Military Figure. Major John Howard DSO was a British Army officer who led a glider-borne assault that captured the Caen canal and Orne river bridges on June 6, 1944, as part of the D-Day landings during World War II. These bridges spanned the Caen Canal and the adjacent River Orne, which were about 500 yards to the east, and were vitally important to the success of the D-Day landings. Since the war, the bridge over the canal has become known as "Pegasus Bridge," as a tribute to the men who captured it, while the bridge over the River Orne later became known as Horsa Bridge after the Horsa gliders that had carried the troops to the bridges. Leader of Operation Deadstick during the D-Day invasion, he led the gliders to take two bridges between Bénouville and Ranville in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. Among the men with Howard was British actor Richard Todd, who would later play John Howard's role in the 1961 film "The Longest Day." The film was an adaption of the 1959 book 'The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan. Prior to the war in 1932, he had served in the military as a non-commission office and, upon discharge, was a member of the Oxford police force. After the start of World War II, he re-joined the military in 1939 and moved the ranks to major. In 1946, he was discharged for medical reasons and gained a position with the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1954, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme by the French government.
Military Figure. Major John Howard DSO was a British Army officer who led a glider-borne assault that captured the Caen canal and Orne river bridges on June 6, 1944, as part of the D-Day landings during World War II. These bridges spanned the Caen Canal and the adjacent River Orne, which were about 500 yards to the east, and were vitally important to the success of the D-Day landings. Since the war, the bridge over the canal has become known as "Pegasus Bridge," as a tribute to the men who captured it, while the bridge over the River Orne later became known as Horsa Bridge after the Horsa gliders that had carried the troops to the bridges. Leader of Operation Deadstick during the D-Day invasion, he led the gliders to take two bridges between Bénouville and Ranville in Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. Among the men with Howard was British actor Richard Todd, who would later play John Howard's role in the 1961 film "The Longest Day." The film was an adaption of the 1959 book 'The Longest Day" by Cornelius Ryan. Prior to the war in 1932, he had served in the military as a non-commission office and, upon discharge, was a member of the Oxford police force. After the start of World War II, he re-joined the military in 1939 and moved the ranks to major. In 1946, he was discharged for medical reasons and gained a position with the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1954, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme by the French government.
Bio by: Alun N
Family Members
Spouse
Advertisement
