23rd June 08 - Cherbourg and the Normandy D Day beaches

Cherbourg for 9 hour tour of the Normandy D Day landing beaches

First stop was Pointe du Hoc - one of the first major fortifications which had to be disarmed as its guns, set high on the cliffs, overlooked (and therefore could fire on) both Omaha and Utah beaches.

We then moved on to Omaha beach. The bottom shot is taken thru the gun slot which did so much damage to the US troops who were trying to land on the beach. You expect the guns to point out to sea. But, of course, they can do much more damage if pointed along the beach

Then the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha beach with its 9,387 perfectly aligned marble crosses and Stars of David. The whole site, including the Memorial and Refecting Pool, is maintained to the very finest order.   A truly moving site (or sight) in every way..

Then lunch at La Cheneviere in Pont-en-Bessin

Arromanches on Gold beach where the British landed. Here they built the famous Mulberry Harbour. Indeed you can still see bits of them sticking out of the water today (on left in picture above) An amazing British achievement.

The church at Ste-Mere-Eglise - the first town to fall in the landings. You may remember the parachutist hanging from the steeple in film, The Longest Day - and John Wayne being wheeled into town on a wagon. They have a replica there today as you can see.

After the war the Americans came back and paid for new stained glass windows in the Church - depicting the parachute landings as you can see above.

Personally, I found the visit both moving and extremely interesting - made even more real because of Dad's involvement in the D Day landings.