Their objective was to seize and take control of two small wooden bridges crossing the Douve River east of Carentan. The mission was vital. The Germans had built the bridges a few months earlier to enable them to rush reinforcements into the coastal area in the event of an Allied landing.
Rare memorabilia and photographs relating to the exploits of these elite paratroopers in Normandy are presented to the public together with a new and incredible book "Tonight We Die As Men". Written by Ian Gardner and Roger Day this is a highly detailed study of one battalion's harrowing first weeks fighting in France. To accompany the book and unveiled publicly for the first time is ‘The Forgotten Battalion’ - a new film in which nine surviving third battalion veterans tell their own frank and moving story from Toccoa to D-Day. To further enhance the exhibition, a living history group will be recreating camp life to commemorate the sacrifice of the young American soldiers who went on to capture Carentan.
Bill Galbraith, Manny Barrios and Ralph Bennett, all three from the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division will be making a special trip from the USA (two of them for the first time since the war) to participate in this event and to meet with the public.

To highlight the incredible work done by Hollywood filmmaker George Stevens we are showing the extraordinary color footage shot by his special unit of Army cameramen during the Allied invasion of Normandy. There will also be a display of memorabilia and equipment from Army Signal Corps airborne war correspondents. A living history group wil recreate George Stevens’ and his Army Signal Corps Special Motion Picture Unit - commemorating the sacrifice of the young American soldiers.