Not The Magi You Were Expecting

by wjw on June 10, 2015

Stained glass from the church at Sainte-Mère-Église, showing American paratroopers dropping to the rescue of Mary and Baby Jesus.

As surprise attacks go, I’m guessing this one was successful.

John F. MacMichael June 10, 2015 at 2:55 am: Very interesting. Is this something you saw yourself or found online? Do you know when it was made?
TRX June 10, 2015 at 6:47 am: I wonder who they were. 11th Airborne were known as the Angels, and had angel wings on their patches, but they were only active in the Pacific theater.
Andrew June 10, 2015 at 7:30 am: The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division are the troops who liberated St, Mer-Eglise and had several of their troopers get caught on the church and other town buildings when the dropped off target
John Appel June 10, 2015 at 12:19 pm: A number of churches in Normandy have stained glass windows depicting the airborne assault, though I don’t recall seeing others featuring them at the nativity. One church in particular I recall served as an improvised aid station, and several of the windows were paid for by one of the wounded troopers who was treated there.

You’ll find stuff like this all over Normandy, especially in the American sectors.
wjw June 10, 2015 at 5:15 pm: John, this is a photo I took myself when I visited Normandy last year. I imagine the old glass got blown out in the fighting and this was a replacement.

There’s another window in the same church showing the warrior saint Michel surrounded by the unit badges of American soldiers who fought in the area.
John Appel June 11, 2015 at 10:44 pm: I assumed as much, recalling that you were just there. Which reminds me, did you get the chance to try out La Pommier in Bayeux?
wjw June 12, 2015 at 1:04 am: We did stop at La Pommier (for lunch), but we ordered up a storm and had a terrific meal!

Why is it that only French people can cook duck?
John F. MacMichael June 12, 2015 at 5:10 am: Thank you for answering my question.