Friday 13th February 2026  

Quorn Camp 1944 - US 82nd Airborne Division

Members of the US 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Platoon Mortar Squad Company F, prior to D-Day at Quorn Camp 1944.

Left to right: John Ray, Phillip M Lynch, John Steele, Vernon L Francisco.

Sergeant John Ray died as a result of gunshot wounds suffered at Sainte-Mère-Église in the D-Day drop in June 1944. Privates Phillip Lynch and Vernon Francisco died of wounds sustained in the Battle of Bulge in January 1945

Only John Steele survived the war. He is famous for landing on the Church spire at Sainte-Mère-Église, which was portrayed in the film ‘The Longest Day’. He hung suspended and pretended to be dead so he wasn’t shot. He was later cut down and taken prisoner, but after four days he escaped back to the front line and ultimately came back to Quorn to prepare for the next campaign, Operation Market Garden in Holland.

Submitted on: 2020-08-09 Submitted by: Sue Templeman Artefact ID: 2407 Artefact URL: www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=2407 Print: View artefact in printer-friendly page or just on its own (new browser tab).