Operation Tonga - Pegasus Bridge part 1
One of my primary projects for 2024 is to build an accurate Pegasus bridge table on a permanent setting, with that in mind I have started to collect a number of period photos together, plus intelligence photos, postcards of the village. I will also identify the gliders and build them as per the description of the destruction upon landing. I will be using three or four books on the subject plus a few local photos from my visits and actual measurements for scratch building or 3d printing. I will also build specific tiles for the table to cover both the Bénouville bridge (pegasus), and the Orne river bridge (Horsa), plus the village of Bénouville up to the cross roads and perhaps the chateau Bénouville and the edge of the village of Ranville.
I plan to build all the buildings at 1/76th scale approximately so the templates are not to large. For he bridge over the canal I have purchased the 20mm resin bridge from ravensthorpe for Pegasus bridge but have already started to add a few modifications to the resin piece including new hand railings and more accurate supports and the boom gates. The bridge over the river Orne will be a 3d printed piece. The narrow gauge rail line will be likely N scale track to reduce the footprint of the line. I have purchased the Bénouville chateau also as a 3d file, not sure if i will add it to the table though as it is huge.
The Bridges and environs
Aerial view of Pegasus bridge, the train station, water tower, german trenches are clearly visible, along with railway line, towpath the layout of the Gardens behind. If you visit today the ground has changed a lot, the canal was widened in the 60s, the AT gun was moved and the bank on the village side considerably reduced.
The
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| The Bénouville Gare (railway station) and water tower was still in its position on DDay along with the rails. I have only ever seen it on a pegasus bridge table once. The station and tower were removed in 1960, a similar station remains today which I have taken photos and measurements from. |
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| A photo of the construction of the second bridge (replacing the swing bridge) in the mid 30s, note how the bridge if off set to the road alignment to the village of Bénouville, this was changed when the new bridge was installed in the 60s. A much better view of the light railway line, the station and water tower, directly behind it was a deep drain which runs through a culvert under the road behind the cafe Gorondee also. |
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| British soldiers crossing the bridge heading to Ranville. note the boom gates, metal pedestrian fencing the bank revetments, the edge of the gunpit, and the British load sign |
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| A postcard from 1960, note the bridge footings and shorter span bridge, with the proud jetty. The old 1960s bridge in the museum grounds is one panel longer than the ww2 bridge, this is a photo of that bridge before it was moved. |
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A photo of the bridge after the war as the sandbags are missing on the control shack, the Pegasus sign is up on cafe Gondrée, note the large trees on the right where the train station is. |
A photo of the bridge with major howard, note the footings of the building in the foreground, the germans had a MG nest in this area, note the old mill building is attached to cafe Gondree still.
Cafe Gondrée, note the brick front and shutters as it was directly after the war.
Cafe Gondrée 2017, there was no hedge during the action.
Myths about Pegasus bridge
- First building liberated was not in fact cafe Gondree, but the building opposite .
- Commandos of lord Lovatt ; Bagpipes not played at Pegasus bridge as per the "longest day" but as the commandos crossed Horsa bridge.
- Resistance told allies germans had explosives on the bridge, however they were not wired up
- Scars counterbalance are from the combat with the patrol boat
- In 1944 the bridge was shorter (photo extension) and the road was made of wooden planks either side of the rail line
Bibliography
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