Operation Manna

Unique pictures found on a flea market in Amsterdam

These pictures of the food drop mission near Amsterdam on May 7th 1945 are displayed here by the courtesy of Kees Huyser.
You can find more interesting material on his website
Research by Kees Huyser &Joeri Teeuwisse, additional research by Peter Löwensteyn & Hanno Spoelstra

USAF B-17Gs "Flying Fortress" on their way to a food dropping on May 7th, 1945

People watching food droppings
Location is Weespertrekvaart (locally know as Keulsevaart). Background is Betondorp
The big square building in the right of the photo is the gym hall of the "Pieter Nieuwlandschool", a primary school.
Near the end of the war this was a billeting place for (very) young German Soldiers.

Background is Betondorp, looking into Akkerstraat

An M4A4 Sherman tank from the 1st Canadian Army, 5th Canadian Armoured Division, 9th Armoured Regiment, the "British Columbia Dragoons" Liberation Parade on June 29th, 1945 in the Vijzelstraat, Amsterdam

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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."