CONTINUE TO THE NORTH ON THE COASTAL ROAD:

Follow the signes; 'Batterie de Crisbecq'. Head inland on the D 69. Here are some enormous bunkers for heavy artillery. There is a small museum but has very irregular opening hours. In these casemates stood two 155 mm guns. The were defended by three 21 mm cannons, six 75 mm anti-air artillery guns, three 20 mm guns and seventeen machineguns. Everything was surrounded by landmines and protected by barbed wire.

In the early morning of D-Day some 600 ton's bombs fell on this complex without inflicting any damage. At daybreak the big cannons opened fire and sank a frigate and damaged a cruiser and other ships. The fire returned from the Allied ships destroyed many small guns around the complex but the heavy 155 mm stayed in business until the 12th of June! On this date the Germans retreated and left 78 death behind. De enormous casemates were blown up by American engineers.

After the visit of Crisbecq head inland and go to 'Batterie d'Azeville. This complex is well worth the visit. The battery has four casemates; two H671 and two H650 (the last one has an extra concrete protection on top for a 37mm anti-aircraft cannon). During the night of June 5 and 6, 1944 there was some heavy fighting between paratroopers and the defense of the complex. In the morning the heavy guns of the battery were pointed towards Utah Beach. The German defense of the battery forced the Allies to go around the complex, but after another attack, the battery was taken on June 9.

Today the side is very good preserved, and can be visited also after closing hours. Notice the 'fake-stones' that are painted on the casemats. Notice further the extra slit to the right on the casemats, so the cannon could reach the south tip of Utah Beach. Everywhere are signs where bullets and grenades hit the concrete. In June 1944 the complex had 4 X 105mm Schneider 331 (f) cannons of French origin. Under the supervision of a guide it is possible to visit the tunnels that connects the whole place with each other.

Head to the south-west for Ste-Mère-Eglise. This was the place for the scary nightdrop of the 82nd Airborne Division and made famous by the movie 'The Longest Day'.

6 JUNE, 1944, 01.30 HOURS, OBJECT: SAINTE-MÈRE-EGLISE

Ste-Mère-Eglise was the object had to be taken by the 82nd Airborne Division. Some well known scenes from the motion picture 'The Longest Day' take place in this small town. During the jump of the paratroopers there was a house on fire (at the side were now the museum is located). Because of this fire there were a lot of civilians helping to pass the buckets to put out the fire. The water pump can still be found near the church. Soldier John Steele made here is precarious jump. His chute hooked on the church and he kept dangling and was a witness of the carnage below. He was not the only one who had this misfortune, Ken Russell also became victim of the steeples of the church, but he got away, were Steel was captured by the Germans (he escaped later).

In the church are two stained glass windows that commemorate the nightly jump over this town. Over the portal is the one designed by Paul Renaud, son of the mayor of that time, Alexandre Renaud. It shows the Virgin Mary flanked by paratroopers. The other window was donated by veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division. This one shows Saint Michael, patron saint of the parachutists.

THE MUSEUM IN STE-MÈRE-EGLISE:

The museum, with roofs like parachutes, across the church is well worth a visit, reserve at least 1 to 2 hours. Under one roof an original Waco CG-4 can be found. Under the other roof is a C-47 transporter on display. (C-47 page is under translation). The hardware outside are an M4 Sherman tank and a Halftrack.

Leaf St-Mère-Eglise and head west, on the D15 (Picauville/Etienville). Pass under the N13, at the Y-junction keep right. After about three kilometers is the bridge of la Fière, that crosses the river Merderet. Park your vehicle right at the parking. This is the spot of the memorial for the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division.

His eyes focused on the horizon for enemy troops, stares a bronze paratrooper (Iron Mike) into the green valley. On this same spot, around 500 para's assembled around midday of June 6, 1944. There was a constant heavy fighting between the Germans and members of the 505th en 507th PIR. But not a single German could penetrated their lines. General Gavin, the Assistant Divisional Commander, (his manhole is situated on the D15, a hundred yards back around the bend. You just passed it) took 75 men and headed for the a bridge a few kilometers south, near Chef-du-Pont. But the small unit was stopped by heavy opposition (more on that bridge when we continue the tour).

Cross the Merderet en head west on the D15. After a kilometer at the Y-junction, go right to Helpiquets. On the right you'll find the monument for the drop of the para's of the 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division. The 507th PRI landed close to her objective, but over a long distance, 50 kilometers between north and south! Just to the north of here the 508th PIR landed over a distance of 'just' 9 kilometers. The Germans flooded the region and some of the para's drowned before they could start a fight.

Return to the D15, and on the Y-juncti0on go right. You may head for Etienville/Pont L'Abbé and via the D70 to Chef-du-Pont, or at Caponnet, you can take a short cut to the south to Le Feirage and then go left on the D70 towards Chef-du-Pont.
Just before you enter Chef-du-Pont, stop on the right when you crossed the bridge 'Pont du Capitaine Creek'.

The fighting for this bridge was also a heavy one. This was mainly fought between men of the 507th PIR, 82nd Airborne and the Germans. Generaal Ridgeway, de divisional commander, arrived at the bridge la Fiére and ordered more troops to that bridge. Because of that, only a platoon was left for defense at this bridge where you are now. By some luck, a glider with an anti-tank cannon landed nearby. Captain Roy Creek just this weapon with success to stop the advancing Germans.

The bridge bares the name of Captain Creek, who, with the aid of two company's of the 508th PIR, held the bridge with a small group of men. The men of 508ste, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Shanley, were dug in on Hill 30, a few kilometers to the northeast of here. Despite of heavy opposition of the German 91st Division and the 1057de Regiment, they held the German attack at bay, so the bridge was somewhat relieved. Because of their assistants they have a commemorative stone also at this bridge.

There is a lot to visit in the area of Utah Beach. The points mentioned above brings you to the most important sides. But there is much more to visit, like the Musée de la Liberté in Quiéville. This museum shows how the people of Normandy lived during the occupation. There are no weapons in this museum, but it is nevertheless very interesting. This sector, Utah Beach, is peppered with monuments, big and small, on every corner suspect a monument, like a marker for a former airfield, like the Advanced Landing Ground A16 near Brucheville. Or a road named after a killed soldier, like the one pictured below in Le Grand Vey.

(l) Monument for ALG A16 nabij Brucheville,(r) a road in Le Grand Vey