Stories

A Story of Three Nations

Men of the 1st Parachute Battalion at Barkston Heath, 17 September 1944

Men of the 1st Parachute Battalion at Barkston Heath, 17 September 1944. (Paradata/Airborne Assault Museum)

Historical overview

To Arnhem from South Kesteven
Discover how units of the British 1st Airborne Division lived and trained in South Kesteven before flying to Arnhem in September 1944.
United Kingdom
American troops in Grantham

American military uniforms became a familiar sight in Grantham

Historical overview

American Forces changed Local Life
Explore the impact on South Kesteven of thousands of US troops who lived and worked here during World War II.
United States
Marching Para's (Polish)
Historical overview

Polish Forces called Stamford Home
Learn about the Polish Airborne troops who lived and trained in Stamford and its surroundings during World War II.
Poland

ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN

Airborne troops patrol on Oosterbeek

23 September 1944: a patrol of paratroopers moves through the ruins of Oosterbeek. (Paradata/Airborne Assault Museum)

ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN

British 1st Airborne Division
A historical overview of the British 1st Airborne Division.
as

The 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, symbolised determination. Flying from Saltby and Spanhoe, they landed near Arnhem to support Allied forces. Despite delays and heavy losses, their bravery and loyalty left an enduring legacy tied to Lincolnshire's wartime contributions.

ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN

1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade
A brief history of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade.
US paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division at Saltby airfield just before D-Day

Paratroopers of the US 82nd Airborne Division help each other prepare their parachutes and equipment for D-Day at Saltby airfield, June 1944. (US Army)

ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN

US Airborne Forces in the East Midlands, 1943-45
A short survey of the US Airborne Forces in the East Midlands, 1943-45.
Lieutenant Colonel Joel Crouch and his crew

Lieutenant Colonel Joel Crouch with his D-Day crew. Standing L to R: Nav - Capt William Culp; Pilot - Lt Col Joel L Crouch; Radio - Cpl Harold E Coonrod; Co-pilot - Capt Vito S Pedone. Kneeling L to R: Surgeon - Capt Edward E Cannon; Crew Chief Edward F. Laurendeau. (via Steve Pedone)

ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN

US Pathfinders spearheaded Assault on D-Day
D-Day, 6 June 1944: discover how US Airborne Pathfinders based in South Kesteven led the way in the US Airborne assault on Normandy.
Pathfinders of the 82nd Airborne Division with their aircraft at North Witham

North Witham, 5 June 1944: Pathfinders of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and aircrew of the C-47 that would fly them to Normandy just hours later. (US Army photo, public domain)

ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN

US Airborne Pathfinders in World War II
Explore the development of the US Airborne Pathfinders in World War II.

Operations

Map showing the amphibious and airborne routes planned for the Allied forces on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

Map showing the amphibious and airborne routes planned for the Allied forces on Operation NEPTUNE, 6 June 1944. (US Army, public domain)

Operations

NEPTUNE (D-Day)
The role Allied Airborne Forces played in the assault on Normandy on 6 June 1944.
Map showing the Allied advances from Normandy to the German border

The Allies pursue the enemy to the German border, 26 August-10 September 1944. (US Army Official History)

Operations

MARKET GARDEN
Operation MARKET GARDEN: a daring Allied airborne assault in 1944, joining British, US and Polish Airborne forces with Allied ground forces in a bold push through the Netherlands. Explore the story behind one of World War II’s most ambitious missions.
Terrain map of Norway-Sweden-Finland

Norway is an extremely rugged country, with a coastline stretching nearly 18,000 miles (nearly 29,000 km). (Wikimedia Commons)

Operations

DOOMSDAY
Operation DOOMSDAY, May 1945: British Airborne troops landed in Norway to oversee the peaceful surrender of German forces and restore order. Uncover the final operation of the British 1st Airborne Division.
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany from June 1945

Allied Occupation Zones in Germany from June 1945. (US Military Academy, public domain)

Operations

ECLIPSE
Operation ECLIPSE: the British and US missions to avoid accidental clashes between the Western Allies and Soviet forces as their armies converged in Germany.
In Denmark, British paratroopers landed from South Kesteven, putting British 'boots on the ground' to disarm the remaining German occupation forces and to dissuade the Soviet Army from occupying the country.
Explore the mission that helped shaped post-war Europe.

Training

British paratroops walking across a dropzone after a training jump

British paratroops walking across a dropzone after a training jump. (Critical Past Film 65675058877)

Training

1st Airborne Battle Training
The British 1st Airborne Division returned to the UK in December 1943 from combat in the Mediterranean theatre. Its home would be in Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.
Discover how the Division spent the following months on intensive training until it landed at Arnhem in September 1944.
Paratroopers take cover in woodland

(IWM D 68514)

Training

Exercises in South Kesteven
Follow some of the exercises carried out by men of the 1st Airborne Division in 1944.
Paratroopers take a short break while on a route march near Grantham

Men of 3 Platoon, 'A' Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, on a route march near Grantham, just before Operation MARKET GARDEN. (Via Bob Hilton)

Training

Route Marches in South Kesteven
Follow in the footsteps of the British 1st Airborne Division as its men slogged along roads in South Kesteven in 1944 to keep fit, strong and agile.

All Stories (alphabetical order)

89 Field Security Section in May 1944

Members of 89 Field Security Section, 1944:
Back Row, L-R: Cpls D Zucker, E Zitman, M Hanet, A Maybury and PD Scarr.
Middle Row, L-R: Cpls MN Edwards, R Gray, R Smyth, AJ Gorrie, R Foster, B Gately and J Linden.
Front Row, L-R: Sgts T Chambers and A Ramage, WO2 T Armstrong, Capt. JE Killick, L/Cpl F Eley, Sgts R Syme and R Pinquet. (Airborne Assault Museum)

Story

Airborne Spies: 89 Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps
The role, organization and people of 89 Field Security Section, Intelligence Corps, in the British 1st Airborne Division.
United Kingdom
Historical overview
Biography
Group photo of the 21st Independent Parachute Company

21st Independent Parachute Company (Pegasus Archive)

Story

Jewish Refugees serving as 1st Airborne Division Pathfinders

The men of the 21st Independent Parachute Company were the Pathfinders of the 1st Airborne Division. They were an elite, highly specialized group, whose role was to drop on the planned landing zones before the main Airborne force, mark out the zones using electronic beacons, lights and high-visibility panels, and guide in the main force.
United Kingdom
Historical overview
Biography

Other Resources

as

Image: British airborne forces preparing to leave for Arnhem from RAF Barkston Heath

Useful Online Resources

Airborne History & Museums on the Internet
Various links to useful websites to take your journey further.
as
Useful Online Resources

Airborne Videos and Articles on the Internet
Useful links to online videos and stories from the Internet.