PA8ØOMG Operation Market Garden 80 years liberation commemoration freedom
  13-19 sept. 2024

Cottesmore (UK)
The ´prince´ of the paratroopers, brigadegeneral James Gavin in front of the skytrain. Together with the Dutch captain Bestebreurtje they walked for one kilometer along the forest to hotel De Wolfsberg, which would be the headquarter, called Champion.

Cottesmore (UK)
Paratroopers of the the 82nd are inspecting their gear just before leaving Cottesmore (UK) and heading for the Nijmegen region.

Cottesmore (UK)
Heavily packed paratroopers of the 82nd division staff entering the Dakota C-47 skytrain. The journey is about to begin.

Zeeland (NL)
Operation Market Garden knew a complicated navigation scheme from different points north and west of London, finally brought together in two flight traffic flows crossing the North sea.

Zeeland (NL)
Skytrains, transporting paratroopers, fly over Zeeland, near Renesse, on their way to their droppingzones near Nijmegen. The Germans had inundated large parts of the province of Zeeland as the picture shows.

Groesbeek (NL)
Operation Market Garden starts in Groesbeek as well. Numerous paratroopers of the 505th PIR and WACO gliders would 'fall' from the sky in Groesbeek. On the picture American paratroopers jump from their skytrain.

Groesbeek (NL)
The dropping- and landingzone Nan at Klein-Amerika would soon be filled. In only a few days nearly 8.000 paratroopers would be dropped in the Groesbeek region. In the first days after september the 17^th the Nijmegen and Groesbeek region would change into the frontline.

Groesbeek (NL)
An reconnaissance photo of a part of landing- and droppingzone NAN, locally known as Klein-Amerika. WACO gliders randomly put down to the ground. The field dotted with white spots: parachutes left behind. Bottom-right T-beacon, sign for the wind direction.

Groesbeek (NL)
WACO-glider crash at landingzone Nan, sunday afternoon september 17^th 1944. One of the gliders with staff and materials overturned during the landing. Wounded passengers are being helped on the spot by a medic.

Groesbeek (NL)
Activities at the farmland of Groesbeek.
WACO-gliders (or flying moving vans) landing all the time. While unloading the nose of the glider was folded up.

Groesbeek (NL)
Activities at the farmland of Groesbeek.
WACO-gliders (or flying moving vans) landing all the time. While unloading the nose of the glider was folded up.

Groesbeek (NL)
Paratroopers to the ground. Authentic footage from a camera strapped to the chest of a paratrooper who jumped from a Dakota C-47.

Groesbeek (NL)
Authentic footage that was used in the 1946 movie ´Theirs is the glory´. The complete movie is here.

Overasselt (NL)
Landingzone O west of Overasselt near the Gaasseltsedam. An impressive amount of paratroopers are about to land on Dutch soil.

Overasselt (NL)
Landingzone O west of Overasselt near the Gaasseltsedam. Aa WACO glider landed safely on the ground.

Overasselt (NL)
Landingzone O west of Overasselt near the Gaasseltsedam. A monument that represents 3 parachutes at the very spot where the landing took place.

Mook (NL)
Paratroopers landed near Mook. The Germans blew up the Mook railway bridge during their approach. The paratroopers captured the town the very same day and Mook seemed to be liberated.

Mook (NL)
The Germans attacked and managed to recapture the village. Thursday 21^st 1944 Mook was finally liberated. The Germans fled to nearby Plasmolen. Paratroopers taking a break in Mook after the liberation.

Soldiers of H and I company of the 504th PIR started crossing the Waal at september 20th 1944 at 14:57 local time with 26 small Goatley canvas boats. A dangerous and precarious enterprise, because the soldiers were directly exposed in broad daylight at enemy gunfire from the other side.

The objective was to reach the northern bank of the river and conquering the northern part of the Waal bridge. The costly attack was nicknamed ´Little Omaha´ in reference to Omaha Beach. In november 2013 a new bridge was opened, called ´De Oversteek´ (The Crossing), at the same point where brave soldiers crossed the river 80 years ago.

Mook (NL)
Colonel Ekman, behind the machinegun, inspecting Mook on september 21^st by jeep after it had just been (and finally) recaptured on the Germans after heavy fightings and many casualties.

Mook (NL)
The destroyed town hall of Mook. Under the plateau the acces to the basement where people took shelter. At the left the outside wall that belonged to the bakery.

Nijmegen (NL)
Tanks of the liberators gathering at the Oranjesingel near the Keizer Karelplein. © J. ten Thye.

Nijmegen (NL)
Rolling material queued up in a long line at the Oranjesingel waiting for the next move to make. At the end of the road, just out of the picture, the Keizer Karelplein. © J. ten Thye.

An RAF reconnaissance photo of the Waalbridge in Nijmegen. Smoke of a building on fire at Keizer Lodewijkplein (now Trajanusplein) near the Hunnerpark is clearly visible. This building was burning during a battle between paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne division and the German defenders.

Troops at rest at the Kelfkensbos before the assault of the Waalbridge.

The day after the conquest of the Waalbridge the militairy traffic starts rolling towards Elst. Unfortunately they never could reach Arnhem. The roadside and roadway are covered with wreckage. A German bus with nr. WH160575 is still there.... incorrectly parked.

More tanks of the XXX Corps rolling on and off the Waalbridge. Crossing the bridge was still a dangerous undertaking, so the two Cromwell tanks were keeping a safe distance between each other.

Nijmegen liberated. The Waalbridge captured undamaged, but the city centre was taken at cost of serious destructions. Many soldiers and citizens were killed during the battle of the Waalbridge, which was the final bridge that was captured during Operation Market Garden.

Nijmegen civilians greeting and thanking their liberators and supplying the soldiers with drinking water.