Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Ranville in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
 

Horsa Glider

Planeur Horsa

 
 
Horsa Glider Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
1. Horsa Glider Marker
Inscription.  

318 planeurs HORSA ont atterri dans la région au cours des operations de la 6e Division Aéroportée Britannique. Il's transportaient des hommes (30 maximum) ou du matériel (jeep et sa remarque, canon de 25 livres, motos, bicyclettes,....).

De ces planeurs, il n'en reste aucun. Ils ont été suit détruites par les Britanniques pour laisser place a d'autres atterrissages, soit "récupéreres" par la population locale, qui se procurait ainsi du bois de chauffage ou du contreplaqué.

En 2002 le Comité du Débarquement a décidé de financer la construction d'une réplique grandeur nature du planeur Horsa. Une équipe d'enthousiastes bénévoles français a été chargée de réaliser le projet qui a pu être mené a son terme grâce 'à l'aide précieuse des musées de Middle Wallop et d'Aldershot qui ont permis l'examen de pièces originales de planeur, et de la firm De Havilland qui a fourni les plans d'epoque.

Les matériaux et les techniques de fabrication sont exactement les mêmes qui ceux utilisés en 1944. Notez les "bandes d'Invasion" noires et blanches qui caractèrisaient tous les aéronefs alliés. Elles étaient
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
peintes bativement au balai avant le 6 juin, ce qui explique leurs dessins irréguliers, mais authentiques.

Les immatriculations figurant sur cette réplique sont celles du premier planeur qui s'est posé près du pont Pegasus Bridge le 5 juin à 23 h 16.


318 Horsa gliders landed on the area during operations with the 6th British Airborne Division. The gliders transported men (30 maximum) and material (jeep and trailer, 25 pounder gun, motorbikes, bicycles)

No Horsa glider remains intact. They were destroyed by the British or “liberated” by the local population, for fire wood or for construction materials.

In 2002 le Comite du Débarquement decided to finance the construction of a full-size Horsa glider.

A group of French aeronautical enthusiasts were commissioned to build a copy. Help was given by museums at Middle Wallup and Aldunhat enabling us to examine authentic pieces of glider. The De Havilland association supplied the wartime glider plans. The material and techniques of construction were those used during 1944.

Note the black and white “invasion bands” which characterized D-Day Allied Aircraft. They were usually painted with a flour brush just before 6th June which explains their irregular but authentic patterns.

The registration number on this replica is that of 1st glider to have landed next
Horsa Glider Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
2. Horsa Glider Marker
to Pegasus Bridge at 23h16 on 5 June 1944.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 2002.
 
Location. 49° 14.588′ N, 0° 16.269′ W. Marker is in Ranville, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is on Rue Major John Howard. This marker is on the grounds of the Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ranville, Normandie 14970, France. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ce pont Bailey / This Bailey bridge (a few steps from this marker); The Veterans Charity (a few steps from this marker); 'Coup de Main' Glider Operation Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Ponts Bailey / The Bailey Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Le Canon Anti Char de 17 Livres (76.2mm) / The 17 Pounder Anti-tank Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Les Ponts Bailey / The Bailey Bridges (within shouting distance of this marker); L'Obusier de 25 Livres (87.6 mm) / 25 Pounder Field Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Les Dents de Dragons / Dragons Teeth (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ranville.
 
Horsa Glider image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 27, 2008
3. Horsa Glider
Horsa Glider image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 27, 2008
4. Horsa Glider
Inscription in the photo-An authentic section of a Horsa fuselage. Offered to the Memorial Pegasus by the Museum of Army Flying (Middle Wallop). The total length of the fuselage is 20 meters, more that twice the length of this section.
Horsa Glider-inside sitting image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 27, 2008
5. Horsa Glider-inside sitting
Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 27, 2008
6. Pegasus Bridge Memorial Museum
Horsa Glider Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
7. Horsa Glider Marker
Inside view of the Horsa Glider image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, June 2, 2025
8. Inside view of the Horsa Glider
Horsa Glider Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Don Morfe, June 27, 2008
9. Horsa Glider Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 638 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.   3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.   7, 8. submitted on July 1, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.   9. submitted on January 2, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
m=91982

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Jun. 9, 2026