Operation "Market Garden" +80 Years
September 2024 was the month of the 80th anniversary of Operation "Market Garden", the Allied plan to end World War Two in 1944.
This is our report of "Market Garden 1944-2024.
80 Years after Operation "Market Garden", several commemorations many events were held in the Dutch provinces of Noord-Brabant and Gelderland to celebrate the liberation of the towns and cities along Hell's Highway from the Belgian border South of Eindhoven North to Arnhem and beyond. Unfortunately the outcome of the Battle of Arnhem did not end World War Two in 1944. BattleDetective.com witnessed and attended a number of events commemorating this battle.
Sunday, September 15th 2024
On invitation by Mr. Michael Daniels from Son this agency was present at the unveiling ceremony for a monument honoring 2nd Lieutenant James L. Diel of “Able” Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division who was Killed in Action defending the Wilhelmina Canal bridge at Son on September 19th 1944.
We had been instrumental in creating the information panel next tot he monument marker by providing information and photos.
Click to enlarge
     
   
After the ceremony we talked to Lieutenant-Colonel Gerard Philip, Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and also the Honorary Commander of the 506th, First Sergeant, Colonel Trevor Voelkel, Commander of 1st “Bastogne” Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Here we were informed about how the Air Assault demonstration by 506th Infantry Regiment on Vlagheide day after tomorrow would be planned.
Click to enlarge
Tuesday, September 17th 2024
This morning we first visited a display of American airborne uniforms and other World War Two artefacts on Noordkade in Veghel. Then we rushed to the Vlagheide area near Eerde to watch the Air Assault demonstration by 506th Infantry Regiment and 326th Engineer Battalion of the 101 Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Click to enlarge
   
   

Before the assault Major-General Brett Gareth Sylvia, Commanding Officer of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), explained what it means for the enemy when one of the division's Brigade Combat Teams is deployed to conduct an air assault over night.
Also the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) band played, on the division's World War Two Drop Zone "A" in Eerde, the unofficial anthem of the Dutch province of North-Brabant. In Dutch! It was powerful and beautiful! The division's area of operations during Operation Market Garden was mostly in North-Brabant.
After the demonstration infantry and sappers of the 506th Infantry Regiment and 326th Engineer Battalion could be seen leaving the Helicopter Landing Zone and battle zone to talk to Dutch spectators.
Click to enlarge
   
     
   
After the demonstration we visited another display of uniforms and equipment of the 82nd Airborne Division in the ’t Spijker Hotel in Nijmegen. The exhibition was hosted by a friend of this agency, who we described in Battle Relic #12 as the owner of “a business specialized in military items related to Operation "Market Garden".
Click to enlarge
       
We made a study of how paratroopers of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment wore their orange identification rags and painted the Regimental tactical sign of the skull and crossbones on their helpmets for the reenactment of the Waal Crossing in the days to come.
 
Wednesday , September 18th 2014
Today we attended the book presentation of Barry Wonders publication “Bevrijding Eindhoven, Oogetuigen vertellen”, ISBN 978-90-9038731-4 in the Catharina Church in Eindhoven.
Click to enlarge
 
On our way home we by accident became witness of a parachute jump by Round Canopy Parachute Team to commemorate the airborne landings on Dropzone Oboe near Overassel. On September 17th, 1944 the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment minus their "E" Company, landed on these fields. Unfortunately today, nine jumpers landed in trees and three where injured.
Airborne-sprong mislukt volledig: negen parachutisten komen in grote problemen, drie gewonden | 112 nieuws Heumen | gelderlander.nl
Click to enlarge

Helping SOE Agent Faith Philips field pack het parachute after her tree landing.
     
Thursday, September 19th 2024
Practice run for the Waal river crossing for tomorrow, September 20th, exactly 80 years after the heroic actions of 3rd Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and men of the 307th Engineer Battalion.
Click to enlarge
     
Friday, September 20th 2024
Participated in the Waal River Crossing like 3rd Battalion of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment did at exactly this location 80 years ago on September 20th 1944. Reenacted a an 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment .30 LMG ammo bearer.
At the Waal River Crossing event site, we met Captain Rob Janssen. CAPT Janssen is also a native of Eindhoven. He migrated to the US, joined the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as a private and is an aviation officer now. He still has his Eindhoven accent though!
Click to enlarge

At the Waal River Crossing event site, we met Captain Rob Janssen.
CAPT Janssen is also a native of Eindhoven.
He migrated to the US, joined the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as a private and is an aviation officer now.
He still has his Eindhoven accent though!
   
Saturday, September 21st 2024
Took part in the Waal River crossing together with 259 other men reenacting the heroic crossing by the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in 1944. This time with a large crowd and lots of pyrotechnics.
Click to enlarge

   
   

Sunday, September 22nd 2024
This Sunday morning we helped the organization of the Waal River Crossing event cleaning up the camp and the river shoreline.
Click to enlarge
   
Tuesday, September 24th 2024
Today was a “mopping up day”. We revisited the scene of the Air Assault demonstration by active duty troops of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on the Vlagheide area. Found tons of empty blanck shell casings in .223 and .30 calibre.
Also we visited a statue of a World War Two American paratrooper resting on a bench that had been unveiled a few days ago. We know the Dutchman who posed for the sculptor when he designed it and sat next to the finished project.
A quiet ending to all festivities.
Click to enlarge
       
Advertisement


Back to Commemoration Page
 
 
 
(c) 2007-Present Day Battledetective.com. Email: tom@battledetective.com. all rights reserved.