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Memorial Pegasus features a purpose-built modern museum to house the airborne collectionwords and pictures Craig Allen The Memorial Pegasus Museum of the Month
Memorial Pegasus
Avenue du Major Howard
14860 RANVILLE
Phone : 02 31 78 19 44
Fax : 02 31 78 19 421965 Mini ‘Twini’ Moke, a twin-engined - therefore 4x4T
he Memorial Pegasus museum lies just
over the modern Pegasus Bridge on the
Caen Canal site of the famous Glider Borne
Assault in the early hours of D-Day. It would
be hard to imagine a more appropriate setting
and the museum features a wealth of airborne
artefacts housed in a purpose-built facility.
It replaced an earlier museum on the other
side of the bridge, close to the Gondree Café
which closed after a long running dispute over
the lease. Thankfully, that is all in the past and
the memorial is now home to a wonderful
collection including the original PegasusBridge which sits proudly in the grounds. Also
on display outside are an M3 Half-Track and
several artillery pieces along with a full-size
replica of an Airspeed Horsa Assault Glider built
for the 60th commemoration.
Inside, the display cabinets feature a wealth of
weaponry and equipment alongside medals and
personal items donated by veterans. There are
video presentations explaining the history and a
well-stocked shop where you can pick up airborne
books and memorabilia. Each year on the
anniversary of D-Day the memorial becomes the
focus of commemoration events and hosts World
War Two veterans, many of whom have received
their Croix de Guerre beside the original bridge.
If you are in the area it makes for a great stop
along with refreshments at the Pegasus Bridge
Café both of which were especially popular in
this 75th anniversary year.Horsa Assault Glider replica built for the 60th
anniversary of D-DayAirborne Jeep display inside the museumABOVE: The original Pegasus Bridge lies in the
memorial g rounds with a modern replacement
bridging the canal
BELOW: The Memorial Pegasus replaced an
earlier museum