VIERVILLE-SUR-MER Calvados - 20 km north-west of Bayeux
The "Big red one" opened the way on Omaha beach
On 6 June 1944 after waves of bombers dropping seventeen warships opened fire simultaneously on the beach defences. The first assault troops landed around 6:30 a. m. The landing ships ran aground fifty meters from the beaches. The Rangers and the soldiers of the 1st and 29th American Infantry Divisions were heavily equiped, they walked in the water to reach the dry sand. Then they discovered that all the Germans defenders were not dead. The machine-guns and guns crushed the first companies entangled in the obstacles. At 8:30 a. m. the beaches were overloaded with vehicles, the order was given to stop any troops landing. Aound 10:30 a. m. the men of the 116th Infantry Regiment and the 5th Rangers rushed into the attack and broke through. In the evening Vierville-sur-Mer was taken, a German counter-attack was pushed back and the only exit of the area was built with the bulldozers.		  
     
   
 
     
 
Omaha D-day Museum
This museum tells about the history of the Landing on Omaha Beach. Varied equipments are exposed : radio, optics, engineer equipment; vehicles and ten dummies in uniforms of the two camps add to this original collection. A German 88 mm gun is shown outside.
  Pak 88 gun 
This german gun was the anti tank model of the Flak 88, it was less common but a deadly enemy for all allied tanks.
Situation : near Omaha D-day Museum
 
  Panther tank
Near the entrance of Omaha D-day Museum one can see this part of a german Panther tank turret. The gun is set upon a track.
Situation : near Omaha D-day Museum
 
  German shelter 
This armoured German shelter was part of a blockhaus, only the upper side was visible. It was used as an observatory and was sometimes armed with a machine gun.
Situation : near Omaha D-day Museum
 

Operation Aquatint plaque
Plaque recalling the Operation Aquatint carried out on 12 september 1942 by a British Commando under Major March Philipps.
Situation : on the low wall bordering beach, in Les Moulins locality
National Guard monument
 Monument in memory of the National Guard units who took part in the D-day on 6 and 7 June 1944.
Situation : at the edge of the D517 road, east of the town
  6th Special Engineer Brigade stele
Stele in memory of all the soldiers of the 6th Special Engineer Brigade who fought and died for freedom.
"The fight for the first thousand yards" - Colonel Paul W Thomson EC commanding.
Situation : at the edge of the D517 road, at the eastern exit of the town

29th Infantry Division stele
Stele dedicated to the 29th American Infantry Division who landed on Omaha Beach on 6 June 1944.
Situation : at the edge of the D517 road, at the eastern exit
  29th DI Engineer plaque
Plaque commemorating the destruction of an anti tank wall, that blocked the exit of the beach, on 6 June 1944 by the Engineers of the 29th American Infantry Division.
Situation : facing the monument of the National Guard, on the other side of the road, on the wall
   
81st CM battalion and 110th FA bat. plaques
Two plaques in memory of the 81st Chemical Mortar Battalion and the battery B of the 110th Field Artillery BattaIion.
Situation : on the wall of the church
 
5th Rangers Battalion plaque
Plaque commemorating the action of the American Rangers of the 5th Battalion who landed on 6 June 1944, under command of General Norman Cota with the rallying cry "Lead the way rangers".
Situation : at the edge of the D517 road, at the eastern exit of the town, on the right wall
  First American cemetery in Normandy monument
Monument situated in the place of the first American cemetery in Normandy, it was set up on the beach of Omaha.
Situation : at the edge of the D517 road (coastal road), 500 meters from Les Moulins on the left, near a tennis ground (below the road, go down four or five steps)
  11th Port Headquarter plaque
Plaque remembering that the Headquarter of the 11st Port was established in this castle from 8 June to 21 July 1944.
Situation : at the western exit of Vierville-sur-Mer, at the edge of the D514 road, at the entrance of the castle
 
  Mulberry  bridge
This bridge was part of the Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer artificial harbour, it was destroyed by heavy seas on 19 June.
Situation : at the edge of the D517 road, going down to the beach
    58th Armored Field Battalion stele
Stele dedicated to the 58th Armored Field Battalion who landed at Vierville-sur-Mer on 6 June 1944.
Situation : near the National Guard monument
ROAD MAP
 
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Vierville-sur-Mer city web site - file about the Liberation
http://vierville.free.fr/
Official web site of the First US Infantry Division
http://www.bigredone.org/
Personal web site about the Atlantic Wall
http://atlantikwall.free.fr/
Association web site about the 29th US Infantry Division
http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/bunker/2629/index1.html
Page of US Army official web site about assault units of D-day
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/reference/normandy/UnitList.htm
 
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