The House fire

​​The accounts of what took place late on 6 June 1944 have drawn millions of visitors to the town to explore, learn and remember. One 20 years old resident of that night was Raymond Paris. He had lived in the town since 1931 and knew many people. 

​On the night of 5 June at around 22:00, Raymond lay in bed and recalled hearing the church bells ring ten times. At the same time, he was listening to his radio and became excited as it had been broadcast by local resistance that the invasion was imminent. 

​There was then a knock at the front door of his house to which he answered and was greeted by two of his friends. He was quickly informed that a house, 200 metres away across the road, was on fire. His father was a fireman and would need to react to this news as well. The house on fire belonged to Julia Pommier, an elderly lady who took care of the child in the town. 

​Along with his father and two friends they ran to the station and collected the two water fire pumps. They went as quickly as possible with the heavy pumps towards the fire, by now the alarm had been raised. They reached the house and began trying to extinguish the fire. 

​Raymond recalled that suddenly from nowhere the sky was full of the silhouettes of aircraft, huge formations. They have approached low and without any sound, flying about 250-300 metres high. The noise then intensified as they flew overhead, Raymond said it became deafening. They thought it was a bombing raid at first, but quickly no bombs fell, and they realised this was something else. ​Around 30 German soldiers then came and joined the group of civilians who were trying to put the fire at the house out. They were not there to help but more to observe and guard, the civilians were outside after the curfew time. 

​Raymond recalled how a second large formation flew over the town and now the Germans amongst them started to fire at the aircraft above. They could now see paratroopers jumping from the planes and descending to the ground. Paratroopers started to drop directly into the town. Not far from the house was an entrance to the local park, this is where Raymond saw an American paratrooper close for the first time that had been killed. Others soon started to drop around him, unbuckle their harnesses and disappear into the night. Raymond realised it had now become dangerous and he returned home. 

​​Raymond took refuge in the courtyard of their house as the battle played out. They were joined by their neighbours, the LeClerc and Philippe families. He wanted to go out for a look but recalled how they were all fearful of being shot, caught up in the crossfire. They were also excited as they knew that the liberation was now well underway. 

​He remembered how Mrs Dufost had headed back to her house to see if the family had awaken to start the daily baking routine. She reported back that there were lots of soldiers in the square, but none of them were wearing German uniforms. Slowly more residents went out into the street to greet the American men, not British as they believed it would be. Raymond said they were filled with excitement and happiness, they were liberated. 

​The house that the local civilians tried to save was destroyed by the fire. It was demolished and no longer remains, the grounds of where the house was is now the Airborne Museum.​