Features

Remembering Operation Market Garden

by Airman 1st Class Regan Spinner
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
September 22, 2023
British royal air force Lt. Sean Smith, 2nd Battalion parachute regiment, waits to load onto a U.S. C130-J Super Hercules before an Operation Market Garden memorial flight at Eindhoven Air Base, Netherlands, Sept. 16, 2023. Operation Market Garden was conducted by Allied powers during World War II from Sept. 17-27, 1944 in order to open a liberation route into northern Germany and it was split into two phases. Phase one, known as Market, used U.S. and British airborne forces to seize nine bridges. Phase two, known as Garden, used British land forces to further secure the bridges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)

Nearly 80 years after World War II, onlookers gathered at Eindhoven Air Base on Sep. 16, to watch a memorial flight that captured the spirit of valor and sacrifice that defined one of the war’s boldest airborne operations, Operation Market Garden.

Operation Market Garden, commencing on Sep. 17, 1944 and concluding on Sep. 25, was a combined airborne and ground offensive involving British, American, and Polish troops. The operation sought to seize a series of key bridges in the Netherlands and open a liberation route for a rapid advance into northern Germany.

“Operation Market Garden served as proof of concept for coordinated, collaborative airborne movements, demonstrating that the concept of dropping paratroopers and towing gliders was not only a D-Day phenomenon,” said Shannon Murphy, 86th Airlift Wing historian. “The troop carrier units that transported the airborne units and towed gliders gave the operation a fighting chance, putting allied forces in place.”

Aircrafts from the U.S. and different countries across Europe, to include Netherlands, Italy, Romania, Greece, Germany and Poland gather for a memorial interfly during Operation Market Garden over the Netherlands, Sept. 16, 2023. U.S., British and Dutch service members participated in nine aircraft formation and conducted personnel airdrops over Yankee North drop zone, Netherlands, to commemorate the 79th anniversary of Operation Market Garden. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)

The Dutch air force holds annual events in remembrance of the operation and the allied troops who risked their lives, including a flyover and other local festivities.

This year’s memorial flight consisted of nine aircraft; two Dutch C-130 Hercules aircraft, one Polish Airbus CASA C-295 Persuader aircraft, one Romanian CASA 295 aircraft, one Italian C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, two U.S. Air Force C130J Super Hercules aircraft, one German Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft and one Greek C130 Hercules aircraft.

Jumpers from around Europe gather in preparation for a nine aircraft formation during Operation Market Garden memorial flight over the Netherlands, Sept. 16, 2023. Operation Market Garden was conducted by Allied powers during World War II from Sept. 17-27, 1944 in order to open a liberation route into northern Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)

“Being involved in the memorial drops has been great. The Dutch air force has done an exceptional job integrating with our NATO partners,” said Captain Samuel Sloan, 37th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules aircraft pilot. “It’s an honor to participate in memorializing such a historical event.”

Today, Operation Market Garden is remembered as a symbol of valor and determination. The memorial events will continue to serve as a tribute to the soldiers who fought bravely, highlighting the importance of remembering and learning from this pivotal chapter in World War II.

A C-130J Super Hercules with the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arrives in the Netherlands for a nine aircraft formation with the Netherlands, Italy, Romania, Greece, Germany and Poland representatives to participate in Operation Market Garden memorial flight over the Netherlands, Sept. 16, 2023. Operation Market Garden was conducted by Allied powers during World War II from Sept. 17-27, 1944 in order to open a liberation route into northern Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jordan Lazaro)

 

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