge, 11
Luftwaffe, 161
Lysander aircraft, 16
Mark IV tanks, 118
Marshall, S. L. A., 13
Merville Battery, 28
MG 34 machine guns, 41, 94, 99, 102, 149
Millin, Bill, 146, 147
Ministry of Food, British, 166
Moaning Minnies, 138, 141, 145, 148
Mons, Battle of, 155, 156
Montag, Frank, 176
Montgomery, Field Marshal Bernard Law, 47, 84, 151, 159, 161, 182
Mulberry Harbor, 162
Mush, operation, 59–61, 67
National Savings Committee, 166
Navy, British, 125
Nazis, 17, 18, 54, 136
Neilson, Captain R. K. Jock, 59, 78, 83, 104, 137
Nijmegan Bridge, 165
9th Armored Division, U.S., 11
Ninth Army, German, 168
North African campaign, 18, 30, 38, 46–47, 52–53, 55
Northern Ireland, 10
O’Donnell, Paddy, 173, 179
Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU), 35, 37
Omaha Beach, 9, 130, 182
101st Airborne Division, U.S., 14
125th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, German, 18
Orne River, 21, 23, 25, 28, 47, 48, 68, 72, 76, 127, 144, 160, 181, 182
bridge over, 17, 56, 63, 114
Osborne, Captain, 55
Ouistreham, 19, 29, 64, 70, 71, 130, 136, 182
Overlord, operation, 130
Ox and Bucks, see 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Oxford City Police, 35
Panzer Lehr Division, German, 183
Parachute Regiment, British, 10
Paris, 161
Parr, Irene, 25, 60, 75, 87, 170, 179
Parr, Corporal Wally, 36, 60, 75–76, 78, 82, 83, 107, 142, 146–49, 156, 159, 167
during crash landing, 88, 90
in dash across bridge, 95
and death of Brotheridge, 101–2
at Escoville, 155
during final D-Day preparations, 85–86
during flight over channel, 19–21, 25
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173
and German antitank gun, 122, 132–33, 136, 138–39, 149
and German gunboat, 147
in NAAFI break-in, 48–49
postwar life of, 170, 179
during training exercises, 43, 44, 50
as volunteer for airborne, 31–32
Pas de Calais, 182
Piat guns, 41–42, 107, 109, 113, 116–118, 136, 137, 143, 144, 155, 158, 170, 181, 182
Pine Coffin, Colonel Jeffrey, 98, 112, 119, 121, 129, 136, 139, 141, 143, 146, 149
Poett, Brigadier Nigel, 46, 58, 83, 84, 97–98, 105, 119, 120, 135, 139, 149, 179, 180
arrival at river bridge of, 111
in flight over channel, 23–24, 28
orders to Howard, 23, 63, 65–67, 73, 184–88
postwar career of, 169
put in command of glider company, 57
training exercises observed by, 75
Poland, 18
Porter, Corporal, 152–54, 179
Priday, Captain Brian, 21, 28, 37, 59, 67, 77, 78, 100, 104, 126, 153, 159
Ranville, 9, 10, 17, 23, 29, 39, 56, 63, 64, 87, 98, 106, 111, 112, 135, 137, 141, 147, 148, 150–53, 171
Remagen, bridge at, 11
Resistance, 16, 19, 39, 68, 73, 87, 182
Rhine crossing, 166
River Dives, 23, 28, 47, 56, 76, 104, 182
Roberts, Colonel Mike, 49, 58–59, 149
Romer, Private Helmut, 13, 28, 39, 54, 87, 89, 93–94, 161, 176–78
Rommel, Field Marshal Erwin, 12, 18, 38–39, 47, 52–54, 74, 124, 125
Royal Air Force (RAF), 40, 68, 73, 74, 81, 98, 145
&nbs
p; Royal Engineers, 59, 83
Royal Fusiliers, 46
Rundstedt, Field Marshal Karl von, 124
Russia, 30, 53
Ryan, Cornelius, 11
Salerno, 54
Schmeisser carbines, 41, 94, 96, 102, 110, 149, 158
Schmidt, Major Hans, 17–18, 29, 54, 74, 76, 81, 84, 87, 112–13, 181
2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Ox and Bucks), 35–36, 148, 166, 169, 174
B Company of, 42, 59, 65, 152
D Company of, see D Company
2nd Panzer Division, German, 182–83
2nd Panzer Grenadiers, German, 154
Seine River, 47, 161, 162
Seventh Army, German, 54
716th Infantry Division, German, 17, 18, 54, 73, 115
736th Grenadier Regiment, German, 17, 64, 73
SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces), 47
Shell Oil Company, 169
Sicily, invasion of, 19, 54, 55
6th Airborne Division, British, 9–11, 14, 19, 23, 46–48, 73, 114, 129, 137, 139, 147, 172, 181–83
6th Airborne Division in Normandy, The (Gale), 64
6th Parachute Regiment, German, 19
Skylark, operation, 61
Smith, Lieutenant R. “Sandy,” 83, 84, 87, 93, 100–102, 107, 109, 111, 116–17, 134, 152, 179
and D-Day plans, 77–78
evacuated to Ranville, 132
during flight over channel, 20–21, 24
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173
joins D Company, 59
postwar career of, 169–70
wounding of, 96–97, 103–4, 113, 126, 131
Somerset Light Infantry, 112
Spitfire aircraft, 135, 161
SPVs (self-propelled vehicles), 18, 54, 124, 138, 143, 145, 154
Stalingrad, 53
“Stalin organ” (rocket launcher), 54
Sten guns, 41, 56, 85, 87, 93, 94, 96–98, 101, 109, 116, 123, 143, 153
Stirling bombers, 98, 109
Stock, Corporal, 166
Stormy Weather (film), 85
Sweeney, Lieutenant H. J. “Tod,” 37–38, 48, 59, 99, 103, 106, 111, 114, 121, 126, 139, 145, 167
bridge rushed by, 100
and D-day plans, 78
during flight over channel, 21
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173
on march to Escoville, 151–154
postwar career of, 169
relationship with his men, 43
Schmidt captured by, 112–113
Todd and, 140
on training exercises, 60–61
wounding of, 159
Sword Beach, 9, 47, 56, 130, 134, 144, 182
Tappenden, Corporal, 44, 103–105, 108–9, 111, 134, 154
Taylor, Major Nigel, 111–12, 119–20, 127, 138–40, 142–144, 148, 169–71, 179, 180
3rd Division, British, 47, 134
3rd Infantry Division, British, 64
3rd Para Brigade, British, 46, 64
Thornton, Sergeant M. C. “Wagger,” 109, 113, 142, 145–46, 181, 182
at Arnhem Bridge, 164–165
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173
Fox and, 98–99
German tank blown up by, 116–19, 121, 178
and interrogation of prisoners, 123–24
postwar life of, 170
wounding of, 159
Tiger tanks, 18
Timmerman, First Lieutenant Karl H., 11
Todd, Captain Richard, 98, 109, 111, 120, 135, 140, 143, 144, 167, 169
Todt Organization, 81, 134
Tunisia, 18, 53
21st Army Group, 47
21st Panzer Division, German, 18, 53, 55, 74, 114, 125, 127, 144, 147, 154, 161, 168
Utah Beach, 9, 130
Vaughn, Dr. John, 24, 83–84, 93, 107–9, 113, 126, 131–132, 147, 170, 173
Verdun, Battle of, 156
Verey pistol, 94, 95
Vimont, 18, 87
Vion, Madame, 16, 68, 74, 76
V-1s, 160
V-2s, 160
Waco gliders, 48, 55
Waller, Fats, 85
Wallwork, Staff Sergeant Jim, 14, 39–40, 86–87, 92, 107, 110–11, 122, 134, 171, 177, 179
at Arnhem Bridge, 164, 165
assigned to D Company, 79
crash landing by, 88–90, 102–103
and final D-Day preparations, 82–84
during flight over channel, 20–23, 25–29
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 172, 173
glider pilot training of, 40, 51–52
at invasion of Sicily, 55–56
in operation Deadstick, 61–62, 80
in operation Skylark, 61
postwar career of, 170
War Office, British, 31, 51, 159, 160
Warriors, The (Gray), 118
Warwickshire Regiment, 149
Wehrmacht, 161
Weigley, Russ, 13
Wood, Lieutenant David, 41, 59, 92, 104, 113, 126, 167
assigned to D Company, 37
and D-Day plans, 77
evacuated to Ranville, 132
during final D-Day preparations, 85, 86
during flight over channel, 20
at fortieth anniversary celebration, 173
postwar career of, 170
relationship with his men, 43
wounding of, 102, 103, 108, 131
Zanuck, Darryl, 167, 170–72
SIMON & SCHUSTER PAPERBACKS
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Copyright © 1985 by Stephen E. Ambrose
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The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
Ambrose, Stephen E.
Pegasus Bridge.
Includes index.
1. World War, 1939-1945—Campaigns—France—Normandy.
2. Normandy (France)—History. I. Title.
D756.5.N6A47 1985 940.54'21 84-23557
ISBN-13: 978-0-671-52374-9
ISBN-10: 0-671-52374-0
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CONTENTS
Band of Brothers
Foreword
Epigraph
Maps
CHAPTER ONE “We Wanted Those Wings”; Camp Toccoa, July–December 1942
CHAPTER TWO “Stand Up and Hook Up”; Benning, Mackall, Bragg, Shanks, December 1942–September 1943
CHAPTER THREE “Duties of the Latrine Orderly”; Aldbourne, September 1943–March 1944
CHAPTER FOUR “Look Out Hitler! Here We Come!”; Slapton Sands, Uppottery, April 1–June 5, 1944
CHAPTER FIVE “Follow Me”; Normandy, June 6, 1944
CHAPTER SIX “Move Out!”; Carentan, June 7–July 12, 1944
CHAPTER SEVEN Healing Wounds and Scrubbed Missions; Aldbourne, July 13–September 16, 1944
CHAPTER EIGHT “Hell’s Highway”; Holland, September 17–October 1, 1944
CHAPTER NINE The Island; Holland, October 2–November 25, 1944
CHAPTER TEN Resting, Recovering, and Refitting; Mourmelon-le-Grand, November 26–December 18, 1944
CHAPTER ELEVEN “They Got Us Surrounded—the Poor Bastards”; Bastogne, December 19–31, 1944
CHAPTER TWELVE The Breaking Point; Bastogne, January 1–13, 1945
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Attack; Noville, January 14–17, 1945
CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Patrol; Haguenau, January 18–February 23, 1945
CHAPTER FIFTEEN “The Best Feeling in the World”; Mourmelon, February 25–April 2, 1945
CHAPTER SIXTEEN Getting to Know the Enemy; Germany, April 2–30, 1945
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Drinking Hitler’s Champagne; Berchtesgaden, May 1–8, 1945
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Soldier’s Dream Life; Austria, May 8–July 31, 1945
CHAPTER NINETEEN Postwar Careers; 1945–1991
Acknowledgments and Sources
About Stephen E. Ambrose
Index
D-Day
Acknowledgments
Epigraph
Maps
Prologue
1. THE DEFENDERS
2. THE ATTACKERS
3. THE COMMANDERS
4. WHERE AND WHEN?
5. UTILIZING ASSETS
6. PLANNING AND PREPARING
7. TRAINING
8. MARSHALING AND BRIEFING
9. LOADING
10. DECISION TO GO
11. CRACKING THE ATLANTIC WALL
The Airborne into Normandy
12. “LET’S GET THOSE BASTARDS”
The Airborne Night Attack
13. “THE GREATEST SHOW EVER STAGED”
The Air Bombardment
14. A LONG, ENDLESS COLUMN OF SHIPS
The Naval Crossing and Bombardment
15. “WE’LL START THE WAR FROM RIGHT HERE”
The 4th Division at Utah Beach
16. “NOUS RESTONS ICI”
The Airborne in the Cotentin
17. VISITORS TO HELL
The 116th Regiment at Omaha
18. UTTER CHAOS REIGNED
The 16th Regiment at Omaha
19. TRAFFIC JAM
Tanks, Artillery, and Engineers at Omaha
20. “I AM A DESTROYER MAN”
The Navy at Omaha Beach
21. “WILL YOU TELL ME HOW WE DID THIS?”
The 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day Morning
22. UP THE BLUFF AT VIERVILLE
The 116th Regiment and 5th Ranger Battalion
23. CATASTROPHE CONTAINED
Easy Red Sector, Omaha Beach
24. STRUGGLE FOR THE HIGH GROUND
Vierville, St.-Laurent, and Colleville
25. “IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC”
Afternoon on Omaha Beach
26. THE WORLD HOLDS ITS BREATH
D-Day on the Home Fronts
27. “FAIRLY STUFFED WITH GADGETS”
The British Opening Moves
28. “EVERYTHING WAS WELL ORDERED”
The 50th Division at Gold Beach
29. PAYBACK
The Canadians at Juno Beach
30. “AN UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT”
The British at Sword Beach