Friday September 14th
With all participants having arrived safe and sound, Operation Torch 2007 kicked off in the evening with a Welcome Party in WWII-style.
Saturday September 15th
Frits Janssen, our guide for the day, took the group along the highlights in the Nijmegen area where the US 82nd Airborne Division jumped in September 1944. The museum in Groesbeek was on the programme, as was the bridge at Nijmegen and the point of the infamous Waal crossing.
Sunday September 16th
A visit to the dropzone in Son and a small ceremony at the Joe Mann monument started the day. With the 101-men among the participants dashing off for the start of the AIRBORNE 10 MILES in Eindhoven, the rest of the group visited the Liberating Wings museum in Best with our guides for the day Harrie and Christiaan Dijkhuizen.
Monday September 17th
Over coffee at the windmill in Eerde, we met up with Bobby Hunter (501). Erwin Janssen, our guide for the day, did a great job. Bobby and John Primerano (501) added their experiences and stories. In the evening there was the commemmoration ceremony at the 501 monument together with the schoolchildren, the veterans and Robert Purdy once again playing the bagpipes. Bob also made the newspaper next day : http://www.brabantsdagblad.nl/regios/udenveghel/article1896856.ece
Tuesday September 18th
The acting mayor of Eindhoven found time to host all participants for lunch. Mr Don was very receptive of the idea of Operation Torch: building a bridge between past and present. With the 506 flag safe and sound at the city hall, it was time for the annual historic ride into Eindhoven from the Belgium border. From the vehicles the group went into the parade before the torch lighting ceremony. ( click here to see a video of the parade by the Eindhoven Newspaper)
Wednesday September 19th
Onto Margraten to pay our respects. And on to Bastogne where Le Nuts awaited.
Thursday September 20th
Henri Mignon again captivated his audience with his explanations. There was the Bastogne Historical Center to visit and a reception by the acting Mayor of Bastogne in the Mardasson monument. The Mayor was pleasantly surprised by the gifts from the 327th Regiment : the Bastogne Bulldogs! In turn, the Mayor surprised and honored Darvin Lee (506HQ WWII veteran), Joseph Bossi (CSM Ret) and Petra Wenstedt-Pulles (secretary Screaming Eagle of WWII Foundation) with the commemorative coin of Bastogne. There was time to show Darvin Lee around the area where his foxhole must have been in WWII. And after dinner, there was the Irish Car Bomb.
Friday September 21st
Unexpected meetings before departing Bastogne. Another museum. A last lunch at Le Nuts restaurant And a visit to the US cemetery at Henri Chapelle.
Saturday September 22nd
Dropzone Ginkelse Hei - the heath where the 1st British Parachute Regiment was the background to many sceneries. Late in the afternoon we attended the ceremony at the Scottish Engineers Monument at Driel where in the night of 25/26 September 1944 2400 soldiers were rescued by a river crossing of Canadian and British engineers.
Sunday September 23rd
A sunny day, spent among friends on "The Island" - the area between two main rivers in The Netherlands which was the background of heavy fighting in October/November 1944. The Screaming Ducks, in cooperation with the weather, ensured a fine day. There was even time for some off-the-road work with the WWII vehicles which sent license plates and jerry cans flying!
Monday September 24th
Arnhem : a bridge too far. Henk Duinhoven, our guide for today, managed to glue everyone to his lips, telling us the story of the brave British and Polish paratroops who fought coureagously for the bridges of Arnhem. We followed the road John Frost took into Arnhem and closed the day, and the tour, with a great meal at the foot of the famous bridge.
