Battle for Arnhem.... (2 Viewers)
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panda1gen
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Victoria Cross - Flight Lieutenant David S. A. Lord
Flight Lieutenant Lord was pilot and captain of a Dakota aircraft detailed to drop supplies at Arnhem on the afternoon of the 19th September, 1944. Our airborne troops had been surrounded and were being pressed into a small area defended by a large number of anti-aircraft guns. Air crews were warned that intense opposition would be met over the dropping zone. To ensure accuracy they were ordered to fly at 900 ft. when dropping their containers.
While flying at 1,500 ft. near Oosterbeek the starboard wing of Flight Lieutenant Lord's aircraft was twice hit by anti-aircraft fire. The starboard engine was set on fire. He would have been justified in leaving the main stream of supply aircraft and continuing at the same height or even abandoning his aircraft. But on learning that his crew were uninjured and that the dropping zone would be reached in three minutes he said he would complete his mission, as the troops were in dire need of supplies.
By now the starboard engine was burning furiously. Flight Lieutenant Lord came down to 900 ft. where he was singled out for the concentrated fire of all the anti-aircraft guns. On reaching the dropping zone he kept the aircraft on a straight and level course while supplies were dropped. At the end of the run, he was told that two containers remained.
Although he must have known that the collapse of the starboard wing could not be long delayed, Flight Lieutenant Lord circled, rejoined the stream of aircraft and made a second run to drop the remaining supplies. These manoeuvres took eight minutes in all, the aircraft being continuously under heavy anti-aircraft fire.
His task completed, Flight Lieutenant Lord ordered his crew to abandon the Dakota, making no attempt himself to leave the aircraft, which was down to 500 ft. A few seconds later, the starboard wing collapsed and the aircraft fell in flames. There was only one survivor, who was flung out while assisting other members of the crew to put on their parachutes.
By continuing his mission in a damaged and burning aircraft, descending to drop the supplies accurately, returning to the dropping zone a second time and, finally, remaining at the controls to give his crew a chance of escape, Flight Lieutenant Lord displayed supreme valour and self-sacrifice.
Victoria Cross - Flight Lieutenant David S. A. Lord
Flight Lieutenant Lord was pilot and captain of a Dakota aircraft detailed to drop supplies at Arnhem on the afternoon of the 19th September, 1944. Our airborne troops had been surrounded and were being pressed into a small area defended by a large number of anti-aircraft guns. Air crews were warned that intense opposition would be met over the dropping zone. To ensure accuracy they were ordered to fly at 900 ft. when dropping their containers.
While flying at 1,500 ft. near Oosterbeek the starboard wing of Flight Lieutenant Lord's aircraft was twice hit by anti-aircraft fire. The starboard engine was set on fire. He would have been justified in leaving the main stream of supply aircraft and continuing at the same height or even abandoning his aircraft. But on learning that his crew were uninjured and that the dropping zone would be reached in three minutes he said he would complete his mission, as the troops were in dire need of supplies.
By now the starboard engine was burning furiously. Flight Lieutenant Lord came down to 900 ft. where he was singled out for the concentrated fire of all the anti-aircraft guns. On reaching the dropping zone he kept the aircraft on a straight and level course while supplies were dropped. At the end of the run, he was told that two containers remained.
Although he must have known that the collapse of the starboard wing could not be long delayed, Flight Lieutenant Lord circled, rejoined the stream of aircraft and made a second run to drop the remaining supplies. These manoeuvres took eight minutes in all, the aircraft being continuously under heavy anti-aircraft fire.
His task completed, Flight Lieutenant Lord ordered his crew to abandon the Dakota, making no attempt himself to leave the aircraft, which was down to 500 ft. A few seconds later, the starboard wing collapsed and the aircraft fell in flames. There was only one survivor, who was flung out while assisting other members of the crew to put on their parachutes.
By continuing his mission in a damaged and burning aircraft, descending to drop the supplies accurately, returning to the dropping zone a second time and, finally, remaining at the controls to give his crew a chance of escape, Flight Lieutenant Lord displayed supreme valour and self-sacrifice.
panda1gen
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Private Ernest Holt
Unit : No.15 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment
Army No. : 5052629
Awards : Military Medal
Ernest Holt was born in Nottingham on the 17th February 1916, the son of James and Elizabeth Holt. He had three sisters and six brothers, all of whom fought in and survived the Second World War. For his actions at Arnhem, Holt was awarded the Military Medal. His citation reads:
While his platoon was in a defensive position at Oosterbeek Church, Pte Holt was given the job of observer on the extreme right flank of the position. During his watches he kept constant vigilance and on many occasions, while the rest of the platoon was forced under cover by enemy mortaring and shelling, Pte Holt kept watch and observed enemy moving into position under the cover of this mortaring and likely attacks forming up. In spite of heaviest shelling and mortaring, Holt brought the information to Platoon HQ on the left flank and the likely attacks were broken up by MG and 2" mortar fire from the platoon.
On 23 Sep, during one of his stand down periods, Pte Holt observed a sniper attempting to infiltrate along a ditch on our right flank. In spite of heavy enemy sniping and MG fire, he left his trench, crawled over difficult and open ground and killed the sniper with his rifle.
During the whole period 18-25 Sep, Pte Holt was a most valuable asset to the platoon both from the point of view of morale under most difficult conditions and from the point of view of exemplary conduct in the face of heaviest enemy mortaring and shelling and small arms fire. His reports from his O.P. were most valuable in the successful defence of the Oosterbeek Church area.
Ernest Holt succumbed to cancer in February 1975, aged 59. His Military Medal can be seen on display at the Staffordshire Regimental Museum, at Lichfield Barracks.
http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/frames.htm
Private Ernest Holt
Unit : No.15 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion The South Staffordshire Regiment
Army No. : 5052629
Awards : Military Medal
Ernest Holt was born in Nottingham on the 17th February 1916, the son of James and Elizabeth Holt. He had three sisters and six brothers, all of whom fought in and survived the Second World War. For his actions at Arnhem, Holt was awarded the Military Medal. His citation reads:
While his platoon was in a defensive position at Oosterbeek Church, Pte Holt was given the job of observer on the extreme right flank of the position. During his watches he kept constant vigilance and on many occasions, while the rest of the platoon was forced under cover by enemy mortaring and shelling, Pte Holt kept watch and observed enemy moving into position under the cover of this mortaring and likely attacks forming up. In spite of heaviest shelling and mortaring, Holt brought the information to Platoon HQ on the left flank and the likely attacks were broken up by MG and 2" mortar fire from the platoon.
On 23 Sep, during one of his stand down periods, Pte Holt observed a sniper attempting to infiltrate along a ditch on our right flank. In spite of heavy enemy sniping and MG fire, he left his trench, crawled over difficult and open ground and killed the sniper with his rifle.
During the whole period 18-25 Sep, Pte Holt was a most valuable asset to the platoon both from the point of view of morale under most difficult conditions and from the point of view of exemplary conduct in the face of heaviest enemy mortaring and shelling and small arms fire. His reports from his O.P. were most valuable in the successful defence of the Oosterbeek Church area.
Ernest Holt succumbed to cancer in February 1975, aged 59. His Military Medal can be seen on display at the Staffordshire Regimental Museum, at Lichfield Barracks.
http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/frames.htm
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panda1gen
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Re: battle for arnhem....
The concept of Pack artillery was developed by the US Army and dates back to 1830. It was designed to be easily disassembled and transported by animal, thereby making it ideal for deployment in rugged terrain. An airborne crew was expected to be able to ready their gun for firing from scratch inside of four minutes.
The first variant of the 75mm Pack Howitzer entered service in 1927, but did not fire a shot in anger until the Second World War, where it proved itself to be an effective and reliable weapon. Improvements were made upon the original M1 design throughout the 1930's, culminating in the M8, exclusively modified for the airborne role. In February 1943, the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment was equipped with these guns, replacing the inferior 3.7" Pack Howitzers, and twenty-four of them were used at Arnhem.
The American airborne units parachuted their guns into action in nine sections, roped together, however the British preferred to deliver them complete and ready for firing as soon as possible, and so transported them in Horsa gliders. Two gliders were required to transport a gun crew and their equipment. Typically, one would carry the weapon itself, a jeep, and an ammunition trailer, together with the sergeant in command of the crew and three subordinates, while the other would carry the remainder of the crew (commonly including one NCO), a jeep, and the remaining two ammunition trailers. In these trailers were one hundred and thirty-seven rounds; one hundred and twenty-five high-explosive, six armour piercing, and six smoke.
The 75mm Pack Howitzer was a classic design that excelled during the war and continued to serve as a front line weapon many years thereafter. Indeed it was only in recent times that it was still in use with the Indian Army, where it served as mountain artillery; its reliability, accuracy, and ease of deployment succeeding in disguising its age.
Specification:
Manufacturer : US Ordnance Dept
Calibre : 75mm
Length : 12' 0"
Width : 3' 11"
Height : 2' 10"
Weight : 1339 lbs
Elevation : -5º to +45º
Range : 9,760 yards
Rate of Fire : 3-6 rounds per minute
The concept of Pack artillery was developed by the US Army and dates back to 1830. It was designed to be easily disassembled and transported by animal, thereby making it ideal for deployment in rugged terrain. An airborne crew was expected to be able to ready their gun for firing from scratch inside of four minutes.
The first variant of the 75mm Pack Howitzer entered service in 1927, but did not fire a shot in anger until the Second World War, where it proved itself to be an effective and reliable weapon. Improvements were made upon the original M1 design throughout the 1930's, culminating in the M8, exclusively modified for the airborne role. In February 1943, the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment was equipped with these guns, replacing the inferior 3.7" Pack Howitzers, and twenty-four of them were used at Arnhem.
The American airborne units parachuted their guns into action in nine sections, roped together, however the British preferred to deliver them complete and ready for firing as soon as possible, and so transported them in Horsa gliders. Two gliders were required to transport a gun crew and their equipment. Typically, one would carry the weapon itself, a jeep, and an ammunition trailer, together with the sergeant in command of the crew and three subordinates, while the other would carry the remainder of the crew (commonly including one NCO), a jeep, and the remaining two ammunition trailers. In these trailers were one hundred and thirty-seven rounds; one hundred and twenty-five high-explosive, six armour piercing, and six smoke.
The 75mm Pack Howitzer was a classic design that excelled during the war and continued to serve as a front line weapon many years thereafter. Indeed it was only in recent times that it was still in use with the Indian Army, where it served as mountain artillery; its reliability, accuracy, and ease of deployment succeeding in disguising its age.
Specification:
Manufacturer : US Ordnance Dept
Calibre : 75mm
Length : 12' 0"
Width : 3' 11"
Height : 2' 10"
Weight : 1339 lbs
Elevation : -5º to +45º
Range : 9,760 yards
Rate of Fire : 3-6 rounds per minute
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Wraith
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Re: battle for arnhem....
"Pah! You travel all the way to a different Country and the vehicle next to you comes dressed in the same camo pattern"
Enjoying the ride along Kevin.
"Pah! You travel all the way to a different Country and the vehicle next to you comes dressed in the same camo pattern"
Enjoying the ride along Kevin.
panda1gen
Major
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Re: battle for arnhem....
hopefully so does the bloke next to you...........
"Pah! You travel all the way to a different Country and the vehicle next to you comes dressed in the same camo pattern"
Enjoying the ride along Kevin.
hopefully so does the bloke next to you...........
Wraith
Major
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Yahoooo!!! The reinforcements have arrived! Good to see the new guys hitting the streets of Arnhem.
Yahoooo!!! The reinforcements have arrived! Good to see the new guys hitting the streets of Arnhem.
arnhem44mad
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Nice
Hopefully more next month
Nice
Hopefully more next month
Louis Badolato
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Re: battle for arnhem....
Great shot, Kevin! I love how the new figures look in your photographs - they could be alive!
Great shot, Kevin!
I love how the new figures look in your photographs - they could be alive!