2024 Field Trip: Operation NEPTUNE - The 80th Anniversary D-Day Tour

Price  £785 pp sharing a room.  Single supplement £125.   Based upon minimum number of 15 persons.

Price includes return ferry crossing Portsmouth to Ouisterham, coach travel in France, three nights bed and breakfast, and souvenir map book.  Lunches and evening meals are not included.   It will also be possible to meet the group in Normandy, please enquire for details from our agent.

Not included are all other meals and optional cabin for the night crossing.  £ 83.00 for 2 berth cabin - £ 107.00 for a 4 berth cabin

Itinerary

Day 01 – Thursday 10th October, 2024

Arrive by own transport to Portsmouth Harbour terminal.  Board Brittany Ferries departs at 21.00.

Overnight on Ferry.

Day 02 – Friday 11th October, 2024

Our first day in Normandy will be a shortened but busy one. We start our day by studying the now famous Glider led Coup de Main operation to seize the bridges over the Caen Canal and Orne River.  We then devote the rest of our time today covering the landing of specific units of the 3rd Infantry Division on SWORD beach.

06.45- 07.30 Group arrives at Ouisterham near Caen. Debark and met by bus at 07.15

Breakfast/Coffee stop near to Ouisterham

Travel to Pegasus Bridge

- Operation TONGA

Our guide will describe the Coup de Main operation lead by Major John Howard (played by Richard Todd in The Longest Day) which led to the capture of the bridge that would become known as Pegasus Bridge early on 6 June 1944

Coffee break at the famous Café Gondree

Travel to SWORD Beach

SWORD Beach Landings

Our guide will describe the chaos, confusion and courage that occurred during the landings on QUEEN RED and WHITE Beaches in the SWORD sector

Light Lunch locally in Ouisterham

Travel to Bayeux

At your own leisure in the beautiful city of Bayeux visit to the tapestry or the cathedral

Check in hotel Bayeux

Day 03– Saturday 12th October, 2024

Battle for Utah Beach 6- 8 June 1944

Today is devoted to a tour which studies the US airborne and seaborne landings in the Cotentin peninsula. Our day will largely focus on the operations of the famed 82nd Airborne Division “The All Americans” and the 4th Infantry Division known as the Ivy Division.

Depart hotel and drive to the village of Sainte Mere Eglise arriving there at about 09.30.

On bus briefing about the American plan to land on the eastern shores of the Cotentin peninsula and also the development of the Airborne plan to seize critical river and canal crossings.

Sainte Mere Eglise

Here in the famous church square your guide will describe the events that took place in and around the square in the early morning of 6th June. You will have an opportunity to visit the famous church.

Short rest and coffee break

Travel to La Fiere Bridge

Bus tour - Chateau Bernaville /De Glopper - Falley site

Lunch in St Mere Eglise

Return to Sainte Mere Eglise and disperse for light lunch. During this time you will have the opportunity to visit the famous Airborne Museum next to the church square.

Travel to Utah Beach

Our guide will tell us the story of the initial landings by the 8th Infantry Regiment on the beaches codenamed Utah Beach and the role of Brigadier General Roosevelt on that morning.  You will also have time to view the various memorials at Utah beach.

Travel back to Bayeux.

Day 04– Sunday 13th October, 2024

Sunday will be devoted to telling the story of the landings at Omaha Beach by the 29th “Blue and Gray” Division and the famous Big Red One the 1st Infantry Division. 

Travel to Vierville La Plage to visit OMAHA Beach

We will begin the day by looking at the tragedy that befell A Company of the 116th Infantry (The Bedford Boys) before moving on to see how Rangers and other 116th Infantry soldiers helped turn to the tide of battle on the western flank of the beach. 

Short Coffee /Comfort break

Travel to EASY RED Beach 

Lunch at EASY RED /FOX GREEN

We then look at the problems encountered by the 16th Infantry on Easy Red and Green in front of a deadly strongpoint codenamed WN 62 and the role of supporting Engineers, tanks and the US Navy in helping the Big Red One break free of a deadly beach. 

We finish the day visiting the ABMC Cemetery above the beach

Travel back to Bayeux

Day 05– Monday 14th October, 2022

Our final day in Normandy will be devoted to studying the British landings by 50th Infantry Division on GOLD Beach and the Canadian landings by 3rd Canadian Division on JUNO Beach.  

Checkout and load luggage

Travel to Ver sur Mer (GOLD Beach)

At GOLD we will tell the story of how CSM Hollis of the Green Howards won his VC and visit the new British memorial. 

Travel to Courseulles and JUNO Beach.

Light Lunch

JUNO beach

At JUNO our focus will be on the experience of the Canadian Scottish and Reginal Rifles on D Day and how they were supported by Hobart’s Funnies.

- Travel to Ouisterham

16.00 - Board ferry for UK departs at 16.30

Arrive 20.15 in Portsmouth - Disperse

Please register an interest below for more information with no obligation.  For more information visit our agents Old Country Tours or  download the booking form.