PRESS FILE 2019 2019 PRESS FILE 2 CONTENTS 3 THE MUSEUM 4 THE MUSEUM IN 5 DATES 5 KEY FIGURES 6 EXHIBITION SPACES 8 INTERNET REVIEWS 10 ONE MUSEUM, MULTIPLE VISITS 12 KEY EVENTS IN 2019 14 PRACTICAL INFORMATION UTAH BEACH | LANDING MUSEUM THE MUSEUM In the name of those who gave their life for others The sound of engines thrumming under a full moon. Enemy positions ablaze. 13,000 armed silhouettes deployed into the fields and villages. At daybreak, the mass landing of allied forces on the beach of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, given the code name Utah Beach. On 6 June 1944, at 6.30 am, the first American units stormed a 2-km portion of the coast located east of Cotentin. The admirable military manoeuvre was part of the extraordinary D-Day operation. This decisive chapter in the great story of the liberation of Normandy has been recreated by the Utah Beach Landing Museum, built on the beach captured by the American troops. 2019 PRESS FILE From its planning to its success, the museum space surrounds 3 visitors with the officers, soldiers and Normandy civilians who accomplished, took part in and witnessed the epic events of Utah Beach. Precise testimony from those who survived the combat, a display featuring an incredible collection of equipment, weapons and vehicles – including an original B26 bomber – and screenings of the multi-award-winning film, “Victory in the Sand” all help visitors to understand the dedication and sacrifice of exceptional men and women in the name of the ideals of freedom and peace. LANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACH the museum OPENING1962 OF THE MUSEUM Spearheaded by Michel de Vallavieille, mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, in 5 dates collected objected are brought together to pay tribute to the Americans who landed on Utah Beach. Ever since it was founded in 1962, the museum has continued FIRST1964 MUSEUM EXTENSION to reinvent itself... An octagonal room is built to house a model explaining the Utah Beach landing. A short history within NEW19 SCREENING84 ROOM 2019 PRESS FILE To mark the 40th anniversary of the landing, the museum is equipped 4 the bigger picture... with a brand-new screening room. In June 2007, two Americans, David and Gene Dewhurst, visited the museum. In one of the display cases, they came across a photo of their father. They then learnt that Major David Dewhurst, who died 1994 very young, valiantly took part in the final SECOND MUSEUM EXTENSION bombing run on 6 June 1944, just before For the 50th anniversary of the landing, the museum the soldiers landed on Utah Beach. He was undergoes a second extension, opening it up to the sea. a hero, decorated by the American army. The panoramic room links the beach to the museum. This discovery encouraged his two sons to set up a foundation in the United States to help fund the museum’s expansion work. They managed to finance over a third of the entire project. 2011MUSEUM RENOVATION AND EXTENSION A vast renovation and extension project gives the site a new dimension. Over 3,000 m² of gallery space immerses visitors in the landing and the Battle of Normandy, through objects, films and equipment that vividly depict the events of 1944. UTAH BEACH | LANDING MUSEUM key figures THE EVENTS OF 1944 THE MUSEUM 23,000 infantrymen 3,000 m² dedicated to the events land on Utah Beach on D-Day 1.5 hours on average to explore 137 killed and 60 missing the museum on the beach Over 3 million 836,000 men landed on Utah Beach visitors since opening 2019 PRESS FILE Over 151,000 visitors in 20185 LANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACH 2019 PRESS FILE 6 EXHIBITION SPACES 1944 / UTAH BEACH : AN IMMERSION IN HISTORY UTAH BEACH | LANDING MUSEUM DON’T MISS A LETTER FROM LOUISE ROSS 1 The German defences 7 Land forces TO HER FIANCÉ WN5: 2 letters and a number Over 23,000 soldiers landed on Stuart Kauffman was a radio operator identified the German stronghold French soil at Utah Beach on 6 June on the destroyer “Rich”, which sunk of blockhouses watching the beach 1944. This space pays tribute to off Utah Beach on 8 June 1944. of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. The Mu- them. His body was never found. seum is built around one of these. B26 MARAUDER AIRCRAFT German objects evoke this strong 8 6 June 1944 b military presence. Its stature dominates the large glass- D-Day on Utah Beach. From the clad hangar. This 12-tonne bomber first bombings on 5 June to the is one of the planes that flew over 2 The German occupation landing of infantrymen on the mor- the Normandy coasts on D-Day, Leaflets, testimony and objects ning of 6 June, relive the timeline weakening the enemy with a blanket reveal the terrible occupation years of events through testimony and of bombs. in the French department of La objects brought together in the Manche. centre of the panoramic room, c LCVP LANDING BARGE offering a spectacular view of the Over ten metres long, this landing craft beach where it all took place. is the symbol of D-Day. It allowed 3 “Victory in the Sand” soldiers to draw as close as possible up Relive the landing preparations and to the beach, under enemy fire. follow the sequence of events of this 9 The Link-Up historic day hour-by-hour with this The parachutists dropped on 5 June d ASSAULT VEST film. and the infantrymen who landed on Assault vests were used by the troops the morning of the 6th join up: the in the first wave of the assault, allowing 2019 PRESS FILE link-up is complete. Parachutist them to carry maximum ammunition 7 4 Allied Strategy and equipment. A rare piece. Lieutenant Winters recounts this A major military operation, episode. Overlord required meticulous pre- e BIBLE OF SERGEANT LOUIS HARVARD paration, led by commander “Ike” (4TH INFANTRY DIVISION) Eisenhower. 10 From Utah to Cherbourg This stopped a bullet fired by the enemy The push to Cherbourg, through during the combat of 1944 and saved 5 Naval forces the wooded countryside, was a his life. bloody one: emergency medical To best protect the infantrymen, centres were set up, as shown by WATCH OF SERGEANT GIBSON “Force U” attacked the enemy from the material on display here. F the sea. Models show the different (70TH TANK BATTALION) types of vessels involved 11 The sole survivor of the LCT 593, The artificial port at Utah Beach struck by a mine and sunk along 6 Air forces Pending the capture and restoration with the 4 amphibious tanks it was of the port of Cherbourg, an artifi- transporting on the morning of 6 June, The victory also played out in the cial port was built off the coast of 5 km off the coast. His watch is stopped air. An omnipresent airborne army Utah. Photos show the sheer size of at 5.47 am, the time of the explosion. served to crush enemy positions. the construction. A vast array of objects – including G FLAG OF COLONEL CAFFEY equipment worn by pilots – recount (1ST ENGINEER BRIGADE) this episode. This was the first flag to fly on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 around 8 am, once the dunes were under American control. It marked the start of a land of freedom. LANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACH 2019 PRESS FILE 8 INTERNEt REVIEWS Mélanie, February 2019 (Google review) “A super museum where you can see objects and vehicles that you can’t see anywhere else and where children can learn a lot.” Raymonde, January 2019 (Tripadvisor) “It is even more moving when you realise this museum has been built on the very spot where the American troops landed on 6 June 1944! A very impressive collection of objects, vehicles, material and testimonies!” UTAH BEACH | LANDING MUSEUM 2019 PRESS FILE 9 Yves, October 2018 (Google review) “Visiting the museum really helps you understand the achievement and sacrifice of the soldiers during the Normandy landings.” Solène, 11 years old, March 2019 (Museum visitors’ book) “Super museum, it really explains the Normandy landings. I hadn’t realised so much had happened at Utah Beach.” Antoine, December 2018 (Tripadvisor) “Certainly the best museum about the Normandy landings that I have visited. The organisation is very modern, it provides slightly different insight into this so special day.” LANDING MUSEUM | UTAH BEACH ONE MUSEUM, The museum on your MULTIPLE VISITS smartphone! With “Utah Inside”, experience the events from within. The museum has developed a digital tool that offers ano- And... ther dimension to the visit. In particular it allows access to the interior of a B26 In images For “VIPs” bomber and provides the translation of Multi-award-winning “Victory in the Lasting around 3 hours, this exceptional tour the Museum and “Victory in the Sand” Sand” is one of the films that punctuates is for small groups only (6 people maximum). film content in 9 languages. the tour of the museum, immersing visitors The VIP Tour takes place in the events of 1944. This exceptional film in several key stages: Additional content, adapted to the visi- pays particular attention to the planning • a detailed presentation of the story of the tor’s country of origin, is also available and proceedings of 6 June, as well as the landing on Utah Beach on 6 June 1944 with the tour assistants, and appears as strategic role of Utah in the recapture of • a tour of the crypt and monuments 2019 PRESS FILE you explore the museum. These virtual Europe.