A C-47 goes down (1944)

Sat May 16, 2009 8:22 pm

Saw this image while looking at front line images looking for liaison aircraft. Apparently the crew got out and one is visible in a parachute on the way down. Still sobering.

Caption reads: A troop transport, right, plunges to earth in Holland during landing of the 1st Allied Airborne Army. Crew members are coming to the earth under 'chutes, faintly discernible. 23 September 1944

Ryan

Sat May 16, 2009 9:08 pm

I've seen old newsreel footage of that crash somewhere. Anyone know what happened to cause that crash?

Gary

Sun May 17, 2009 3:40 pm

Isn't this one of the groups that dropped near the SS panzer battalion that was refitting in the area? It looks like the left wing has been blown off by flak outboard the engine.

Sun May 17, 2009 4:12 pm

Here is a link that may lead you to some details.

http://forum.armyairforces.com/Market-G ... 80711.aspx

In 2002 I visited the Market Garden Drop Zone C with 101st Vets Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron. They both spoke of heavy small arms fire and accurate AA that "quiet" Sunday afternoon in 1944 as they neared the DZ.

http://nieuwint.net/ww2/index.php?optio ... view&id=29

Sun May 17, 2009 4:19 pm

PinecastleAAF wrote:Isn't this one of the groups that dropped near the SS panzer battalion that was refitting in the area? It looks like the left wing has been blown off by flak outboard the engine.

The II Panzer Corps (9th & 10th Panzer division) was sent north to Arnhem to rest and refit after a ferocious fight while withdrawling from the defense of the Albert Canal and previously, Falise Gap.

Sun May 17, 2009 4:21 pm

DZ next to a Panzer division bivouack ....um....not my first choice. Guess they don't vote before a jump though, do they. Operation MG had a lot of problems. Should be used in airborne training as how NOT to conduct an operation.

Mon May 18, 2009 10:11 am

Actually, the US portion of the drop was quite successful. The UK portion was the part that was planned incorrectly. Market Garden put the lessons learned from Sicily and D-Day into action. Daylight drop eliminated mis-recognition by USN. Also, it provided better ID of Drop Zone by USAAF/RAF transports. The primary issue was that it was MONTGOMERY's plan. He failed, as some commanders do, to pay attention to intel experts who accurately ID the SS and WM units there. Even so, the US and Brit Airborne forces performed magnificently. As it was, it was a bridge too far.

Mon May 18, 2009 11:06 am

hey.., what a cool name for a movie!!!!

Mon May 18, 2009 11:49 am

The Arnhem area was a disaster is right. Field radios that had different crystals and did not the connect to Air Transport commands system and were virtually useless in the field. The fact that General Brereton wanted to protect air assets by using a 3 day drop system that did not allow for rapid build up of assets. It also ignored the possibility of the DZs being captured(which they were) and the Germans capturing reinforcements and supplies.

The most condeming factor was the distance of the British Drop Zones some almost 6 miles from the Bridge in Arnhem. It was done to allow for organization and the prevention of casulties.

Experts and vets agree that the opps would have succeded if they were dropped on and around the bridge itself.