A Story of Three Nations
Men of the 1st Parachute Battalion at Barkston Heath, 17 September 1944. (Paradata/Airborne Assault Museum)
To Arnhem from South Kesteven
American military uniforms became a familiar sight in Grantham
American Forces changed Local Life
Polish Forces called Stamford Home
ALLIED AIRBORNE UNITS IN SOUTH KESTEVEN
23 September 1944: a patrol of paratroopers moves through the ruins of Oosterbeek. (Paradata/Airborne Assault Museum)
British 1st Airborne Division
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.
1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade
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)
US Airborne Forces in the East Midlands, 1943-45
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)
US Pathfinders spearheaded Assault on D-Day
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)
US Airborne Pathfinders in World War II
Operations
Map showing the amphibious and airborne routes planned for the Allied forces on Operation NEPTUNE, 6 June 1944. (US Army, public domain)
NEPTUNE (D-Day)
The Allies pursue the enemy to the German border, 26 August-10 September 1944. (US Army Official History)
MARKET GARDEN
Norway is an extremely rugged country, with a coastline stretching nearly 18,000 miles (nearly 29,000 km). (Wikimedia Commons)
DOOMSDAY
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany from June 1945. (US Military Academy, public domain)
ECLIPSE
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. (Critical Past Film 65675058877)
1st Airborne Battle Training
Discover how the Division spent the following months on intensive training until it landed at Arnhem in September 1944.
(IWM D 68514)
Exercises in South Kesteven
Men of 3 Platoon, 'A' Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, on a route march near Grantham, just before Operation MARKET GARDEN. (Via Bob Hilton)
Route Marches in South Kesteven
All Stories (alphabetical order)
Crowds celebrate liberation in the Copenhagen town square. (Jørgen Nielsen, via Picryl, public domain)
Operation ECLIPSE
Crowds celebrate liberation in the Copenhagen town square. (Jørgen Nielsen, via Picryl, public domain)
Operation ECLIPSE
Crowds in Copenhagen celebrate the liberation of Denmark in May 1945.
(Nationalmuseet - National Museum of Denmark, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
VE-Day eclipsed by Airborne missions
Crowds in Copenhagen celebrate the liberation of Denmark in May 1945.
(Nationalmuseet - National Museum of Denmark, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
VE-Day eclipsed by Airborne missions
Other Resources
Image: British airborne forces preparing to leave for Arnhem from RAF Barkston Heath
Airborne History & Museums on the Internet
