John Sheldon's photos with the keyword: Invasion of Normandy

Pegasus Bridge, originally called the Bénouville Bridge after the neighbouring village, is a road crossing over the Caen Canal, between Caen and Ouistreham in Normandy. This is a picture of the original bridge structure which is now the centrepiece of the Memorial Pegasus Museum at Ranville. The Bridge played an important part in the June 1944 Normandy Landings. A force of 181 men in six Horsa Gliders landed at this bridge and at the nearby Horsa Bridge in order to prevent German forces from destroying them when news of the 'D Day Landings' broke. (There is more information on Wikipedia under 'Operation Deadstick'.)

The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a British troop-carrying glider used during the Second World War. It was developed and manufactured by Airspeed Limited, alongside various subcontractors; the type was named after Horsa, the legendary 5th-century conqueror of southern Britain. (Wikipipedia.) More information on Wikipedia under "Airspeed Horsa". This picture shows the remains of one of the original gliders from World War II and (reflected in the glass) a modern reconstruction. These form part of the Memorial Pegasus Museum at Ranville which commemorates the landing of troops (in Horsa Gliders) at Pegasus Bridge and Horsa Bridge in June 1944.

John Howard was one of nine children born to a working class family in London in 1912. He left school at age 14 years. He rose to the rank of Major in the British Army and in June 1944 led the capture of the Pegasus and Horsa bridges in Normandy ("Operation Deadstick"). He died in 1999, shortly before the opening of the new Memorial Pegasus Museum. This memorial is sited near Pegasus Bridge where he and his men landed in Horsa Gliders. In his later life he visited this place every year to lay a wreath. (More on Wikipedia under "John Howard (British Army officer)".)