 In particular, one coup de main force in six Horsa gliders seized vital bridges over the River Orne by surprise, led by Major John Howard (see Operation Deadstick).The 6th British Airlanding Brigade, part of 6th Airborne Division (United Kingdom), were in action early on following concentrated landings, and prevented early German attempts to counter-attack the Allied landings.American landings were more scattered, but still more successful than many planners had hoped for.