John Steele survived his landing on the church roof by feigning death for two hours before being captured by German forces.
The church stained glass windows were installed post-war specifically to honor the American airborne troops.
Sainte-Mère-Église was the first town in France to be liberated by Allied forces during the D-Day invasion.
The parachutist effigy on the roof is replaced periodically to prevent weather-related degradation.
The church spire was used as an observation point during the battle, which influenced the intensity of fighting in the immediate vicinity.
The Church of Sainte-Mère-Église is an 11th-century Romanesque building best known for its association with the American paratrooper John Steele, who famously became snagged on the church steeple during the D-Day airborne landings on June 6, 1944. An effigy of a parachutist remains permanently attached to the roof of the church to commemorate this event. The structure features a distinctive bell tower that dominates the town square. It is a site of significant historical importance regarding the liberation of Normandy during World War II. Visitors can view stained glass windows inside the nave that depict parachutists and insignia of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The church serves as a functional place of worship and a memorial to fallen soldiers. Its architecture includes features typical of medieval Norman stone construction.
From the center of the town square facing the bell tower to capture the full length of the steeple and the parachutist.
Visit the adjacent Airborne Museum to understand the tactical context of the church's location.
Spend time in the quiet cemetery surrounding the church to see the graves of local resistance members and soldiers.
Look up from the town square to identify the exact spot where the parachutist effigy is secured.
Do not climb on the memorial structures in the churchyard or treat the effigy as a purely comedic photo prop.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor as this remains an active place of worship; remove hats and refrain from loud conversation.
