AIRBORNE MEMORIAL 'MARKET GARDEN'

Photos ©Ruud Leeuw (2025)

I took this photo from my driveway, made me realize I left it a bit too late at 10:15...

We met with blocked roads, had to circumvent Ede, were perplexed by the signs but only came across more blocked roads
in Ede. We were advised to go to shuttle busses but were misdirected, other traffic wardens could not advise us of directions
because they weren't from Ede and did not know the way... By accident we saw two shuttle busses exit a parking lot...
It was c.11:15 when the bus dropped us off, it had taken 1hr30 to reach the place I had in mind for a 30 mins. drive!

The 'Ginkelse Heide' is the dropzone; masses of people were lining the DZ, quite a long walk to the ceremonial area.

I had understood from online sources that there would be a large parking area at the 'Jufrouw Tok' restaurant. NO SUCH THING.
I came away with the distinct feeling that accommodating the crowds had definitely run away from Ede's city council.

The ceremonial area, speeches and tributes.

'Ede Airborne'

The Harmonie Ede and the Pegasus Pipes & Drums provided the music program during the memorial.

We commemorate Operation Market Garden, the bombing of Ede, and the air landings in 1944..
Actually, when the clouds moved in, I had less trouble with my 'contre-jour' photography

All these foreign military air transports were also participating in NATO's 'Falcon Leap'.

The Spanish AF CASA C. 295

The Polish AF CASA C. 295

Heavily cropped but you get the picture (pun intended!)

X

A long walk back to base after the jump and packaging his parachute

And out they go jumping from the doors on either side

The last run, going for an exiting exit over the waiting lines at the shuttle busses, going back to base.
The event was aborted c.15:30 for approaching thunderstorms, people were asked to leave; the free fall drops were cancelled.

Not to be outdone, 46-42 of the Aeronautica Militare / Italian Air Force

X

On one of the lanyards I read 'Leeming', there's a RAF base there I know of. So that must be a British crew

You can see the crowds lining the dropzone a long way away.. The VIP tents is where the Memoria services were held

Crowds lining the dropzone, two hours later the weather would turn, raindrops started to fall around lunchtime

It was 81 years ago this week that men of the 1st Allied Airborne Corps were tasked to secure the main canal and river crossings
between Eindhoven and Arnhem in Operation MARKET GARDEN. The 1st British Airborne Division, which included the 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 10th, 11th and 156th battalions of The Parachute Regiment under the command of Major General Roy Urquhart, was dropped
near Arnhem to seize the road bridge over the Neder Rijn.
Of the more than 10,000 men of all ranks that landed, fewer than 3,000 got out...

Ceremony in progress

Local tv present: Gelderland TV.

Scouts

Just a few days before this event the Dutch military who had completed their training received their red berets too.

There was a mobile screen where people could watch the ceremonies, avoiding crowds

I was too rushed for time to seriously look for merchandise, maybe next time!

Red Berets from Toulouse.
Elite Forces: In many countries, red (or maroon) berets are worn by paratroopers, airborne units, or special forces.
Example: The British Parachute Regiment wears maroon berets. U.S. Airborne forces also wear maroon berets.

Saving the best for last..? Thanks for this, not all military were so accommodating (fear for being identified abroad?)