Dropping Bread and Clothes rather than bombs. Cpt J A Moller releasing his cargo of supplies to starving Dutch Civilians at Valkenberg on May 1st 1945
There were two operational periods right at the end of the war, between April and May 1945 aimed at relieving the desperate lack of food in Holland and the low countries by the use of air drops. The RAF flew "Operation Manna" (Manna from Heaven) while the USAF flew their own missions under the codename of "Operation Chowhound". One RAF pilot who flew on the Manna airdrops referred to it as the finest operation he'd ever been involved with. He also recalled how the Dutch people at the dropping zone had managed to lay out on the ground in letters about ten feet high and using sheets the words "Thank you"; as he said he then knew that the previous six years had been worth it. Brian.
Its hard to comprehend how these people survived as long as they did during these years, I can’t go half a day without searching the fridge. I can also understand how the Dutch people were so grateful after receiving these drops. :fag:
Both Operations are mentioned in the great book of Hans Onderwater '' Operation Manna ''.ISBN 90-228-3776-9 Every year on May 4th an Avro Lancaster flew over the '' Food Targets ''.
Nearly thirty years later I sent a Morse message via blinker to a C-47 overhead. "Need emergency supplies!" "Understood, be right back." An hour later the Goony Bird dropped us a case of Johnny Walker.
I hope you don't drink all that bottles alone. Ops Manna was more serious. More then 5000 people starving in Holland,so the food supply was more then welcome. Thanks to the Brave men of the RAF & USAAF, bringing hope for the Dutch people.
From what I read the situation was bad enough that the Germans didn't fire on the planes. Of course they were on tight rations as well but the Nazi's weren't known for being all that rational either.
The German SS FLAK Regiment at IJmuiden shooting on the bombers. One aircraft was hit and crashed in the North Sea. B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Eighth Air Force https://100thbg.com/images/chowhound_3rd.pdf