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C-130 Hercules News

ANG commemorate 70th Anniv. of Market Garden in the Netherlands

September 18, 2014 (by MSgt. Charles Delano) - A total of four C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia ANG and 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky ANG dropped a mix of 360 U.S., British, Dutch and Polish paratroopers over fields near Groesbeek, Netherlands, to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden.

A total of four C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the 165th AW, Georgia ANG and 123rd AW, Kentucky ANG dropped a mix of 360 U.S., British, Dutch and Polish paratroopers over fields near Groesbeek, Netherlands, to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden. The site referred to as Drop Zone Tango has not been used for static line jumps since September 1944. [ANG photo by MSgt. Charles Delano]

"It is our privilege to provide the airborne portion of this commemoration,” said Lt. Col. Chris Davis, 165th Airlift Wing mission commander. “It is our wish that every World War II veteran, past and present be honored by this reenactment and to thank the ‘Greatest Generation’ for their acts of valor.”

Among the jumpers were four Georgia Air National Guard JTACs from the 165ASOS and six Georgia Army National Guard soldiers from the 3-108 CAV who jumped as part of a reenactment of the September 1944 airborne assault by the 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers on Drop Zone Tango which has not been static line jumped since the original assault on September 1944.

“It was a great experience to jump with the British, Dutch and Polish paratroopers on a drop zone that had not been jumped since the DZ was active in 1944,” said Maj. Roger Brooks, 165ASOS JTAC. “After the jump, I was honored by the reception of the town mayor and local citizens. They were thankful for the liberation of the Netherlands by allied forces.”

Airmen and aircraft from the 165AW, GAANG also provided air support for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, June 2014.


Courtesy of 165th Airlift Wing

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