101st Airborne troops land in the Netherlands in tribute to Allied operation 80 years ago

Paratroopers recreated the landing portion of Operation Market Garden

On Sunday, dozens of paratroopers from the U.S. 101st Airborne Division jumped from planes and landed in the Netherlands to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden, a significant World War II operation. The paratroopers jumped into the same drop zones used by the original paratroopers on September 17, 1944. The jump was part of a larger commemoration ceremony that included speeches by dignitaries and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek.

Operation Market Garden was a bold plan to liberate the Netherlands from German occupation

Operation Market Garden was conceived by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in 1944. The plan called for the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions to seize bridges over major rivers in the Netherlands, clearing the way for an Allied ground advance into Germany. The operation was launched on September 17, 1944, but met with strong German resistance. The paratroopers were able to capture some of the bridges, but the Germans managed to hold on to others. The Allies eventually called off the operation after suffering heavy losses. Despite its failure to achieve its objectives, Operation Market Garden is still considered a heroic effort by the Allies.

Paratroopers jumped from C-47 transport planes

The paratroopers who jumped into the Netherlands on Sunday used the same type of aircraft that was used in Operation Market Garden in 1944, the C-47 transport plane. The C-47 was a workhorse of the U.S. military during World War II, and it was used to transport troops and supplies all over the world, especially in what was called the "D-Day Invasion of Normandy". The C-47 is a sturdy and reliable aircraft, and it is still used by some military forces today. After jumping from the planes, the paratroopers landed in drop zones around the town of Son en Breugel. The drop zones were chosen to match the original drop zones used in Operation Market Garden. The paratroopers wore authentic uniforms and carried replica weapons.

Wreaths were laid to honor the fallen

After landing, the paratroopers marched to the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek, where they laid wreaths at the graves of the fallen soldiers. The Airborne Museum tells the story of Operation Market Garden and the role played by the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. The museum is located in a former schoolhouse that was used as a field hospital during the operation. The paratroopers' jump and the wreath-laying ceremony were part of a larger commemoration ceremony that included speeches by dignitaries and a flyover by C-47 transport planes. The ceremony was attended by veterans of Operation Market Garden, as well as their families and friends.