From Bayeux (take the N 13 and head for Cherbourg) it is just a half an hour drive to Ste-Mere-Eglise.

Ste-Mere-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.

The museum across the church is well worth a visit, reserve at least 1 to 2 hours.

I like to mention, for the one who is looking for wartime souvenirs and army surplus, 'Static Line'. It is located on the Rue du Gal. De Gaulle 16, near the centre of Ste-Mer-Eglise. The owner speaks English, and is open all year, except on sundays.

From the centre of Ste-Mere-Eglise go west and take the D 67 towards Chef-du-Pont. In this area (manely on the right) were the dropping-zones of 82nd Airborne Division. In Chef-du-Pont take the D 70 east (to the left) and go under the N 13 to St-Marie-du-Mont. On the right of this road was the dropping-zone for the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles). In this same area landed 53 WACO gliders. During a crash of one of these gliders the first General of the Allied troops was killed. For Brigadier General Don F. Pratt is a small monument in the middle of the D 70 between the N 13 and St-Marie-du-Mont (at the crossroads).

The 101st was 8451 men strong, but the jump of most of them were spread all around this area. In small groups they fought the Germans. In these sector operated the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, later made world famous in the tv series 'Band of Brothers'. After the war the windows of church in St-Marie-du-Mont were replaced by new ones and the tower was restored. Little has changed in sixty years. Near the church is an 'army dump store' with a lot of authentic material from the month June, 1944 (opening hours vary, but at the end of the afternoon it is usually open). Leave town to the east (to the coast) on the D913. This road is known as 'EXIT 2' ('EXIT 1 was near Pouppeville).

6 JUNE, 1944, 06.30 HOURS OBJECT: UTAH BEACH

THE UTAH BEACH MUSEUM:

The museum is built around a German bunker (Blockhaus W5). Take at least an hour to visit this museum. At the entrance to the beach stands a marker '00' (an identical one stands, with its 'zero' number, near the town hall Ste-Mere-Eglise). Here starts the 4th Division Liberty Highway. It runs all the way through France into Holland. You will see these markers a lot in Normandy with the date and the progress made after D-Day. The restaurant across the road is built around a bunker as well. This one is completely restored and open for visitors (watch your head!).

In the early hours of June 6th, 1944, Leutnant Artur Jahnke sent a German patrol out to find out what all the those planes in the sky were doing. An half an hour later the patrol returned and brought tot the surprise of Jahnke 17 American prisoners with them! The Germans tried to interrogate the prisoners but the American paratroopers said nothing, and there was no time for further interrogation because the shelling started from the navy ships that lay in the waters of UTAH Beach. The bombardment destroyed the 50 mm, 75 mm and 88 mm guns around the fortifications. German troops that were not killed or wounded were wandering around dazed and confused. Under the command of General Roosevelt the 4th Division stormed Utah Beach. Because of a small mistake and the current they landed a couple of kilometres more to the south. This was a fortunate 'mistake' because the defence was at this place very weak. Jahnke and his troops were quickly overrun and taken prisoner. At the end of the day there were already 23.000 man on the beaches and 1700 vehicles debarked.

TAKE THE COASTAL ROAD TO THE NORTH:

The next exit through the dunes from the beach is known as 'EXIT 3'. Around 07.30 hours a part of 502nd PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment), 101st Airborne Division, under command of the 3rd Battalion lay in ambush at this point. At 09.30 hours a large group of Germans appeared that were retreating from the fighting on the beach. In the fight at this exit 75 Germans lost their lives. Utah Beach was also the landing side for General Patton's 3rd Army. The dunes here are scattered with bunkers and blockhauses.

Behind Leclerc and his Free French Memorial (a few kilometres up north) you can find two big casemates 250 metres to the south and north (see below). For a comparison picture 'Then and Now' of the southern casemate, click 'here' ).

CONTINUE TO THE NORTH ON THE COASTAL ROAD:

Follow the singes '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 tonnes 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. At the moment they are working on a complete restoration of this large complex. Of especial notice is the original 'fake stones' painting that are still visible on some bunkers. In June, 1944 there were at this complex four French 105 mm cannons in the casemates. Under the supervision of a guide it is possible to visit the tunnels that connects the whole place.

TIP ! Return to the coastal road and take a left turn to Quiéville. Here you'll find Musée de la Liberté on the coast. This museum shows how the Normandy people lived and worked under the German occupation. There are no weapons in this museum but it is very interesting.