Sainte Mère Eglise - US Paratroopers

Sainte Mère Eglise, a strategic crossroads town

Sainte Mère Église, a strategic crossroads town situated along the N13, served as a vital link along the road leading to Utah and Omaha beaches. Occupied by the Germans since June 1940, it had been fortified as a secondary inland outpost, enduring regular Allied air raids.

Sainte Mere Eglise - John Steele dummy on the church steeple — John Steele dummy on the church steeple

The landing on Utah Beach was designated to the US 4th Infantry Division, divided into three sectors: Tare Green, Uncle Red, and Victor (from west to east).

The focus of the landings was on Tare Green and Uncle Red, particularly the Dunes de Vareville area. These sectors faced formidable defenses, including the coastal batteries of Saint-Marcouf and Azzeville.

The marshes and lowlands flanking the Merderet and Douve rivers extended inland by 3 kilometers, aligning with the layout of Utah Beach.

Four causeways provided passage through these marshes, serving as a natural defensive line for the Germans. One such causeway directly linked Sainte Mère Église to Utah Beach, offering a crucial exit route for the landing troops.

U.S. 82nd Airborne Division

Liberty Road - Borne 0 in Sainte-Mere l'Eglise — Borne 0 in Sainte-Mere l’Eglise

Mission Boston was a critical component of the 82nd US Airborne Division‘s operations, tasked with securing key objectives including Sainte-Mère-Église and the vital bridges spanning the Merderet River at Chef-du-Pont and La Fière.

These bridges were crucial for facilitating the crossing of the river with armored vehicles.

Scheduled five hours prior to the landings, Mission Boston preceded Mission Albany by one hour.

The paratroopers of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 82nd Division, were assigned the specific task of capturing these strategic points.

Meanwhile, Mission Albany, undertaken by the US 101st Airborne Division, involved the destruction of batteries in Saint-Martin-de-Varreville and Mésières, the capture of La Barquette lock on the Douve River, securing footbridges at La Porte, bridges at Sainte-Come-du-Mont, and capturing causeways linking Utah Beach to inland areas to facilitate the exit of landing troops from the beachhead.

The disastrous drops

In the early hours of June 6, between 00:50 am and 1:40 am, pathfinders were deployed behind enemy lines to prepare the drop zones.

One of the 15 Info boards in Sainte Mere Eglise — One of the 15 Info boards in town

At 1:40 am, the 82nd U.S. Airborne Division began their drop over the Merderet River and marsh.

However, poor weather conditions, including low cloud cover and ground fog, hindered visibility for both the pathfinders and the paratroopers. Heavy German anti-aircraft fire further complicated the situation.

As a result, the drops of both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were dispersed over a much larger area than planned. Aircraft carrying paratroopers came under intense anti-aircraft fire as they approached the coast.

Despite these challenges, the 505th Regiment of the 82nd Division managed to land relatively close to their intended drop zone northwest of Sainte Mere Eglise.

However, many paratroopers from the 101st Airborne landed far west of their planned drop zone, near Sainte Mere Eglise.

Sainte Mère Eglise – 1.00am to 4.30am

The events in Sainte Mère Eglise in the early hours of June 6, 1944, were marked by chaos and tragedy. Around 1:00 am, enemy shelling or perhaps a marker flare ignited a fire in a house near the church, raising alarm among both the townspeople and the German occupants. The blaze illuminated the night sky, exposing the descending paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion of the 505th PIR to enemy fire.

Sainte Mere Eglise - US 101st and 82nd Divisions Paratroopers Memorial — US 101st and 82nd Divisions Paratroopers Memorial

Many paratroopers were shot before they even touched the ground, while others landed in perilous situations, such as on trees or utility poles, and were killed before they could free themselves from their parachutes. Some unfortunate souls landed directly into the inferno.

Rescue efforts were undertaken by 158 paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion of the 505th PIR, along with elements from the 101st Airborne, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Krause. Despite the chaos and danger, they managed to encircle and seize the village by 4:30 am, taking approximately 30 prisoners.

Sainte Mere Eglise gained worldwide fame after the release of the film “The Longest Day” due to the remarkable story of paratrooper John Steele from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Steele landed on the church’s steeple and pretended to be dead to evade enemy fire. Hanging there for two hours, he watched as his comrades were shot by the Germans. Although initially captured, Steele later escaped and reunited with his division when they entered the village.

The liberation of Sainte Mere Eglise on D-Day stands as a proud moment in its history, symbolizing the courage and sacrifice of the Allied forces in the fight against tyranny.

Memorials

Sainte Mère Eglise is adorned with several memorials commemorating the events of D-Day and honoring the valor of those who fought for liberation:

The Liberation Monument, located on the church square, honors the 82nd and 101st U.S. Airborne Divisions, which liberated the town on D-Day.
Voie de la Liberté – Borne 0 – Liberty Road – Milestone 0, stands in front of the town hall and was unveiled in 1946.
Fifteen Liberation Boards are dispersed throughout the town, with Board #13 near Milestone 0, displaying photos from the war era, including the town’s liberation.
The Ridgway-Gavin Stele, also in front of the town hall, pays tribute to Generals Ridgway and Gavin, along with all those who liberated Sainte Mere Eglise.

Liberty Road Milestone 0 in front of Sainte Mere Eglise town-hall

The dummy paratrooper and parachute hanging from the church steeple honor John Steele and his comrades who fought and died during the liberation.
Stained glass windows in the church commemorate the liberation by the 82nd Airborne Division, with one depicting the Virgin and two paratroopers, including Private John M. Steele.
The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Stele, located on the south side of town, commemorates the regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.
The 82nd Airborne Plaque in Rue Cayenne pays tribute to four parachutists of the 505th P.I.R. Company C, who were killed on June 6, 1944.
An American Sherman tank is displayed in the Airborne Troops Museum Park.
Three War Cemeteries Monuments mark the sites of temporary American War cemeteries that were opened near Sainte Mere Eglise.