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Richard Todd - who played Major John Howard in the epic film about D-Day 1944 ("The Longest Day") was actually a D-Day veteran.

Indeed, he was part of the airborne landings that had captured Pegasus Bridge, alongside Major Howard himself.

This is the story of his D-Day experiences.

Now listen to the full account of Major Howard and the battle of Pegasus Bridge

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The Battle of Pegasus Bridge was fought just after midnight on the 6th June 1944, when 180 British airborne troops, led by Major John Howard successfully captured 2 bridges in Normandy.

This action, helped secure the eastern flank of the seaborne landings 6 hours later.

The capture and then holding of those two bridges by the numerically outnumbered British airborne troops is a stirring story in itself.

But what makes it even more incredible is the skill of the young pilots who landed their gliders, some just 50 meters from the bridges, in the dark night, thus catching the defenders by complete surprise.

This is the story of those glider pilots, the men under Major Howard and the battle of Pegasus Bridge on the 6th June 1944.

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Check out episode 113 about the D-Day weathermen.

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This is the little-told story about the weather forecasters who prevented a disaster on D Day 1944.

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