Today 60 years ago

[Murky71]

Ginkelse Hei (Ginkel Heath) today:

[Hartford688]

A few more from today:

Dakota dropping

[Hartford688]

Main drop from soem Hercules (?):

[Hartford688]

Got to think you would need a big parachute for this one:

[Rooster]

ORIGINAL: Hartford688

Got to think you would need a big parachute for this one:

Yeah - they probably brought it in by glider... [:D]

[Hartford688]

Friggin' big glider...

[The_MadMan]

Since we are sharing pictures of the commemorations here are some of the pictures I took. I've got a lot more so I might post them later.

On wednesday the re-opening of the John Frostbridge took place and I made the following pictures. The opening started with a spectacular airshow and the movie A Bridge to Far was shown.

The Airshow started with the landin of 12 gliders in the floodplain adjacent to the bridge. Which in my opinion is a bit cynical because had they done this in 1944 the battle would have ended quite differently.


As we were walking to the area reserved for veterans the gliders kept on landing. They came in very low over the bridge.


On the left you see our veteran who was in C-Coy 4th Dorset (he is staying at my place), on the right is a veteran from the HQ-Coy 2nd Para Batallion (I forgot his name).



After all the gliders landed the real show started, 26 Poles jumped out of a C-47 Dakota that afterwards flew low over the bridge as a salute.


Then a P-51 Mustang made a number of low passes over the bridge. This was very spectacular!!


And a B-25 Mitchel


Then a Hercules dropped a total of 75 Dutch paratroopers in a number of passes over the bridge.






And the Hercules made a low level pass over the bridge too:


During all this they showed the movie A Bridge Too Far too, of which you can see a shot now (cannons firing at the start of the Garden operation).



There were 450 veterans present at the bridge of which you can see a few here:

[The_MadMan]

Then a number of veterans came marching up the bridge together with Jane Frost (the widow of John Frost) for the official opening.


On the screen we could see what was happening. Jane Frost, together with Bill Fulton a veteran who was first on the bridge were going to fire a canon.




Afterwards they showed the rest of the film A Bridge Too Far and then it was time for fireworks and to show the new lighting of the bridge. (I did not take these pictures, I found them on the internet)

[The_MadMan]

On thursday was time for the veterans to march across the John Frostbridge. Those that could not march were driven by WWII-time vehicles. Unfortunantely I had to leave before the end of the parade so I missed a few spectacular vehicles but I had to go to a special "thank you veterans" programme (which sucked).

On the other hand I was treated this morning by a C-47 dropping paras almost on top of our house! I climbed on our shed and took the following pictures:









Then we went to the bridge where the march took place. The bridge was packed with ppl who were all cheering and clapping. It was a very moving afternoon.

[The_MadMan]

[:D]

[The_MadMan]

If you look carefully you can see one kaki (dark green) beret, which is our veteran. (good luck finding him!)

[Grouchy]

He MadMan & Murky71, good stuff!!

See they even managed to find a Polsten gun for the parade.

[Arjuna]

Yes great photos. Many thanks.[:)]

[The_MadMan]

I'll post some more pictures later (have some more at home) but the last few days have been very hectic. Our veteran had a heart attack and is still in a hospital in Arnhem. He's doing well but it was quite a shock (all happened in the middle of the night)...

[Grouchy]

Ouch,

Sorry to hear that. Hopes he get well soon.

[Arjuna]

Yes we too send our prayers.

[The_MadMan]

Thank you very much!

He's doing a lot better now and if all is well he can go home on friday. He was even in the local newspaper yesterday, I'll try to post the translation tonight.

[The_MadMan]

Rijstate hospital is housing a special patient this week. In room 105, ward A4 veteran Norman Francis is recovering from a swiftly performed “dotter” procedure [opening a blocked heart vessel] in Nijmegen.

Arnhem. What started on Friday in the early evening with dyspnoa [short of breath] at the commemorations on the Airborne-square, ended for warveteran Norman Francis on Sunday morning with a “dotter” procedure in Nijmegen. In the meantime the 78 year old Englishmen has recovered quite a bit. Of course he wanted to join his wife Bettine today in Anstey (Leicestershire), but he does not want to complain. He enjoys staying in Rijnstate hospital. “I’ve been to hotels that were a lot worse. Everbody is very friendly to me. They even stir up my pillows”.
The medical staff says he has to stay calm, but Norman Francis does not abide to that. The visitors are kindly asked to join in, after which he calmly tells about his war memoires.
In short: the Englishman crosses the Rhine on a pontoon [actually it was a canvas boat] from the south side in september 1944. He is lucky enough not to get hit by the german barrage, who have a brilliant view of the allied crossing from the tower on the Westerbouwing heights. Once on the northern side of the Rhine he is soon forced to surrender, after which he spends 8 months as a POW in different german camps before being liberated.

In Rijnstate hospital Francis became best friends with all who takes care of him. He likes to joke a lot too. “I asked one of the nurses where the bruises on my arm came from. She could not tell. ‘Because I refused to clean the floor’, I replied”. The good mood of Francis has made an impression on cardiologist Hans Bosker, who visited him a number of times during the weekend and eventually performed the procedure in Nijmegen. “A very special man. After three days something like a friendship grew spontaneously.”
Francis was brought to Rijnstate hospital by his hostfamily Nieuwint (‘marvellous people, couldn’t be better’) for the first time on Saturday morning. The Englishman complained about pain in the chest. The following night the complains returned and an ECG showed the symptons of a possible heart-attack. In the early morning the decision was made to perform the “Dotter” procedure on him in Nijmegen. After which all the suffering was behind him. Francis: “On the way back to Arnhem the atmosphere on board the ambulance was very cheerfull. The ambulance driver even wanted to stop on the Waalbridge, which I crossed in 1944. ‘We’ll open the rear doors and wheel you out’ they said. Unfortunantely there was too many traffic on the bridge so the party was off.”.
According to Bosker Norman is again in perfect health. “His heart musscle was hardly damaged. The “dotter” procedure produced perfect results.” The medical side of the matter was not the only thing for which Bosker cared, he thought about the emotional side too. “On the way back from Nijmegen it occured to me that he would not be able to be present at the ceremony on the Airborne Cemetery. I immediately called [to the hospital] and arranged for a tv and that it should not be a problem. All on the expense of the hospital. In special cases that should be possible”.
And Norman, who is discharged on Friday, is a special case. “I saw the ceremony on the television. Beatrix looked wonderfull. Please write that down. She might send me a medal.”

[Hartford688]

Great news!

[The_MadMan]

Indeed, the best news is that he's discharged tomorrow. He'll then stay an extra one or two days at our house and will fly home then!