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Operation MARKET GARDEN 75th Anniversary – 82nd Airborne Waal River assault crossing DUI


Glidertrooper
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In time for the 75th anniversary of Operation MARKET GARDEN I though I would show of some more of my DUI.

 

The DUI shown centre around the 82nd Airborne Division’s heroic assault crossing of the Waal River in Holland to secure the bridge from both ends, as depicted by Robert Redford in the WWII film ‘A Bridge Too Far’.

 

On 20th September 1944 the crossing was made in 26 boats provided by British Army engineers under intense fire from the Nazi German defenders, including use of their dreaded 88mm flak guns. Only 13 boats completed that initial assault carrying elements of these two units:

 

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Left to Right:

 

504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR)– no hallmark – I am assuming this is a post war veterans or collectors DUI, as it exactly matches the style of the known end of war ‘Boots’ 504th patch, rather than the hyper rare during war chenille patch.

307th Airborne Engineer Battalion (AEB)– hallmarked A.H.Dondero.Inc Wash DC (incised) – this DUI is chrome plated, while the enamel is translucent to show the pebbling texture underneath so typical of WWII DUI. The hallmarking also appears to match the hallmarking of the 101st Airborne’s 377th PFAB DUI, which is well known to be of during war manufacture.

 

I would welcome knowledge or comments as to whether these DUI are of WWII manufacture or otherwise.

 

 

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The 504th PIR and C Company 307th AEB were dropped on the 17th September 1944 near Dutch village of Overasselt by this unit:

 

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315th Troop Carrier Group– hallmarked Robbins (incised) – this emblem was approved on 22nd May 1942, although I have no idea if this DUI is of WWII manufacture or otherwise.

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Prior to and during the assault crossing the 504th PIR and 307th AEB received artillery support from British Army elements and 82nd Airborne Divisional artillery in the form of this unit:

 

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376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion (PFAB) – hallmarked HR.Newcombe & Co N.Y.C (incised) – this particular DUI is supposedly attributed to a named soldier from B Battery, although I have no actual provenance.

 

 

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And finally the obligatory ‘for fun’ shot…

 

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…with an original WWII 82nd Airborne Division patch and a fairly uncommon variation of the 1st Allied Airborne Army DUI, which is pin back with no hallmark.

 

 

On witnessing the 504th PIR / 307th AEB assault crossing of the Waal River, the Commander of the British Second Army summed up that historic action with one word…

 

 

“Unbelievable”

 

 

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Great insignia. Great presentation. Thanks!

Many thanks. Arrived in Arnhem last night and hope to make it to the 82nd Airborne monument at the Waal river bridge today, 20th, in perfect timing for the anniversary of this action.

 

Cheers......John

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Beautiful DUI's. Thanks for showing. I hope you have a good time over here in The Netherlands.

 

Rene

Thank you Rene and thank you for the updates on the Norman D Landing thread, which were a great help in convincing us to visit the Waal river crossing point yesterday.

 

Just back to the hotel from our afternoon at Ginkel Heath - preceded and followed by a 5km route march pushing a baby buggy because they close the road! - where I was lucky enough to strike up a conversation with two currently serving 82nd Airborne, whos current unit lineage traces back to the 504th PIR and one of whom had made the Waal river crossing yesterday. Interestingly, both had blue skull and cross bones patches on both sides of their helmets, which they had with them as they had also just jumped into the Heath as part of the mass drops.

 

Cheers......John

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Good idea they closed the road.

 

In 1994 there was a massive traffic jam.

 

But I had a great time with relatives in Oosterbeek and Arnhem.

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Good idea they closed the road.

 

In 1994 there was a massive traffic jam.

 

But I had a great time with relatives in Oosterbeek and Arnhem.

 

Indeed there was much mention of that traffic jam incident from locals and experienced attendees of the commemorations. Given the presence of both the Queen of the Netherlands and the UK's Prince of Wales, I'm sure their security details would not have wanted a repeat of such an incident, given the extensive crowds at the Heath on Saturday.

 

I was interested to learn on this trip that the 315th Troop Carrier Group were also responsible for delivering the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade (1.SBS) to their Drop Zone at Driel on the 21st September 1944. Sadly that date was also the day our family member was KIA.

 

Cheers......John

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  • 11 months later...

Time for an update to this thread with some 2020 acquisitions added to my DUI collection and an opportunity to mark the 76th anniversary of Operation MARKET GARDEN. Sadly current circumstances prevent us joining our Dutch, American, Polish and other British friends in physical commemoration this year.

 

Presented are some more DUI in relation to the 82nd Airborne Division’s crossing of the Waal River in The Netherlands to secure the Nijmegen bridges.

 

The 20th September 1944 crossing by the 504th PIR and 307th AEB saw only 13 of the 26 boats used make it across the river from just the first crossing. A total of six crossings were made and the casualty numbers amongst the attacking paratroopers were so horrific the action was dubbed “Little Omaha”. Hardly surprising given that the Germans were firing 88mm flak guns at them.

 

Casualties from the assault would have been received at Clearing Station set up in a Jesuit school on the outskirts of Nijmegen, manned by their airborne brothers of the following unit, who had been originally delivered by 67 Waco gliders (with 27 jeeps, 34 trailers and 10 tons of equipment) on the 18th September 1944, while 11 EM had already parachuted in with 82nd Airborne Division HQ on the 17th September 1944.

 

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Left to Right:

 

82nd Airborne Division – no hallmark – DUI style likely to have been worn by division HQ personnel and sub elements. Made of brass, this DUI is one of three common 82nd A/B DUI variations encountered, but this one is the closest replication of the division SSI.

307th Airborne Medical Company – hallmarked N.S.Meyer,Inc. New York + small NSM shield (all raised) – this DUI is chrome plated, while the enamel is translucent to show the pebbling texture underneath. The hallmarking dates the DUI to late the 1940’s to early 1950’s, but as a representative addition of the unit to my DUI collection I am very happy with it.

 

 

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And of course the obligatory ‘for fun’ shot…

 

1346635279_82ABOpM-G2.jpg.ba38a0c089e8a15bcd7a0fbe87f6244a.jpg

 

…with my original WWII 82nd Airborne Division patch and a Sterling hallmarked Glider Qualification Badge with single contemporarily added combat landing star.

 

With a new generations of medical professionals performing their own acts of heroism in the current pandemic, thank you for your service to all medics past and present, civilian and military.

 

Cheers……John

 

 

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Persian Gulf Command

Here are 4 of my tactical 1:25,000 maps where the 101st landed.  These maps have hand written notations regarding positions.  They were found in a Map Case just north of Nijmegen after the war.  The Map Case was well used buy the family children as a school book bag for some years.1978502981_4427(5).JPG.4266575094a3a0d316af59ee153cc37e.JPG 

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I thought I would contribute to your thread regarding a jump jacket I used to own that was worn by Capt. Roy E. Anderson (June 24, 1918 - December 30, 1999) of the 504th P.I.R.  It is my understanding that he participated in the boat crossing of the Waal River.  His name is stamped on the inside of the jacket which is currently on display at a museum in Belgium.  The only thing missing from the jacket was the 82nd Airborne Division SSI.  I found the jump jacket at a flea market and I actually tracked him down when he was still alive as he lived in the same county as I did.  However he had suffered a stroke and did not seem to understand what I was saying so my visit was brief.   His wife had told me that her husband had made the crossing of the river in Holland and was eventually returned stateside due to combat related injuries.  She had donated the jacket to Goodwill which is how it ended up at the flea market.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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