SAINTE-MÈRE-ÉGLISE
by Simon Smith 

ARTIST PROOF

Captured by the US 82nd Airborne in the early hours of D-Day, Sainte-Mère-Église would become the 
first town in France to be liberated by the Allies. 

The small town of Sainte-Mère-Église, at the foot of the Cotentin peninsula, is just five miles inland from Utah Beach and critical to the Allies’ right flank. Vital to ensuring a successful landing on Utah,  the task of securing the town and road together with the nearby railway line and bridges over the River Merderet, was given to one of the best units in the US Army – the battle-hardened paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division.

In the early hours of 6 June 1944, after a widely scattered drop, some in the Division’s 505th PIR found themselves landing right in the heart of the town. With the white silk of their parachutes clearly visible, many of the men hanging defenselessly beneath them were easy targets and the casualty rate was high but the men of the 82nd attacked in a ferocious assault. By dawn it was over and with the capture of the town the Stars and Stripes now flew over Sainte-Mère-Église.
 

THE SIGNATURES
This Artist Proof copy, one of only 25 produced is individually signed by the artist and two 82nd Airborne veterans who fought to capture Sainte-Mère-Église on D-Day:

Captain DEAN McCANDLESS
Serving with the 1st Battalion, 505th PIR, 82nd Airborne he had already made the first of his four combat jumps in July 1943 at Sicily during Operation Husky, followed by Salerno, before jumping on D-Day. Landing on the outskirts of Sainte-Mère-Église he and his unit fought an intense firefight to successfully capture the bridge over the Merderet River. His fourth jump was during Operation Market Garden before moving on to fight throughout the Battle of the Bulge where he was wounded. He was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Staff Sergeant LEO A. DUMOUCHELLE
Serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, he had already jumped at Sicily and Salerno before undertaking his third combat jump into Normandy on D-Day into Sainte-Mère-Église. After jumping on Operation Market Garden he was wounded in Belgium in September 1944 but returned to his unit to fight during the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

The name ‘Sainte-Mère-Église’ will be forever associated with the highest levels of bravery demonstrated by the US Airborne forces in WWII, and this historic edition represents a lasting tribute to them. This is the perfect opportunity for collectors and history enthusiasts to become custodians of a lasting link to this famous episode in history, for future generations.

ALSO AVAILABLE FRAMED & SHIPPED - Please ask for details

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BUY WITH CONFIDENCE: We have been in business for over 20 years and our items are guaranteed to be in perfect condition, unless specified otherwise.

SHIPPING: Larger prints are rolled in acid free tissue and shipped in large, heavy duty shipping tubes with smaller prints 'flat packed' in custom made packaging. Matted & framed pieces are packed in our custom made boxes. Our shipping is insured and guaranteed.

YOUR PIECE OF MIND: As a reputable company, if any issues do arise we don't expect our customers to deal with it. So if there are any problems such as with condition, delivery or damages then we will take care of it with a replacement, store credit or your money back.

Please note: The signatures on our pieces are not reproductions; they are original autographs, hand-signed by the veterans involved.