TERBREGGE 1945

Photo courtesy Henk Kleinsmit

Photos from the Food drop missions of the RAF at Terbregge in 1945.
Photo courtesy Henk Kleinsmit - The Netherlands.
Henk has died in September 2015


The ausweis which gave Henk Kleinsmit permission to aid with the gathering of food at Terbregge.


A Lancaster bomber dropping flares prior to the fooddrop.


A Lancaster of 170th Squadron RAF has just released his precious cargo over the dropzone at Terbregge.


People gathering food dat Terbregge.


Barges waiting to be loaded with food at Terbregge.


A fosfor marker fell through the roof at Rietstapstraat 1 Terbregge, Rotterdam.


A Lancaster dropping food over Terbregge.


Lancasters dropping food at Terbregge.


Lancasters dropping food at Terbregge.


Canadian army trucks entering Terbregge, the first of the liberating forces.


Canadian army trucks on the "Hoofdweg" entering Terbregge, the first of the liberating forces.

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."