Sep2014
Photo report start Market Garden Commemorations 2014
Monday the 15th of September at 9:00AM the commemorations of the Battle of Arnhem 2014 started in de province of Gelderland. At that time 70th commemoration flags were hoisted by the King's commissioner mr. Cornielje and mayor of Arnhem mr. Kaiser.
Sep2014
Open Air exhibition ‘Airborne in Ede’
Since early September the lawn outside the town hall in Ede is the venue for an open air museum.
Sep2014
Excavation Halifax DT795
RAF Handley Page Halifax DT795 crashed at Wapenveld (Netherlands) on the 3rd of April 1943. The seven crew members perished. On 8 September 2014 the excavation of the aircraft has started.
Sep2014
68th Airborne March
The Airborne March is the largest one-day march in the world. This commemorative march is held every year on the first Saturday in September to memorialize the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The Airborne March is an hommage to the more than 1.750 British and Polish soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Anhem and who are buried on the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. From the beginning the nett revenues of the Airborne March are used to enable veterans and next of kin with poor means, to come over to The Netherlands and attend the annual Airborne-commemorations in and around Arnhem. As of 2011 other charities are supported, provided that they are in accordance with the ideology of the Airborne March and comply with the policy's rules and regulations.
May2014
Memorial Service Glider Pilot Regiment
On 13 May 2014 there was the annual short memorial service for the Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps at het memorial for the Glider Pilot Regiment 'the Renkum Stone' in the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, England. Two veterans of the GPR were attending.
May2014
Liberation Day Wageningen 5 May 2014
On 5 May the Netherlands celebrate Liberation Day. Wageningen is the place to be. There are a lot of pop concerts. Wageningen is unique because of the annual march of veterans. In 1945 peace with the Germans was signed in Hotel ‘De Wereld’ in Wageningen, so it’s a logical place for such an event. Special guest this year were 160 British veterans of World War Two. The came over to the Netherlands with 80 London taxi’s to join the annual 4&5 May events.
Mar2014
Opening Bastogne War Museum
Tomorrow the completely renewed Bastogne War Museum will open its doors again. The museum is probably better known under its former name: Bastogne Historical Center. Closed since 2011, the museum was originally planned to reopen already in 2013; amongst others this was finally postponed by a fire until March 22nd, 2014. So tomorrow. Your reporter already went to have a preview at the press conference and in the museum. It became soon rather crowded, a lot of press had been attracted. The roads to the museum and the next door Mardasson were completely barred. Even the museum itself was checked for explosives with a tracking dog...
Dec2013
Photo coverage Parade Bastogne 2013
On Sunday December 15th, 2013, again it was the opportunity for the annual parade through the center of Bastogne. After the 'Bastogne Historical Walk', Recogne and Clervaux you will find here the fourth and our most recent report of our Bastogne week end. Of course we were here last year as well, for those who want to look for the differences.
Dec2013
Photo coverage of "The First Hit" 2013
As we were still looking in vain for the re-enactors in Clervaux on Saturday, we found them in masses on Sunday 15 December, 2013, after our visit to Recogne. The event of The First Hit played in Clervaux where the German armored troops, on their way amongst others to Bastogne, ran into the 28th Bloody Bucket Infantry Division. Around the castle many re-enactors were spotted. Many Dutchmen also, so your reporter had enough fun. Many questions about whether we were STIWOT and, we see you everywhere, originating from the fact that coincidentally we were also at Eerde.
Dec2013
Photo coverage of the Battle for Recogne 2013
Just like last year also this year a re-enactment event took place in the area of Recogne and Cobru. On Sunday morning December 15th, 2013, at 08:30 the laying of a wreath ought to take place at the monument at the former American war cemetery. Ought to is the key word here. When your reporter presented himself at 08:15 nobody was present and no one else was to be seen, worse: even at 09:00 still nobody…
Dec2013
Photospecial Bastogne Historic Walk 2013
Saturday december 14, 2013. After your reporter made the trip already yesterday to Bastogne via Beek and La Gleize today was the day for the 36th edition of the Bastogne Historic Walk. This year, though encouraged by a hearty breakfast, your reporter departed in the early hours to the “Centre Sportif” for the start. This year the hikers could select a walk of 6.5 , 15.8 or 23.5 kilometers [ie approximately 4, 9.8 and 14.6 miles]. For each of the distances the sector of Flamierge and Mande Saint-Étienne was its main theme. Of course this is well-known as the meeting point of the 101st Airborne Division and the defense by the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment.
Sep2013
Airborne Commemorations Oosterbeek Cemetery 2013
On Sunday 22 September 2013 the annual service was held on the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek. STIWOT reporter Arjan Vrieze made following photo report:
Sep2013
Airborne Dropping Ginkel Heath 2013
On 21 September 2013 the annual airborne drop was being held on Ginkel Heath near Ede. Hundreds of parachutists dropped from Dakota, Transall and Hercules aircraft. Nice to view for the thousands of visitors. There were around 50 veterans.
Sep2013
Photo report Dropping Renkum 2013
Today there would a dropping of a number of paratroopers on Dropzone X and a gathering of vehicles in downtown Renkum. The dropping was scheduled at 14:15, 'Renkum Rolling' at 15:30. Unfortunately, the dropping was eventually executed at 16:30 'cause of engine trouble to the Dakota, so your reporter had to miss 'Renkum Rolling'.
Jun2013
Photospecial unveiling memorial Halifax W7930
On 22 June, 2013, Saturday afternoon, the unveiling of the memorial for the Handley Page Halifax W7930 YE-W took place in Renswoude. The four engined Halifax bomber was on its way to the Ruhrgebiet during the night of 22 to 23 June 1943 in order to participate in the air battle. The bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire near Soesterberg. South west of Renswoude a fatal skirmish with a German night fighter followed. The aircraft crashed on top of the farm called “de Wetering” (which in English would be called a “Water-course”), which was completely destroyed. All seven aircrew lost their lives. The inhabitants of the farm, the family with the name of Vlastuin, got off with a fright.
Feb2013
Photospecial In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division 2013
On saturday 23 February 2013 your reporter participated in the 31st edition of the march “ In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Divison”. The participants this time followed the traces of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment and of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion. It was cold, many of the forest tracks had become slippery skating rinks and now and then snow came down in the Ardennes. These were the ideal circumstances to experience a little bit the feelings the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division must have had during the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ in the Ardennes.
Dec2012
Photospecial Bastogne Historic Walk 2012
It is 06:30 in the morning and the alarm clock sounds in a hotel in Houffalize. Your reporter wakes in the rainy Ardennes. Today the 35th edition of the “Bastogne Historic Walk” takes place and STIWOT is present in full battle force. It will be the first event from which we will try to send live pictures from our smart phones. And to compose a report later this day back in the hotel with pictures from our cameras. Tomorrow we will leave for Recogne for the re-enactmentevent (DUTCH) and to close the day with a parade in the streets of Bastogne (DUTCH).
Oct2012
Lecture Judy Urquhart
On saturday 13 October 2012 Judy Urquhart gave a lecture about the life of her father General Roy Urquhart. She was invited by the Friends of the Airborne Museum. The titel of the lecture was: The Road to Arnhem. The lecture in the Concert Hall in Oosterbeek turned out to be very popular. Arjan Vrieze took the pictures below.
Sep2012
Arnhem Commemorations 23 september 2012
On sunday morning we went to the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek with Harry Dicken and James Singer. The weather was good. We talked to many people before and after the service.
Sep2012
Arnhem Commemorations 22 september 2012
On 22 september 2012 Arjan Vrieze went to the annual Airborne dropping and commenmoration on Ginkel Heath together with Harry Dicken (10e bataljon) and James Singer.
Sep2012
Arnhem Commemorations 21 september 2012
Today we took Harry Dicken and his grandson James on a tour along the places that had been during the Battle of Arnhem. We started and ended at Ginkel Heath.
Sep2012
Arnhem Commemorations 20 september 2012
Today STIWOT-volunteer Arjan Vrieze went out with his guests Harry Dicken, veteran of the 10th battalion and his grandson James. First we went to the Landing zones S, X and Z. Then to the memorial in Heelsum. The Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek was next.
Sep2012
Photo report Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
On 7 september Arjan Vrieze together with 3 Dutch friends took Arthur 'Alf' Bone to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Alf was war time pilot, flying with the RAF. He first flew Whitleys, then Anti Submarine missions in Wellingtons with Coastal Command. In 1944 converted to the Dakota. With 271 Squadron he flew 3 missions to Arnhem. Between VE-day and VJ-day Alf flew the Dakota in Birma. Al together 1400 flying hours in 3 years time. Alf and Arjan are friends since the 65th commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem in 2009. The history of Alf with RAF is briefly mentioned in the Haynes Manual for the Douglas DC-3 Dakota ISBN978 0 85733 070 3.
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