With over three decades of dedicated research, Neil Barber has delved into the exploits of the 6th Airborne Division during D-Day and its aftermath, performing extensive interviews with veterans of all ranks, from Private to General. The preparation of his books follows every avenue of information, be it audio, written, film or photographic, in order to get closer to what actually happened. Neil's expertise extends beyond writing, having produced biographies for veterans, advised on television documentaries and now leads specific 6th Airborne Division Battlefield Tours in Normandy. www.pegasus-bridge.co.uk He is a respected member of the 9th Parachute Battalion Reunion Club, an advisor to the Parachute Regiment Charity which oversees the monuments and history of the Regiment in Normandy, and is a former member of the Merville Battery Museum Committee. His influence has been pivotal in raising awareness of the 6th Airborne Division's actions and achievements in Normandy.

• Contents vForeword viiPreface To The Revised & Updated Edition 1Acknowledgements 3Chapter 1 Planning 7Chapter 2 Bugle Horns And Para Wings 11Chapter 3 The Divisional Plan And Glider (Exercise ‘Deadstick’) Training 29Chapter 4 Resistance Activities 41Chapter 5 Final Planning And Transit Camps 49Chapter 6 Departure 71Chapter 7 The Coup De Main Operation 85Chapter 8 Arrival Of The 5th Parachute Brigade 121Chapter 9 German Reaction At The Bridges 145Chapter 10 Moving Into Ranville 171Chapter 11 The Morning At Benouville And The Bridges. 189Chapter 12 The Morning In The Ranville Area. 229Chapter 13 Seaborne Arrivals At The Bridges. 251Chapter 14 The Remainder Of The Day. 271Appendix A - COMPOSITION OF THE COUP DE MAIN PARTY 303Appendix B – CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE COUP DE MAIN OPERATION 311Appendix C - COUP DE MAIN GLIDER 94 323Footnotes: 329Appendix D – ISSUES INVOLVING THE 7TH PARACHUTE BATTALION 331Appendix E – WHO WAS FIRST TO THE BRIDGE ? – THE ARRIVAL OF THE COMMANDOS ANDSEABORNE ENGINEERS 337Appendix F – THE 12TH PARACHUTE BATTALION’S FORWARD HEDGE AT LE BAS DE RANVILLE Appendix G – THE TANK ATTACK ON THE RING CONTOUR ON 7TH JUNE 347Appendix H – THE DEFENCE OF THE BRIDGES BY THE 92ND LAA 349Appendix J – HOW THE NAVAL BOMBARDMENT CAPABILITY (FOOs) BECAME ATTACHED TOAIRBORNE FORCES 351Appendix K – THE BUILDING OF THE BAILEY BRIDGES 353Appendix L - GERMAN ISSUESFootnotes 359Sources & Bibliography 397

With over three decades of dedicated research, Neil Barber has delved into the exploits of the 6th Airborne Division during D-Day and its aftermath, performing extensive interviews with veterans of all ranks, from Private to General. The preparation of his books follows every avenue of information, be it audio, written, film or photographic, in order to get closer to what actually happened. Neil's expertise extends beyond writing, having produced biographies for veterans, advised on television documentaries and now leads specific 6th Airborne Division Battlefield Tours in Normandy. www.pegasus-bridge.co.uk He is a respected member of the 9th Parachute Battalion Reunion Club, an advisor to the Parachute Regiment Charity which oversees the monuments and history of the Regiment in Normandy, and is a former member of the Merville Battery Museum Committee. His influence has been pivotal in raising awareness of the 6th Airborne Division's actions and achievements in Normandy.

• Contents vForeword viiPreface To The Revised & Updated Edition 1Acknowledgements 3Chapter 1 Planning 7Chapter 2 Bugle Horns And Para Wings 11Chapter 3 The Divisional Plan And Glider (Exercise ‘Deadstick’) Training 29Chapter 4 Resistance Activities 41Chapter 5 Final Planning And Transit Camps 49Chapter 6 Departure 71Chapter 7 The Coup De Main Operation 85Chapter 8 Arrival Of The 5th Parachute Brigade 121Chapter 9 German Reaction At The Bridges 145Chapter 10 Moving Into Ranville 171Chapter 11 The Morning At Benouville And The Bridges. 189Chapter 12 The Morning In The Ranville Area. 229Chapter 13 Seaborne Arrivals At The Bridges. 251Chapter 14 The Remainder Of The Day. 271Appendix A - COMPOSITION OF THE COUP DE MAIN PARTY 303Appendix B – CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE COUP DE MAIN OPERATION 311Appendix C - COUP DE MAIN GLIDER 94 323Footnotes: 329Appendix D – ISSUES INVOLVING THE 7TH PARACHUTE BATTALION 331Appendix E – WHO WAS FIRST TO THE BRIDGE ? – THE ARRIVAL OF THE COMMANDOS ANDSEABORNE ENGINEERS 337Appendix F – THE 12TH PARACHUTE BATTALION’S FORWARD HEDGE AT LE BAS DE RANVILLE Appendix G – THE TANK ATTACK ON THE RING CONTOUR ON 7TH JUNE 347Appendix H – THE DEFENCE OF THE BRIDGES BY THE 92ND LAA 349Appendix J – HOW THE NAVAL BOMBARDMENT CAPABILITY (FOOs) BECAME ATTACHED TOAIRBORNE FORCES 351Appendix K – THE BUILDING OF THE BAILEY BRIDGES 353Appendix L - GERMAN ISSUESFootnotes 359Sources & Bibliography 397

With over three decades of dedicated research, Neil Barber has delved into the exploits of the 6th Airborne Division during D-Day and its aftermath, performing extensive interviews with veterans of all ranks, from Private to General. The preparation of his books follows every avenue of information, be it audio, written, film or photographic, in order to get closer to what actually happened. Neil's expertise extends beyond writing, having produced biographies for veterans, advised on television documentaries and now leads specific 6th Airborne Division Battlefield Tours in Normandy. www.pegasus-bridge.co.uk He is a respected member of the 9th Parachute Battalion Reunion Club, an advisor to the Parachute Regiment Charity which oversees the monuments and history of the Regiment in Normandy, and is a former member of the Merville Battery Museum Committee. His influence has been pivotal in raising awareness of the 6th Airborne Division's actions and achievements in Normandy.

• Contents vForeword viiPreface To The Revised & Updated Edition 1Acknowledgements 3Chapter 1 Planning 7Chapter 2 Bugle Horns And Para Wings 11Chapter 3 The Divisional Plan And Glider (Exercise ‘Deadstick’) Training 29Chapter 4 Resistance Activities 41Chapter 5 Final Planning And Transit Camps 49Chapter 6 Departure 71Chapter 7 The Coup De Main Operation 85Chapter 8 Arrival Of The 5th Parachute Brigade 121Chapter 9 German Reaction At The Bridges 145Chapter 10 Moving Into Ranville 171Chapter 11 The Morning At Benouville And The Bridges. 189Chapter 12 The Morning In The Ranville Area. 229Chapter 13 Seaborne Arrivals At The Bridges. 251Chapter 14 The Remainder Of The Day. 271Appendix A - COMPOSITION OF THE COUP DE MAIN PARTY 303Appendix B – CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES INVOLVING THE COUP DE MAIN OPERATION 311Appendix C - COUP DE MAIN GLIDER 94 323Footnotes: 329Appendix D – ISSUES INVOLVING THE 7TH PARACHUTE BATTALION 331Appendix E – WHO WAS FIRST TO THE BRIDGE ? – THE ARRIVAL OF THE COMMANDOS ANDSEABORNE ENGINEERS 337Appendix F – THE 12TH PARACHUTE BATTALION’S FORWARD HEDGE AT LE BAS DE RANVILLE Appendix G – THE TANK ATTACK ON THE RING CONTOUR ON 7TH JUNE 347Appendix H – THE DEFENCE OF THE BRIDGES BY THE 92ND LAA 349Appendix J – HOW THE NAVAL BOMBARDMENT CAPABILITY (FOOs) BECAME ATTACHED TOAIRBORNE FORCES 351Appendix K – THE BUILDING OF THE BAILEY BRIDGES 353Appendix L - GERMAN ISSUESFootnotes 359Sources & Bibliography 397