Recently received documents

Collection: Eric Heijink

I have added the documents and photos on this page recently to my collection.

If you have photos or documents concerning the food drops than I would like to receive a digital copy.

Postal card of a photo.
Lancaster dropping food near Rotterdam.

Postal card of a photo
People forming a line gathering the recently dropped food near Rotterdam.

De Vrijheid - Amsterdam, 26 April 1945
Illegal newspaper, spread by the resistance containing news about the food drop. The newspaper read that the food drop missions where first announced on tuesday 24 april. It further says that the Germans have refused the Allied proposal for food drop mission over occupied Dutch territory.

Leaflet commemorating the food drops. Dropped in 1955. Containing messages from Lord Mayor of London to the burgomaster of The Hague (english) and a message from Lady Thurso to Mrs. Louwes

Leaflet commemorating the food drops. Dropped in 1955. Containing messages from Duke of Edingburgh and a message from Sir Winston Churchill (other side of the leaflet)

A booklet with drawings making fun of a lot of moments during the war. It came on the market in 1945. The last page contains drawings of the manna missions.

Ons Volk - one of the illegal newspapers that was spread by the resistance is welcoming the allies into Rotterdam in May 1945.

Proclamation by the burgomaster of Rotterdam, proclaiming the liberation of Holland

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."