Early in the morning of June 6, 1944, brave, shivering young American soldiers peered into the mist and saw before them a huge seawall at the foot of a massive bluff. As their landing crafts approached the beach, shells blew up around them, killing many before they ever hit the beach, and showering others with wood, metal and body parts from the boats and men nearby. As they dropped their ramps onto the beach, German MG 42s let loose. Many were mowed down as they tried to exit their LCAs. Those who were still alive stepped off into the neck-deep water - it was already blood-red. The Americans had arrived on Omaha Beach.

 

The Normandy Campaign was the largest air, land and sea operation ever undertaken. Due to skillful planning and preparation, and to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe was breached. The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes and over 150,000 service men. When it was over, the Allied Forces had suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 dead. 

 

Our September, 2007 tour of Normandy may have been our most moving tour ever. As we stood on Omaha Beach and tried to fathom what happened at that very spot, there was not a dry eye among us. This experience convinced us that we must present another trip to Normandy - so that others can be as enriched and moved as we have been.

 

Our 2010 program will begin early Wednesday afternoon, September 8 as we collect arriving attendees at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris. From there we will travel by luxury coach driven by our “European Director of Transportation,” Frans Peiten, and go directly to our hotel in the old village of Bayeux, situated in the heart of the Normandy beaches. (If you do not want to meet us at Charles de Gaulle airport, you can take a train directly to Bayeux). That evening we will gather for a welcome dinner and tour orientation.

 

On Thursday, we will begin at the starting point for the D-Day invasion - Pegasus Bridge - where forces of the British 6^th Airborne Division dropped in by gliders and succeeded in capturing the bridge to secure the eastern flank of the invasion. We’ll have lunch in the Cafe Gondree, the first building liberated by the Allies. Chances are we will be served by Madame Gondree herself, daughter of the first French citizens freed by British forces. We will then visit the village of Ranville, captured on the morning of June 6 by units of the 6^th Airborne, and the British cemetery located therein

 

On Friday, we will examine the critical actions of the 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions at Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Sainte-Marie du Mont, Dead Man’s Corner and Carentan, and we’ll tour the Dead Man’s Corner Museum, operated by airborne expert, Michel de Trez. We’ll enjoy a multi-course lunch in the excellent L’Auberge Normande in Carentan.

 

On Saturday, we will begin our focus on the amphibious actions with a tour of Utah Beach. We will stand atop the 100 foot high battle-scarred cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, that were scaled with ropes and ladders by men of the 2^nd Ranger battalion while under heavy fire. We will end that day with an inspection of the mighty 150-mm gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer, the only battery in the region to have kept its guns.

 

On Sunday, we’ll study the advances of the Allies at Gold Beach (British), Juno Beach (Canadian) and Sword Beach (British). In the afternoon, we will visit Arromanches to see the remains of one of the Mulberry Harbours that Winston Churchill had towed cross-Channel to aid the invasion, and we’ll visit the Arromanches Museum.

 

Monday will be the highlight of our tour as we visit Omaha Beach and recall in gripping detail what the American infantrymen experienced as they landed and advanced on this bloodiest of the beaches at Normandy. We’ll end the day in quiet contemplation at the American Military Cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer, above Omaha Beach, where the remains of nearly 10,000 servicemen who died during the Campaign lie at rest.  

 

On Tuesday, we’ll visit the German cemetery at La Camba and then spend the balance of the day in Bayeux. You will be free to visit the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum and the British cemetery, and view the legendary Bayeux Tapestry.

 

On Wednesday, we will check out of our hotel in Bayeux and return to Paris where we will enjoy a driving tour and a visit to some of the city’s most famous sites – the Arc D’Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. In mid-afternoon, we will book into our Paris hotel, and you will be free to spend the evening as you like in the City of Light. On Thursday, September 16 you can fly home, or continue your journey in Europe.

 

We will be led by an excellent team of historians. Through their combined efforts you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the landings, battles, soldiers and commanders that were a part of this greatest of invasions. You will receive a bound, detailed map & information book. On two of our evenings, we’ll enjoy dinner together in Bayeux. On the other evenings you may chose to dine at the hotel, or walk about the old village of Bayeux with its charming restaurants and cafes. Throughout your stay, you will enjoy delicious regional cuisine, have time for shopping, and meet friendly local people. You will visit beautiful beaches, informative museums, quaint hamlets and quiet cemeteries that belie the ghastly combat that raged across Normandy some 66 years ago. Most importantly, you will come to more fully appreciate the heroism and sacrifices of the thousands of men who helped topple Hitler’s dreams. This tour is limited to 30 participants and it should fill up fast. We hope you’ll climb aboard!

 

ABOUT OUR TOUR LEADERS

DEAN ARMSTRONG, fluent in French, is an airline pilot with Northwest Airlines and an expert on the beach landings during the Normandy Campaign.

DARREN MORAN, a stockbroker in Naples, Florida, is an expert on the Normandy Campaign and has much experience in leading tour groups on the subject.

 

Here are some testimonials from our Normandy tour of September 6-13, 2007:

“No matter how much you have read about D-Day, until you experience being with all the staff, explaining and showing you what happened and where, you really can’t get a true understanding.” – Bill Shewey, Richmond, Virginia

 

“The Normandy trip was an all around success. The weather, the country, the guides, the people were all great.” – Gary and Denise Charette, Cheshire, Connecticut

 

“I found the tour to be a paradox of virtues: it was structured and organized, but it also allowed great personal freedom. It was a great educational and learning experience, and it was also great fun. It was fast-paced and rigorous, but it was also relaxed. In short, it was absolutely wonderful. Thank you!!” - Dianna Wittner, Phoenix, Arizona

 

RECOMMENDED READING

·        D-Day Survivor: An Autobiography, by Harold Baumgarten

·        D-Day: June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, by Stephen E. Ambrose

·        Cpl Forrest Guth: ‘E’ Company, 506 PIR, 101^st Airborne Division, by Michel de Trez

Registration Fees:

$3,350 – Single                       $2,825 – Double per Person

 

Refund Policy for this Tour

If You Must Cancel we will refund 100% of your fees paid except that cancellations received after August 1 may necessitate a cancellation fee of $300 per person. However, if we can substitute someone in your place, or otherwise fully recover our pre-paid fees, we will waive such cancellation fee.

 

What is Included in Your Registration

·        the services of expert historians and professional tour managers

·        deluxe transportation from site to site

·        7 nights’ lodging (September 8-14) in Bayeux

·        lodging on September 15 in Paris

·        admissions to included museums & other sites

·        taxes & gratuities on included features

·        6 breakfasts * one lunch  * 2 dinners

·         a book of maps, orders of battle and other useful materials