TWO DAY AMERICAN TOUR. 8.30am - 5.30pm. DAY ONE. (am)

Considered to be the first town liberated by the Americans in France on the 6th June and also depicted in the film the Longest Day. This strategic crossroads town was heavily fought over and defended by the American 82nd US Airborne Division. Hear the stories of the men involved including John Steele who became caught up on the town steeple and visit the church and its infamous market square.

To the west of Ste Mere Eg!ise was the battle of La Fiere. This battle to defend a tiny bridge, and its connecting causeway, by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, is now considered to be one of the highest casualty rated, small scale actions of the American Army in WWII. Hear firstly the incredible stories of bravery in defending the bridge and the immense sacrifices of them trying to advance over it.

Moving to the area west of the Merderet river you will visit its almost destroyed chapel and cemetery. A short distance away, Private First Class Charles Deglopper would sacrifice

 himself for the survival of his comrades. This selfless act was to lead initially to the only Medal of Honor to be awarded to the 82nd Airborne Division during its involvement in the Normandy campaign.

 Visit the hedgerow countryside that made the fighting so difficult for the Americans in Normandy. Hear about the problems they created and the solutions that eventually lead to the US breakout into the open countryside beyond.

The site of the first Allied beach landings on D-Day. Here we will start to understand the chaos of war and how American leadership and the GI‘s initiative would overcome it. Visit German bunkers and pay homage to the monuments of the 4th Infantry Division and its attached units.

Lunch is normally stopping for a sandwich or other quick snack (not included in the price of the tour) and the group will relax for about half an hour.

Stop at this small village with a big story. The tiny church was used as a first aid post treating more than 80 wounded. Hear about the bravery and commitment of the 2 medics from the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. See the monuments and stained glass windows that honor the men and events of 1944. 

(Dale has authored a book about these events called Geronimo.s Medics.)

This small village was a key objective for the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day. The village was the scene of much scattered fighting but the village will long be remembered for the story of Sgt Joseph Beyrle who's anmazing account leads from Normandy to Russia.

Many American Paratroopers, on D Day, were dropped in error, miles away from their designated Drop Zones. None were dropped further than the men, predominately from the 507th Parachute - Infantry, 82nd Aiborne Division, who landed around the small village of Graignes. Hear about the combined bravery of soldiers and French civilians as they battled against elements of the 17th SS Panzer Grenadier Division.

 Nowhere on Omaha beach will you get a better understanding of the ground, than visiting this German strongpoint. Overlooking Fox Red Sector, this was the eastern flank of Omaha beach on D-Day and an area that was bitterly contested and would lead to the award of the Medal of Honour for 1st Lt Jimmy Montieth. Hear the stories, visit the bunkers and stand in awe at the view..

This cutting through the bluff, overlooking Omaha beach was the first exit cleared on D-Day. It was the scene of bitter fighting with many different groups of GIs, attacking from all angles, which would lead to the German collapse and the opportunity of pushing into the attack.

Fantastic stories of heroism.

One of the baldest assaults of the Second World War. Listen to the stories of the men from the 2nd US Rangers Battalion who scaled up the 100 ft cliffs to assault the strongly defended German strongpoint, in an attempt to knock out a powerful gun battery position. Visit the bunkers and see the amazing craters caused by the allied bombing.

t's not very often that one soldier has the skill, aggression and determination to take out a complete German Strongpoint on his own, but on the 8th of June, just outside this small fishing town, that's exactly what happened. See the ground he advanced over that would lead to the award of the Medal of Honor.

Visit the  site of the largest German Military Cemetery in Normandy. Containing the bodies of 21,245 

men and see the contrast from the US Cemetery. A moving stop that ends the day pondering our past enemy.