COMMEMORATIONS

2000
May 2000 - commemorating the Food Drops
I attended a couple of events that took place during the commemorations in May 2000.
Me meeting with Noreene Nagele, her brother died during operation Chowhound, his bomber that was part of the 95th BG crashed in the North Sea. There is still some discussion if this crash was caused by anti aircraft fire at IJmuiden or if it was caused by a mechanical malfunction.
A historical group makes the commemoration extra special.
All the veterans that where involved in the Manna and Chowhound operations and that attended the commemoration in the sport center in Valkenburg received an honorary citizenship of the town of Valkenburg. In the picture you can see the American veterans gathered to receive this award.
After the commemoration in the sportcenter in the town of Valkenburg, the group went on to the airfield Valkenburg. Their they shared a meal with the commander of the base. After the meal all the people gather for a small airshow. Historical vehicles of Keep them Rolling are present to give everything a more authentic view.
Due to bad weather the sheduled Lancaster bypass could not take place during the commemorations. However there where Hercules planes of the Dutch Airfoce that dropped small bags with bread to symbolize the food drop in 1945.
Hercules planes leaving the dropzone after they have dropped their bread.
An historical american aircraft has just landed at Valkenburg airfield after his show.
On of the veterans has climbed on top of a bus to get a better shot for pictures of the breaddrop.

Duindigt 2000

In 2000 a group of veterans of the Manna and Chowhound missions came back to Holland to commemorate the food drop missions.
J. v/d Broek was present at the commemoration at the Duindigt Racetrack.
He provided the following pictures and newspaper clipings.


Veterans gathered at the Racetrack


J. v/d Broek and his son posing with Jeff Brown, a veteran of no. 576 Squadron of the RAF. He flew one of the Mosquito's that marked the dropzones for the bombers. His story is told in the book 'Memories of a miracle' written by Hans Onderwater.



The memorial at the racetrack

Food drops remembered (dutch article)

Food drops remembered (dutch article)

De vliegende Hollander(dutch article)

De vliegende Hollander(dutch article)

Small bags with bread where dropped in these bags over Holland during the commemorations in 2000

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  • Commemorations

The Manna Monument at Terbregge

Place of commemoration

At the exact spot of one of the dropzones overlooking the freeway at Terbregge is the Manna monument located. It symbolizes the belly of an allied bomber filled with food parcels. The monument has been the central location of the Manna / Chowhound commemorations since its unveilling in 2006. One year later the Air Commodore Geddes footpath was opened next to the memorial.

Diary of Norman Coats

Belly turret gunner, 390th Bomb Group

May 3 - "Another mercy mission to Holland. We went deeper into Holland today. Very low altitude. I believe I must have waved at everyone in Holland. It is really a shame the ocean being turned into Holland. The great fields of tulips are beautiful. They had, "Thank You" spelled out with rocks. They could see me waving at them because they would point each others attention to it. Some of them had American flags waving them."