Battle of France and Low Countries 80 years ago today

[Heliopause]

March 29th

Four Gloster Meteor jet fighters of Sqn 616 RAF land at Gilze Rijen (B.77), Holland. On the first day of April another twelve machines will arrive. April 2nd will see another two machines arrive to have the Squadron complete at Gilze Rijen airfield.

 

Four Meteors where stationed at Melsbroek (B.58), Belgium since January 20th.

[Heliopause]

B-25 of Sqn 320 (Dutch) RAF at Melsbroek (B.58), March 1945.

[kraut1]

On 3/25/2025 at 8:32 AM, Heliopause said:

March 25th
At Leeuwarden airfield local resistance notes: "The winterhangars are occupied by Ju 88's outfitted as night fighters. The hangars that are partly broken down have netting covers in place ready to be used. At the moment the night fighter buildings are not in use.  Runway II is now 40% ready and is expected to be finished in a week or so. Some 1500 men are working on it, mostly local laborers. Besides woman working in radio traffic (Funkerinnen) on the airfield some 90 woman are functioning in the role of mechanic. Amongst other things they carry out work on machine gun belts for the planes".

Very interesting.

Excuse me, do you know if there were some minimum Luftwaffe Air activities from the occupied Netherland areas in April / May45  that are shown in the "Rheinland" Map?

Maybe some single Night Fighters, or Nacht-Schlachflieger (Ju87) or other plane types?

 

 

[Heliopause]

18 hours ago, kraut1 said:

Very interesting.

Excuse me, do you know if there were some minimum Luftwaffe Air activities from the occupied Netherland areas in April / May45  that are shown in the "Rheinland" Map?

Maybe some single Night Fighters, or Nacht-Schlachflieger (Ju87) or other plane types?

 

Not on the map i'm afraid although Ypenburg airfield near The Haque had V1 launches from beginning of March 1945. Perhaps that could be simualated on the map.

 

Maybe there was some activity from Twenthe airfield and Leeuwarden (as far as I know) but its not on the map.  Twente had Fw 190F's from III./KG 200 since Jan 10th '45 according to a source. From February 22nd only the 11 staffel remained and stayed till the end of March (with a small posting to Rhein Main in between). 

 

 

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View from the control tower at Venlo, Y-55. On the 10th of March the first US planes (P-51 Mustangs) had landed at Venlo after the area had fallen into Allied.

 

Mosquito of Sqn 264 RAF at Gilze Rijen, B.77 in line with Typhoons (Sqn 609 RAF). Some Mossies flew missions for Operation "Blackmail". A handfull of Dutch secret agents flew aboard for radio contacting resistence in occupied territory.

[Heliopause]

April 17th
Yesterday Gloster Meteors (Sqn No.616 RAF) started to perform sorties over Western Holland out of Kluis (B.91) near Nijmegen. The first Meteors flew to B.91 on the 13th at 10.30 hours out of Gilze Rijen (B.77). Today the Squadron reports:
"Twenty three sorties flown today over Western Holland. F/Lt. M. Cooper triumphantly presented the Squadrons first claim - first "Jet" pilot to spoil the enemy in enemy occupied Europe. F/Lt. M. Cooper attacked a large M/T near IJmuiden. Strikes were observed and the vehicle swung off the road and stopped."

 

On the 9th the Squadron recorded: "The four Meteors Mk.III White Camouflage were flown back to Colerne".

Edited April 17 by Heliopause

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Gloster Meteors, Sqn 616 RAF perform 21 sorties.
"No flying until midday owing to ground base. F/Lt. M. Cooper one M/T destroyed west of Woerden, W/O. G. Wilkes one staff car destroyed at Woerden, F/Lt. J.K. Rodger one staff car destroyed Utrecht. Again intense Flak was encountered at 3 - 5000 feet. Flak was reported bursting at same height of meteors but always well behind proving the meteors speed is foxing the gunners".

 

Sqn 322 (Dutch) RAF operated from Schijndel (B.85) since Febr 19th. In March it received the Spitfire Mk.XVI. Today it relocates to Twente airfield (B.106). Twente fell into Allied hands at the beginning of the month. Some Luftwaffe planes are found at Twente among them (according to one source) two Me 262's (nightfighter Me 262B-1a Wrknr. 110636 and Me 262A Wrknr. 112372).

 

Spitfires Sqn 322 at Schijndel (picture probably taken in February, my guess)

 

The Spitfire Mk.XVI was not well liked as newly delivered machines had production faults (oil-/cooling lines) that had to be corrected. The Mk.XVI was also some 20 km/h slower then the older Mk.IX.

[Heliopause]

April 20th
13 Gloster Meteor jet fighters of Sqn 616 RAF relocate to Quakenbrück (B.109), Germany "to catch up with the fast moving Allied line Eastwards". On the previous day missions were flown over the west of Holland out of Kluis (B.91). "More enemy targets were found and destroyed. F/Lt. M. Cooper one armoured car near Gouda with only two guns working, F/Lt. M. Cooper fired a long burst and saw the turret fly off. F/Lt. Hobsen and Kistruck shared a M/T destroyed near Hoogewaard. Flak was again reported bur no casualties to pilots or aircraft".

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Meteor Sqn 616 RAF at Kluis (B.91) near Nijmegen, Holland.

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"Spring 1945: an F-6 of the 363rd TRG at Venlo seen taxiing".

 

Piper being manouvered through a street at Kerkrade (east of Maastricht /north of Aachen). Men at the wingtips to keep it clear of the houses.

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Spitfire seen at Eindhoven (B.78). With the front line moving North and Eastwards Eindhoven remained a much used airfield.

 

Typhoon, loading the ammo at Eindhoven.

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April 28th
Operation Manna gets underway: a trial-run by two Lancasters for the first food drop for the starving population in the West of Holland. It was planned for yesterday but postponed due to poor weather. However no agreement has been signed yet between the Allies and the Germans (negotiations taking place at the Dutch village of Achterveld). Pilot Bob Upcott remembered: "If our mission was a succes and we could drop our food without being shot at Operation Manna would be launched". The two Lancasters successfully perform the mission flying within an assigned corridor. "The trial run was deemed a succes and by noon BBC Radio informed its listeners in England and Holland that Operation Manna would start that very same day.

 

Lancaster over Duindigt race track, The Haque. This site was also used for the trial-run.

 

Two other pictures of Lancasters at dropzone Duindigt.

 

 

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Operation Manna: 29th April 1945. Lancasters closing in on dropzone Duindigt, The Haque"

 

Mosquitos are also participating in Operation Manna. OBOE-nosed Mosquitos of the Pathfinder Force fly in advance of the main force to identify and mark the drop zones, and they also carry a worthwhile number of supplies  to the marking zones.

 

"Prelude to Peace". An artist impression of Mosquitos (Sqn No.105 RAF) on Operation Manna. The Squadron flew 80 sorties for the Operation.

Edited April 29 by Heliopause

[cardboard_killer]

 

[Heliopause]

April 30th

Sqn 322 (Dutch) RAF relocates from Twente (B.106) to Varrelbusch (B.113), Germany whilst Sqn 320 (Dutch) RAF relocates from Melsbroek (B.58), Belgium to Advance Landing Ground B.110 at Achmer, Germany.

 

B-25 of Sqn 320 (Dutch) RAF at Achmer

 

Operation Manna: The crews of Bomber Command comprised airmen from around the world. Today even a Dutchman is flying a Lancaster of 90 Squadron on a food drop to Rotterdam.

 

Lancaster photographed over the dropzone at Rotterdam

 

Loading of Lancaster for Operation Manna

 

Loading of a B-17 for Operation Chowhound. Tomorrow the Operation starts in order to bring food for the starving population in the West of Holland.

Edited April 30 by Heliopause

[Heliopause]

May 1st
Negotiations for the humanitarian aid for Holland have taken place for the last few days at the Dutch village of Achterveld.
Today the protocols are signed by the Allies and Germans. Tomorrow these are ratified during a further meeting in the Dutch town of Wageningen.

 

 

B-17's on Operation Chowhound seen here over Rotterdam on their way to the drop zone, May 1st 1945.

 

Another view of B-17's on Operation Chowhound

 

Operation Manna continues. Some aircrew added a little extra like with Sqn 460 RAAF:
"Before taking off from Binbrook in overcast weather, Bennet gave a small package to rear-gunner Peter Firkins. It contained a bundle that he and bomb-aimer Alby Murray had hastily assembled. Attached to it was a slip of  paper on which both airmen had written their names and addresses under a message in Dutch that read: Naar U 'To you'. The package - contained in a small jute bag which was attached to an old hat that would be its parachute - was not destined for Rotterdam, as were the tonnes of food supplies. It was destined for a yet-to-be determined landmark: a country town, a gathering of people, or a person to whom Keith and Alby could dedicate their mission ...

...Suddenly Bennet was drawn to the outskirts of one town southeast of Rotterdam. There, on a small bridge that crossed a canal, he saw a gathering of people and noticed that many were school children. Instinctively he knew that this was the mark for his and Alby's drop. On Bennett's order of 'go!', Firkins dropped the cigarettes from the plane. The crew could see people scrambling for the parcel below, but they couldn't linger. With a quick tilt of the wings they bade farewell and returned to Binbrook".

 

[Heliopause]

May 2nd
Sqn 320 (Dutch) RAF operating out of Advance Landing Ground B.110 at Achmer, Germany carries out its last operational sortie.

 

 

Operation Manna and Chowhound continue. Operation Faust now also begins. Allied trucks will conduct multiple rond trips, delivering food and supplies to a designated area between Wageningen and Rhenen. However, logistical problems will prevent Faust supplies from reaching Amsterdam, The Haque and Utrecht for more then a week.

 

Chowhound: Seen after the dropzone at Vogelenzang, machine flown by Lt.Col. S.W. Fitzgerald Deputy Group Commander 493 BG.

Some 3510 packages delivered by the 40 B-17's.

 

Manna: Lancasters near Rotterdam dropzone 

[Heliopause]

Operation Manna and Chowhound continue.

 

As one Flight-Sgt. wrote: "I will always remember seeing: 'Thank you Tommie' written on one of the roofs . . . those flights were a beautiful experience, it was as if we brought the liberation closer to reality".

 

B-17 over Schiphol. Note the bombcraters

 

 

[cardboard_killer]

My father was an USAF officer but left the military after only six years in early 60s. I asked him why and he said that he knew there was a war coming in Asia and he didn't want to drop bombs on people. He also told me to go watch No Time for Sergeants. Dropping food must have been a great morale booster to those who had been dropping bombs.

 

 

[Heliopause]

May 4th
Dutchman Van Zinnicq Bergmann (DFC) flew with Sqn 181 RAF from Normandy and towards the end of hostilities with Sqn 182 RAF. Since three days the Squadron operates out of Lüneburg (B.156), Germany.
"There was still the impression that the Germans were to evacuate to Norway. An attack on the airfield of Flensburg was to be carried out. We checked the photos of Flensburg, most of the planes were parked on the taxiways parallel to the runway. At 16:30 we taxied out with 12 planes plus a reserve. We climbed to 4 km altitude. I didn't have to navigate as I was able to see the coastline clearly from Flensburg far into Denmark. Variation in our zig zag pattern and altitude was now a must. To the right of us was Kiel with her heavy Flak present. Far in the distance I could see the city of Flensburg. The airfield was to the south of it. The main runway ran east-west. Attacking out of the west we could more or less carry out the attack with the sun behind us. I gave the order for attack formation and a little later 11 Typhoons were on my left. The heavy Flak continued to follow us. Only one time it got really close were you could feel the pressure of the explosion and the bumping of the plane.

I attacked with 5 machines the taxiway on the right side whilst George, leader of Blue section would attack with his five men the left side. I could now clearly distinguish the airfield and went a bit more to the west to get the best angle for our rocket attack. Then it was "Going down Dingo" and I was in my dive. Zig zagging was now of no use. It was now all about speed, and there was no shortage of that. Swarms of tracer fire came up. The field was crowded just like the photos had shown. I opened fire with the cannons and when I saw the first plane getting hit I started to fire the rockets in pairs, meanwhile pulling up a bit every time. The speed was so great that my plane shook of the last two rockets that more or less exploded underneath me. For a few seconds I could aim my cannons at a Flakpost outside the field and then pulled up steeply into a right hand climbing turn. Due to the speed and the tightness of the turn the usual black out occurred. When a clear vision had returned I could see the chaos on the ground, tracer fire and fast climbing Typhoons everywhere.
At that moment the controller called me and I received the urgent order to return to base immediately. I gave a rendez vous point to the Squadron and I could see George, who had attacked the other side of the runway approaching in the distance. Thankfully we were complete. The amount of smoke rising above the airfield left no doubt of the succes of the attack. I was hoping but didn't dare to believe that the order to return ment the end of hostilities. We returned to our airfield, the three planes with damage landing last. A little later we strolled to the Squadron hut were on the hood of a jeep stood glasses and champagne bottles. So it was true. The war was over for us. All the pilots and mechanics swarmed around the jeep, or better said the champagne. Of our Wing we were the Squadron that carried out the last operational sortie".

 

Dutch pilot Van Zinnicq Bergmann in his Typhoon

[Heliopause]

May 5th
Talks are held in the Dutch town of Wageningen about the Orders of Surrender of the German forces in the Netherlands. It contains the orders which general Foulkes on behalf of the Allied Forces give general Blaskowitz on behalf of the German forces in the Netherlands.

 

 

Meanwhile Operations Manna, Chowhound and Faust continue.

 

B-17 photographed near Valkenburg dropzone, The Haque

 

Faust: "food from trucks at a town dump"

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Operation Manna and Chowhound:

 

May 7th was the last day for Operation Chowhound, the last flights for Manna were flown on May 8th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Heliopause]

[cardboard_killer]

It's always one more! 80 years ago today: "

• With large crowds watching, the pilots of the Free French Groupe de Chasse 3 “Normandie” land their forty Yak-3s at Le Bourget airfield, Paris. The aircraft are a gift to France. After fighting alongside the Red Air Force since March 1943 and notching up 273 confirmed victories and 38 probables during which they earned the honourific “Niemen” for supporting Soviet units forcing the river in 1944, they are afforded a hero's welcome by the French populace.

 

- The unit is still in service.

 

GC 3 Normandie pilots with a Yak-1B in June 1943

 

Flying reproduction Yak-3 in colours of GC 3

 

Normandie-Niemen 70th Anniversary Flight"

[Art-J]

@cardboard_killer does Mr Jackson on the other forum you mentioned still post about remaining part of WWII ie. PTO and CBI? 

 

I haven't been playing GB for quite a while like you, but I've been always anticipating your reposts in this section and they've been one of the primary reasons why I still hang around here. Would be pitty to see this "reporting" journey end on VE day.