Operation Deadstick (6 June 1944) was an airborne operation of World War II involving paratroopers from the British 6th Airborne Division. The British set out to capture the Pegasus Bridge at Benouville to prevent the Germans from blowing up the only exit from Sword Beach and to prevent German armor from crossing the bridge to overwhelm the landing forces. Six platoons of British paratroopers dropped into Normandy shortly after midnight on 6 June 1944, arriving on six Horsa gliders and capturing both bridges over the Caen Canal. The commandos captured the two bridges and defended them against counterattacks by the 21st Panzer Division, destroying 14 German tanks. The paratroopers then held out until the No. 4 Commando and the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment arrived from Sword Beach to reinforce the bridgehead, enabling the paratroopers to rest at Ranville. The operation's success allowed for the British to secure the Sword beachhead and to advance beyond the beach.
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