Airfield on Landingzone-W:
During operation Market Garden thousands of airborne troops of the 101st Airborne Division landed on the fields just north
of the Son forest. To carry heavy equipment into the battle, the airborne division used gliders. Gliders were packed with
all sorts of equipment like jeeps, supplies, weapons, ammunition, artillery and field hospitals. Not to forget that gliders could
also carry 13 glider soldiers.
During operation Market Garden thousands of airborne troops of the 101st Airborne Division landed on the fields just north
of the Son forest. To carry heavy equipment into the battle, the airborne division used gliders. Gliders were packed with
all sorts of equipment like jeeps, supplies, weapons, ammunition, artillery and field hospitals. Not to forget that gliders could
also carry 13 glider soldiers.
The US army used the Waco CG-4 glider designed by the Waco Aircraft Company. The glider
was made from fabric covered plywood attached to a metal frame and was towed into battle
by a C-47 transport plane. The Waco was crewed by a pilot and a co-pilot.
In September 1944 the 1st Allied Airborne Army used over 1700 gliders to deliver the troops
on the landingzones. 732 gliders landed in the fields at Son. The army wanted to
reuse those gliders and had to think of a way to bring them back to England, loaded again
and flown into battle once more. The American 878th Engineers battalion was meant to
land at Son by Hamilcar on the 19th, bringing in bulldozers, cranes and other heavy earth
moving material. As far as I know the glider flight was postponed.
No idea, who actually worked on the airfield, as far as I know, it was an improvised group of
men with a technical background.
Just behind the Paulushoef farm, which is located in the middle of Landingzone-W,
the engineers build a temporary airfield. Around 100 to 150 men worked on the airfield to
collect gliders, repair them, make them ready for flight and fly them back to England.
Below you see pictures of the airfield and the glider reclamation in Son.
by a C-
In September 1944 the 1st Allied Airborne Army used over 1700 gliders to deliver the troops
on the landingzones. 732 gliders landed in the fields at Son. The army wanted to
reuse those gliders and had to think of a way to bring them back to England, loaded again
and flown into battle once more. The American 878th Engineers battalion was meant to
land at Son by Hamilcar on the 19th, bringing in bulldozers, cranes and other heavy earth
moving material. As far as I know the glider flight was postponed.
No idea, who actually worked on the airfield, as far as I know, it was an improvised group of
men with a technical background.
Just behind the Paulushoef farm, which is located in the middle of Landingzone-
collect gliders, repair them, make them ready for flight and fly them back to England.
Below you see pictures of the airfield and the glider reclamation in Son.
Photo: Glidermen of the 81st AA battalion preparing a
glider for Market Garden.
glider for Market Garden.
Photo: Top, Gliders being pushed and towed towards the airfield. Bottom left, accident on the airfield. A tow rope snapped and launched back into
the cockpit. (Stanley Haller) Bottom right: Personnel taking a glider apart. Usefull parts were salvaged to use on gliders that could be repaired.
the cockpit. (Stanley Haller) Bottom right: Personnel taking a glider apart. Usefull parts were salvaged to use on gliders that could be repaired.
Photo: overview pictures of collected gliders on Landingzone-W (US Archives)
Photo: Left, C-47’s ready to taxi towards the airstrip. (US archives) Photo: Right, C-47 with a glider attached taking off towards England.
Wan van Overveld who lived in the Paulushoef farm remembers the muddy state of the fields in October. He said the Americans filled up
the drainage ditches to create the airstrip, leaving the water on top of the fields. (Donald D. Martin)
the drainage ditches to create the airstrip, leaving the water on top of the fields. (Donald D. Martin)
