A few minutes after midnight on 6th June 1944 troops from the British 6th Airborne Division successfully capture the bridge over the River Orne at Ranville-Bénouville (now known as Pegasus Bridge in their honour), between Ouistreham on the coast and the city of Caen. This was essential for the defence of the forces landing on D Day to the west and as a supply route to further airborne landings to the east.
American airborne troops were landed in the Cotentin Peninsula to play a similarly critical role – 101st Airborne Division in securing the beach exits from Utah beach and 82nd Airborne Division in capturing the town of Sainte-Mère-Église on the key road route.
That night the 'window' technique developed by the Telecommunications Research Establishment was used to simulate an invasion force heading for the Pas de Calais and the German technology failed to pick up any clear picture of the invasion fleet or the concentration of Allied minesweepers off the Normandy beaches. The BBC message to the French Resistance had been intercepted but, following repeated false alarms, only the 15th German Army was put on alert. Even when reports of the paratroop landings began to arrive they were confused by the dropping of thousands of dummies with a few brave SAS (Special Air Service); as well as the paratroopers unintentionally dropped miles away from their drop zones. The Allies had retained the element of surprise.
A massive naval bombardment opened up just before dawn to take down the Normandy beach defences.
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