Cover Photo: General James Doolittle statue detail – Photo Courtesy of 8th Air Force Public Affairs, via afgsc.af.mil.
LA FIÈRE BRIDGE, Normandy, France — A four‑figure bronze sculpture commemorating the World War II legacy of the U.S. 8th Air Force was unveiled June 5 at the newly dedicated memorial site just south of La Fière Bridge—steps from the D‑Day landing beaches. Set in a small park maintained by the Normandy Institute and the city of Sainte‑Mère‑Église, the statue features Gen. James Doolittle, Col. Donald “Don” Blakeslee, Lt. Col. Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal and Staff Sgt. Maynard “Snuffy” Smith, who together symbolize the valor and sacrifice of more than 47,000 airmen lost during the Allied push into occupied Europe.
Visitors can reach the memorial by following Departmental Road D514 from Sainte‑Mère‑Église, parking near La Fière, and walking a short path under a canopy of trees to the statue overlooking the Merderet River. The site was chosen for its historical proximity to key WWII events and includes informational plaques, landscaped grounds, and access to adjacent walking trails used in commemorative ceremonies.
Full sculpture at La Fière site – Image provided by 8th Air Force Public Affairs, also from afgsc.af.mil.
During the unveiling ceremony, Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost of the Eighth Air Force praised the effort: “I am grateful to The Normandy Institute for ensuring the Eighth Air Force legacy is preserved through the dedication of this monument.” He noted that the site will serve as a focal point during the region’s annual D‑Day remembrance events.
The monument addresses a long-standing omission in Normandy’s landscape. Though airborne and air support missions were crucial to Operation Overlord, this is the first permanent memorial dedicated to the “Mighty Eighth” in France’s historic battlefields—creating a lasting tribute to their critical role in securing air superiority and liberating Europe.
