Ste. Mere-Eglise, Normandy, France. The Church with the efigy of pvt. John Steele hanging from his parachute.

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Pvt. John Steele participated in the Allied Airborne Assault on 5th-6th June, 1944, the opening move of "Operation Overlord" - the Invasion of occupied france. His parachute got stuck in the Church's steeple, and he pretended to be dead and so wasn't shot by the German defenders. He was immoralized in the movie "The Longest day" (1962), and his effigy was placed on the Church's steeple ever since. Ste. Mere-Eglise was the first town in occupied France to be liberated by the Allies - in this case, American Paratroopers. B/W version of this image is B5CDDG. Vertical Color version is B5CD9F

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Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Ste. Mere Eglise, Normandy, France.
Photo credit: © Yagil Henkin / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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