Caen 08AUG44

Aerial view of the top of #43-37996 (2S:A), "Hock Shop", flown by LT Unger, flying to the northeast of Caen after bombing a tactical target near St. Sylvain, France. The direction of view is west-northwest, and the aircraft's heading is northwest. This #996 was moments away from flying over the French village of Blainville-sur-Orne at left center. The prominent waterway is the Caen Canal, a ship canal between Caen and Ouistreham. The Orne River is visible at bottom left, below the aircraft's starboard wing. There are about 30 aircraft on the ground in the farm fields at upper right. These appear to be assault gliders. There also appear to be at least two assault gliders on the ground near the bridge at bottom right. This is the Caen Canal bridge at Benouville. British glider-
borne forces captured this bridge early on the morning of 6 June 1944. The bridge is now called "Pegasus Bridge" in honor of those British forces. The British also captured the Orne River bridge a few hundred yards to the east (out of view in this photo). That bridge, now called "Horsa Bridge," is named for the "Horsa" assault gliders used by the British on D-Day. (courtesy of Paul Webber).

The photo was shot from #44-6311, "Coaltown Express", flown by LT Hilfinger.