Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Battle of Arnhem - “Whose son and heir decided to drop us this far away?”

Elements of the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron, fresh off their LZ (landing zone) at Renkum Heath, encounter initial German resistance in Wolfezen, approximately seven kilometers west of their objective, the main road bridge of Arnhem. Their battle cry, "Bash on Reece!" The German troops they were engaging were elements of the 16th SS Panzer Grenadier and Depot Battalion (Krafft). Obviously in combat the troops would not be bunched up like this, but it's a "photo op". For those with detailed knowledge I apologize for the inaccurate armament (three Vickers .303 cal K Guns vs the actual single front mount) on the lead reconnaissance jeep. It is of interest that their commanding officer, Maj C.F.H. "Freddie" Gough, had strongly argued to increase the armament to at least a twin front mounting. The configuration of jeep shown, with three K Guns, was used very effectively by the Special Air Service Regiment in Sicily and Italy, too bad it couldn't have been used at Arnhem. (Enlarge the photograph by clicking on it.)


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