Sainte-Mère-Église in Manche, Normandy, France — Western Europe
82nd and 101st Airborne on D-Day
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 19, 2012
1. 82nd and 101st Airborne on D-Day Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1944.
Location. 49° 24.51′ N, 1° 19.041′ W. Marker is in Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandie (Normandy), in Manche. Marker is on Rue Général de Gaulle just south of Rue Général Koenig, on the left when traveling south. Marker is in the town square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandie 50480, France. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. In Remembrance of the Airborne Spirit (a few steps from this marker); Clifford A. Maughan P.F.C. (within shouting distance of this marker); House on Fire at Sainte-Mère-Église (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); General Gavin’s Foxhole (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); 6 June 1944 at LaFiere Bridge (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); 80th Airborne Antiaircraft Battalion, 82nd Airborne Div. U.S. Army
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Regarding 82nd and 101st Airborne on D-Day. Lying 8 km (5 miles) inland from the Normandy coast, the small town of Sainte-Mère-Église was well behind German coastal defenses on D-Day, June 6, 1944. As part of the overall Allied landing, code-named Overlord, this town was a major objective and drop zone for U.S. paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. They arrived en masse between midnight and 2 a.m. on the 6th, suffering many casualties during their jumps.
A lucky exception was Pvt. John Steele of the 82nd’s 505 Paratrooper Infantry Regiment. His chute caught on a spire of the town’s church, leaving him dangling helplessly, but he managed to survive by playing dead for several hours. He was briefly taken prisoner by the German occupying troops but later escaped. His ordeal was portrayed by actor Red Buttons in The Longest Day, the classic D-Day movie (20th Century Fox, 1962).
By late morning on the 6th the town
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 19, 2012
2. Marker with Church
In the background, on the other side of the square, stands the church that gave the town its name. High up on a spire (beside the upper part of the inscription in this view) can be seen the silhouette of a parachute and mannequin commemorating Pvt. John Steele (click to enlarge). For a close-up see Fig. 3.
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 18, 2012
3. Predicament of Pvt. John Steele
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 18, 2012
4. Church from the West
Above the main entrance is a stained-glass window (behind tree here, but see Fig. 5).
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 18, 2012
5. Church from the East
Photographed By Kevin W., July 2, 2015
6. 82nd and 101st Airborne on D-Day Marker
View from the church.
Photographed By Kevin W., July 2, 2015
7. Sainte-Mère-Église Church Organ
This organ inside the church was dedicated on the 40th Anniversary of the liberation of the town. It is dedicated to "the civilian and military victims of W.W. II."
Photographed By Roger W. Sinnott, August 18, 2012
8. Stained-Glass Window of Church
To either side of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus are stained-glass renderings of U.S. paratroopers, honoring their arrival in this town on D-Day.
Photographed By Kevin W., July 2, 2015
9. Stained-Glass Window of Church
This stain glass window was dedicated on the 25th anniversary of D-Day. It honors the veterans of the 505th, 82nd Airborne Division.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2012, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 25, 2012, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. 6, 7. submitted on September 26, 2015, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 8. submitted on September 25, 2012, by Roger W. Sinnott of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. 9. submitted on September 26, 2015, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
