The population of Oisterwijk was 8400 in 1944. Now a days its 26000. For my next article in a local magazine I need some additional information about the 326th. Can you tell me if the 326th assignment was to help build the baily bridge in Son? I red in Don Burgetts book that they helped with the building of the bridge but were they suppose to when they left England on the 18th during Market Garden? I also red in don’s book that the Combat Engineers of the 326th were assigned to other tasks.
peter
"Think not only upon there passing...Remember the GLORY of their spirit"
somebody quots G Thuringens studie on Groesbeek Market-Garden in a send email to me this evening. He wrote: 1 McCann, Noel C. Pilot 1e.Lt. Nr. T122016 Norwood OHIO 2 Hiltunen, R.J. 1e.Lt. Nr. 1103214 Margraten K - 6 - 16 3 Lemay, Robert J. Tec./ 5 Nr. 36239073 Margraten L - 9 - 11 4 Carson, Raymond L. Driver / Pte. Nr. 36176352 Margraten M - 19 - 1 5 Unknouw unknown Farmers?
unknown as farmers: was it a killed Oisterwijker it would have been known. could "unknown"it be an interpreter ore secret agent just as in another glider with the Dutch Klaas Luitwieler, Commando Sergeant and interpreter from the Irene Brigade. Peter
"Think not only upon there passing...Remember the GLORY of their spirit"
Peter, From all I know only four were in the Queen City. I never heard of anyone else and I believe that would have put the glider overweight, not that that didn't happen. Maybe it was a stranger from the area who happened to be going by?
Peter, Getting back to the 326th Airborne Engineers. The Engineers fought most of the time with other units. On D-Day a platoon each of Charlie Company landed with the 501st, 502nd and 506th PIRs. Their mission was mainly to blow up any bridges to stop a German counter attack. Remember they were the demolition experts so they could built things but also knew how to destroy them. A few Engineers landed by glider along with a mini bulldozer which was to be used to clear the landing zones of Rommel asparagus(poles placed to cripple gliders). The rest laned by troopship. In Operation Market Garden, Charlie Company had one platoon lland with the 506th, while 2 landed with the 502nd. One platoon of Baker and Able each landed with the 501st. Their job was to build bridges if necessary but again they ended up fighting as infantrymen which they did alot. Their other tasks were to lay mine fields, place trip flares, build defensive systems- a number of things. In Bastogne, the 326th fought as a complete unit and had their own sector in the southern defensive zone of Bastogne. As you may know they not only were the first unit in Bastogne but also the first unit to meet Patton's tanks. In Bastogne they also suffered their heaviest losses due the fact they deployed as infantry. Many of my father's friends were killed there which bothered him because he wasn't there. My Dad's main company was Baker which saw 35 men killed and 60 wounded or captured of the orginial 99, the most of the 326th. Anymore information I willl try to get for you.
Peter, A few years ago I talked with glider pilot George Anderson of Herkimer, NY, who was Noel McCann's best friend. He was being towed by Captain Tiedemann who issued the missing pilots report. From all of my accounts, the C-47 Dakota, flown by Lt. Maynard, that was towing the Queen City returned to England. Remember they would have to release the tow line of the doomed glider to prevent their plane from being dragged down.
I was a bit confused by a 3rd eyewitness who phoned me about my story in the newspaper. He apparently saw the whole thing happening before his eyes. I have made an appointment with him after my holyday so in about 3-4 weeks. Until now he has told me being a boy of 14 years old he saw that the Dakota got hit and releasing his towline and making a left turn, apparently he is under the impression the Dakota crashed after releasing his towline in a little village not far from Oisterwijk called Biesthoutakker. I have posted this earlier on your forum (Near Huize Assisie an other Dakota with damaged engines crash landed) page 1 in the queen city discussion. When I asked him whether the tow line was released by the glider he said no it went down with the glider still attached over the full length. I asked him if it was falling like a leave on a tree as published in the book and he said no I saw the wing got shot of and the glider went strait down. He was not on the location of the crash site until after a few days when the glider was still there. He didn’t know what happened with the glider after those few days. Also he sais to remember seeing the jeep used by the Germans near the leather company.
So Doug I thought about the following, Could you make some kind of list of questions you would like me to ask him? Maybe some specific details about glider ore tow plane. What ever it is just put it on your list and email it to me. Then I will see what I can ad to your list of questions my self so no questions are forgotten.
Peter.
"Think not only upon there passing...Remember the GLORY of their spirit"
also a victom of the german flak in oisterwijk, here they talk about a 20mm flak gun!!probably flak 38 2cm. you can see some clips on youtube on flak 38 2cm and 20mm flak 38
Peter, Great photos. What's the story with the lawn in some of the pictures? When I was there four years ago, the lawn seemed to be perfect as it was with the cemetry in Normandy.
On my visit they were mowing the lawn. Due to the sun burning on the fresh gras after mowing it was brown collored,but that will go away after a while they told me. And at the looks of it they were doing a great job,doing it in a pattern way to make it look beautiful. It has to be a lot of work keeping these little monuments in top chape for future years to come.
Peter
"Think not only upon there passing...Remember the GLORY of their spirit"
Peter, Years ago when I was talking with the great granddaughter of Flight/Officer Noel McCann, she said he was a pilot in the invasion of Southern France in August 1944. I could ask glider expert Charles Day as he may have documentation on that. Their were two American glider pilots who flew five combat missions, Sicily, Normandy, Southern France, Bastogne and Germany.
That invasion is operation dragoon on 15 August between Toulon and Cannes, Southern France. I ones read that included in the invasion was the glider-carried 887th Airborne Engineer Aviation Company, which holds the distinction of being the only Airborne Engineer Aviation unit in the European Theater to carry out the mission for which it was trained – conducting a combat glider landing with engineer equipment.
Peter
"Think not only upon there passing...Remember the GLORY of their spirit"
Peter, Just recieved an e mail from glider expert, Charles Day. He said that F/O McCann was on his first mission. He also stated that McCann ended up in a different squadron than he was assigned. Remember Operation Market-Garden had a shortage of qualified pilots so there were many gaps to be filled.