On June 6th, the 2nd Gloster patrols enter the city. The soldiers hand out some cigarettes and promise to return the following day. Next morning, the city is liberated without fighting, so saving the city from destruction. The museum tells the landings story via its exhibits and a slide show. A bulldozer on display was used until only recently in a quarry.

UTAH D-DAY MUSEUM

Furthest West of the landing beaches, Utah beach proved to be an easier landing than Omaha, due to a small navigational error putting the landings out of range of powerful German Batteries covering the coast. The D-Day museum tells the story of the landings and advance from this beach. A landing craft and several vehicles are on display outside. 

AIRBORNE MUSEUM
at St Mere Eglise 

Site of the 82nd Airborne landings in the early hours of D-Day. The museum has a Waco glider and a C-47 on display along with a jeep and smaller equipment. A film tells the story of the towns capture. A dummy representing paratrooper John Steele hangs from the church tower where he spent the night hanging in his parachute harness. 

BATTERY
at Azeville

The Azeville Battery Guns were at their maximum range trying to fire on Utah beach. They were unsuccessful in repelling the landings. After being bombed and attacked with a flame thrower, the battery falls to the Allies on June 9th. A museum is now located in one of the block houses. 

MAGNEVILLE/NEHOU MEMORIAL

This Sherman is located near the General Patton Museum and was part of the campaign to cut off the Cherbourg peninsula to enable the capturing of Cherbourg Harbour. On June 17th, the towns of Magneville and Nehou are liberated. 

MARTRAGNY AIRFIELD MEMORIAL

Just before we left the camp site, we found a memorial just outside to the RAF Advanced Landing Ground B7 from July 13th to September 3rd 1944. The whole week living on an airfield and we didn't even realise!! 

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