The original bridge was successfully captured by Major John Howard and his men in under 10 minutes.
The mission used Horsa gliders, which were constructed primarily of wood to keep them lightweight.
The bridge was renamed Pegasus Bridge in honor of the 6th Airborne Division's shoulder patch, which depicts Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus.
The original bridge was moved to the museum site in 1994 to prevent it from being scrapped.
The operation was the first major Allied action of the D-Day invasion, occurring shortly after midnight.
The museum holds a collection of over 2,500 objects related to the D-Day airborne operations.
The landing was so precise that the gliders stopped only yards away from their intended targets.
Memorial Pegasus is a military museum dedicated to the 6th Airborne Division's role in the liberation of France during the D-Day landings. The museum is centered around the original Pegasus Bridge, a strategic crossing over the Caen Canal seized by British glider-borne troops on June 6, 1944. The site features the restored original bridge, which was replaced in 1993 to accommodate modern traffic. Visitors can view the Horsa glider, a full-scale replica used for the air assault, alongside a collection of WWII-era uniforms, photographs, and personal artifacts. The facility documents the Operation Deadstick mission, which aimed to secure the bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal to prevent German armored reinforcements. The museum grounds include an outdoor park displaying heavy military hardware, including a Bailey bridge and anti-aircraft guns. It serves as an educational site for understanding the tactical significance of the airborne assault in the Battle of Normandy.
The underside of the original bridge structure where the history of the glider landing is most visible.
Visit the outdoor park first to see the larger military hardware before heading into the main museum building.
Look for the authentic bullet holes preserved in the original bridge structure.
Allow extra time to walk across the modern bridge nearby to appreciate the original tactical challenge.
Do not mistake the modern functioning bridge, currently in use by road traffic, for the museum's historical artifact.
Closed annually during the month of January.
