| 5 - 9 September 2008 | ||
| Operation OVERLORD, as the D-Day invasion of 6th June 1944 was called, was carried out by the mightiest armada in history. The aim of Operation Overlord was to open a Second Front to liberate Europe from Nazism, and it was launched on D-Day against Hitler's supposedly impregnable Atlantic Wall.
We examine the planning for the huge D-Day undertaking, the discussions, disagreements, deception plans and enormous logistic effort of Operation Overlord as the allies prepared for this vast, complex and vital mission. There were to be two airborne landings; infantry and armoured attacks by troops brought over by a great allied fleet, which then supported the action on the five beaches - Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah. An essential component was that of the allied planes, the crucial air superiority providing cover, towing the gliders of the airborne forces and bombing defences near the coast and hampering the enemy's movements and reinforcements. |
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| We will visit the D-Day landing zones of British American airborne troops, looking at their actions and the subsequent reinforcement. As we travel from east to west we will stand on the beaches; Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah and discuss the landings, the formation of the bridgeheads and the subsequent days battles. Simon Jones is your guide on this tour. |
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| Day 1 | (Friday): Depart Victoria Coach station London at 08:45. Calais - Dover ferry. Drive west to Caen as your guide sets the scene, looking at events leading up to D-Day. Dinner and overnight, Caen (4 nights). | |
| Day 2 | The British airborne forces at Pegasus Bridge and Merville battery. The British and Canadian beaches; Sword, Juno and Gold. We will have a group lunch, and in the afternoon visit the Hillman feature on the high ground behind. Own dinner arrangements. | |
| Day 3 | On our American day we look at the airborne landing around St Mere Eglise, and Utah beach in the morning. After a lunch break in Grandcamp Maisy, we walk along Omaha beach and discuss the particular problems here, before visiting the beautiful American Cemetery on the cliff top at St Laurent. Dinner at our hotel. | |
| Day 4 | Today we go to the cliffs above Arromanches for a panoramic view along the coast and to see the remains of the Mulberry harbour, followed by a visit to museum and 360 degree cinema. The lunch break is in Bayeux, with time to visit the Cathedral or Tapestry. Finally we visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery and Memorial and lay our wreath in remembrance of the men who died in the battles we have been studying. Group dinner. | |
| Day 5 | We visit the battery at Mont Canisy before travelling on to Honfleur for our lunch break. Calais - Dover ferry, arriving approximately 18:45 Dover and 20:30 London. |
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