One particular landing site for the American 82nd and 101st airborne paratroopers was Ste Mere Eglise. Despite the drop starting after 12 pm many of the paratroopers were illuminated by houses that had caught fire. The occupying forces opened fire and ordered the civilians who were trying to put out the house fire back to their homes. Some paratroopers were caught in the house fires, others on telephone poles and trees.
One US Paratrooper John Steele was left hanging from the church roof in the middle of the square when his parachute got caught on the steeple of the village church in Ste-Mère-Église, leaving him dangling precariously to witness the carnage unfolding below. Wounded and in pain he hung there pretending to be dead for two agonizing hours, before the Germans took him prisoner. An effigy of John Steele and his parachute can still be seen hanging from the church in the square. The story was recaptured in the film, ‘The Longest Day’
The Airborne museum at Ste Mere Eglise has two main buildings. The first is built in the shape of a parachute and houses a full sized Glider. The second museum is in the shape of a Delta Wing and houses a Douglas C-47
Paratrooper John Steel escaped and rejoined his unit which was shortly back in action attacking a village, capturing 30 Germans and killing 11. For these actions and his wounds, John Steele was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. He survived the war becoming a successful Cost Engineering (Project Manager)
You can find part 1 and 2 in the D Day archives section to the right
Download all of the D Day landing story and over 180 original photos here
More information about the D Day Landing Museums
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