MakisM1
Gold Member
Today, is the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the beginning of the invasion of Normandy and the liberation of Western Europe.
I was privileged to fulfil a longtime goal, to visit Normandy and specifically the invasion beaches and environs. So my wife and planned a trip months ago, for being in Bayeux, Normandy on 5/27-5/29/2025. Unfortunately, two weeks before the planned start of the trip, I developed a painful knee problem, and had to hobble with the aid of a cane. As a result, I didn't visit all the places I wanted to visit and even when I went to a place, I couldn't walk around to get the angles I wanted for the photos I wanted... That's life!...
The invasion started with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions arriving inland of the beaches to secure crossroads and bridges.
The most renowned episode was a 'stick' of paratroopers landing St Mere Eglise:
"Pvte John Steele of F Company 505th PIR 82nd Airborne Division jumped into Normandy on the night of 5th-6th June 1944. Poor weather conditions led to a scattered drop and 36 men of Steele’s company came down into the Church square of St Mere Eglise where they were captured or killed.
Some buildings in the village were on fire and the fires illuminated the night sky, making easy targets of the descending paratroopers. Steele’s parachute caught on the Church Tower where he hung for two hours feigning death. He was eventually taken prisoner for a further two hours before he escaped and rejoined his unit. Steele was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his exploits in Normandy.
His experience was famously recreated by the actor Red Buttons in the film ‘The Longest Day’."
Source: https://www.d-daytoursnormandy.com/...John Steele of F,they were captured or killed.
I was privileged to fulfil a longtime goal, to visit Normandy and specifically the invasion beaches and environs. So my wife and planned a trip months ago, for being in Bayeux, Normandy on 5/27-5/29/2025. Unfortunately, two weeks before the planned start of the trip, I developed a painful knee problem, and had to hobble with the aid of a cane. As a result, I didn't visit all the places I wanted to visit and even when I went to a place, I couldn't walk around to get the angles I wanted for the photos I wanted... That's life!...
The invasion started with the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions arriving inland of the beaches to secure crossroads and bridges.
The most renowned episode was a 'stick' of paratroopers landing St Mere Eglise:
"Pvte John Steele of F Company 505th PIR 82nd Airborne Division jumped into Normandy on the night of 5th-6th June 1944. Poor weather conditions led to a scattered drop and 36 men of Steele’s company came down into the Church square of St Mere Eglise where they were captured or killed.
Some buildings in the village were on fire and the fires illuminated the night sky, making easy targets of the descending paratroopers. Steele’s parachute caught on the Church Tower where he hung for two hours feigning death. He was eventually taken prisoner for a further two hours before he escaped and rejoined his unit. Steele was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his exploits in Normandy.
His experience was famously recreated by the actor Red Buttons in the film ‘The Longest Day’."
Source: https://www.d-daytoursnormandy.com/...John Steele of F,they were captured or killed.
