Review (PDF)

Pegasus Bridge: June 6, 1944

In the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed the German defense forces and paved the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. Pegasus Bridge was the first engagement of D-Day, the turning point of World War II.This gripping account of it by acclaimed author Stephen Ambrose brings to life a daring mission so crucial that, had it been unsuccessful, the entire Normandy invasion might have failed. Ambrose traces each step of the preparations over many months to the minute-by-minute excitement of the hand-to-hand confrontations on the bridge. This is a story of heroism and cowardice, kindness and brutality—the stuff of all great adventures.

Paperback: 208 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (November 15, 1988)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0671671561

ISBN-13: 978-0671671563

Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 9.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (171 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #76,078 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #139 in Books > History > Military > Strategy #674 in Books > History > Military > World War II #2062 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Engineering

Having been stationed in Germany for three years I was fortunate enough to travel to many of the WWII battlegrounds that exist in Europe and the beaches that made up Operation Overlord is one trip that I will never forget. Before making the trip I read "Citizen Soldier," "D-Day" and "Pegasus Bridge" all written by Stephen Ambrose. I carried "D-Day" and "Pegasus Bridge" with me during my trip to use as a reference as I visited 4 of the 5 beaches involved in the D-Day invasion. "Pegasus Bridge" is the story of the men from D company from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry Regiment of the British 6th Airborne Division. Ambrose does a masterful job of relating the story of these men and tying to results of the battle to the overall operation of D-Day. Ambrose gives the background on the training of the men, personal insights of many of the men, and the man who held them all together Major John Howard. As good as Ambrose tells the story of D company nothing compares to actually standing on that bridge and the feeling that you get thinking that right here is where the D-Day invasion began! Ambrose has included some great photos and drawing of the gliders landing site. When you visit the bridge itself you will find markers indicating the locations of the first three gliders and it is only then you will realize what a magnificent job of piloting Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork did in landing the nose of his glider "to break through the barbed wire" as requested by Major Howard. Some the machine gun nest are still there beside the bridge and gives you an idea of what the men faced. The original bridge, replaced with a modern bridge, but thankfully was saved and is located nearby as part of a museum.

Pegasus Bridge: June 6, 1944 Firefighter Pegasus: BBW Pegasus Shifter Paranormal Romance (Fire & Rescue Shifters Book 2) Bridge Basics 1: An Introduction (The Official Better Bridge Series) Bridge Basics 1 D DAY Through German Eyes - Book 2 - More hidden stories from June 6th 1944 The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944 Best of Bridge Holiday Classics: 225 Recipes for Special Occasions (The Best of Bridge) The Complete Best of Bridge Cookbooks Volume Two (The Best of Bridge) Bravo! Best of Bridge Cookbook: Brand-New Volume, Brand-New Recipes (The Best of Bridge) Fan Fare! Best of Bridge Cookbook: Brand-New Volume, Brand-New Recipes (The Best of Bridge) Bridge Basics 1: An Introduction (The Official Better Bridge Series) Bridge Basics 3: Popular Conventions (The Official Better Bridge Series) Bridge 101--Beginners Bridge (Be my partner!) Bridge Mix: the Bridge cartoons of Charles M. Schulz Como Aprender a Jugar Al Bridge/ Learn How to Play Bridge (Spanish Edition) National Geographic June, 1972, Vol. 141, No. 6 Top25 Best Sale Higher Price in Auction - June 2013 - Vintage Baseball Cards Lapidary Journal for Gem Cutters, Collectors, and Jewelers, Vol.51, No.3 (June 1997) June Meyer's Authentic Hungarian Heirloom Recipes C&T PublishingAt Home with Modern June: 27 Sewing Projects for Your Handmade Lifestyle The Fast Track To Your Technician Class Ham Radio License: Covers all FCC Technician Class Exam Questions July 1, 2014 until June 30, 2018