Bastogne and Hurtgen Forest tour 2009

Next Saturday, I'm going over to Europe with my dad (82nd airborne) for a weeks camping. We will be spending 2 days at a site in Bastogne in Belgium, before moving on to another campsite in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany for the remainder of the week.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some decent weather while we are there as I want to get in as much battlefield touring as possible...and maybe a little relic hunting as well.

Check back here for my battlefield report when I return.

 

My feeling of envy knows no bounds - - have a brilliant time, John !

 

I'm so jealous,i wouldnt be too optimistic about the weather though.

 

Thanks, Martin. We could always pick you up on our way down to Dover?

I think there is a more favourable chance of good weather over in Belgium and Germany, than here in Blighty...I hope!

 

Don't tempt me ! .... ...and I know some pretty good places in the Ardennes, too...

Still, we shall expect a fully illustrated and detailed Action Report on your return !

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some decent weather
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Thanks, but I'll still be taking some wet weather gear along with me.

 

My wife's favourite summing-up of the Ardennes is the phrase 'Dripping Trees'.....

 

Confucious say "Dripping trees do not phase a man on a mission".

 

have a good trip jagdpanther 44

 

I'm jealous.

 

Just returned from my Bastogne/Hurtgen trip. Didn't get to all the places I had planned...so that means I'll have to make another trip there next year.

First stop was Bastogne. This place has been on my 'to visit' list for some time, so I was really looking forward to seeing the area.

This is the forest just outside Bastogne where the 101st Airborne were dug in prior to their successful attack and capture of the german held village of Foy.


One of the many US foxhole that litter the forest


The monument to the US soldiers who lost their lives in the battle

 

great pictures John......did you have a closer look into that foxhole?

 

thanks for pics,john,very nice,hope you had a good trip too?ray..

 

Great photos. Wish I was in Europe this fall.

 

Sure did, Andy!
The whole area had been explored and dug for relics by many people before me so there wasn't much to find apart from lots of shrapnel and a piece of field phone wire leading out of a foxhole.

Thanks, Ray.
The trip was excellent as was the weather...apart from one one night and part of the following day, in the Hurtgen forest, when a heavy thunder storm moved in and left the place well and truly drenched.

The rain gave our tent the ultimate water proof test...which it passed with flying colours !

Martin's wife was right...'dripping trees' abounded the places for hours after.

This was the eerie scene (on a road leading in to the forest) of moisture evaporating after the storm had passed.

 

good stuff.....ah, still better then nothing

again nice pics and thanks for sharing!

 

Nice pics, please post more (if you have)

Thanks

 

hope I get some good pics of interest too john,as i'm off to sicicly mon the 7th..ray..

 

Have a fantastic time, Ray.

I'm currently trying to try convince my wife that Crete would be a wonderful place for a holiday, next summer. I've yet to tell her that there are also WW2 related places to visit on the island.

Happy to oblige.

This is the US memorial which is situated on the outskirts of Bastogne. A spiral staircase leads up on to its roof to give visitors a panoramic view of the surrounding area.




This M4 Sherman sits in the town square in the centre of Bastogne. The tank was knocked out in the nearby village of Renuamont on 2nd January 1945 (note the shell hole in the side armour above the tracks).


There were children (and me!) climbing all over it.