Narrative of the Operation - Corridor Made Firm

The 22 September cutting of the road axis by the enemy showed the wisdom of the Allied policy, begun about that time and continued in the succeeding days, of widening the corridor from the bottom. Units of the VIII Corps were fed in behind the XXX Corps and began pushing out the shoulders on either side. The 101st Division came under the command of the VIII Corps on 24 September, and was moved farther up to protect the sides of the corridor above Veghel. Another enemy counterattack was started on the evening of 23 September from the direction of Erp on the east toward Veghel, but was repulsed. By the next noon Erp was reported cleared of the enemy.

At this time the Royal Netherlands Brigade came into the Allied order of battle and was assigned to hold the line near Grave. Farther up, the 82d had succeeded in pushing its front line eastward to include all the bend of the Waal, but the enemy still held positions close to Nijmegen on the southeast. On the morning of the 24th, the 82d had the distinction of being the first airborne unit to enter a town on German soil, the village of Beek.

In the crucial areas north and south of the Neder Rijn west of Arnhem, Allied forces were waging a desperate struggle to link up. Approximately 360 Polish troops, who had parachuted on 21 and 23 September, crossed the river the night of the 23d, but were able to take with them only such ammunition and supplies as they could carry on their backs. Ferrying by daylight was impossible, since German artillery had the crossing under fire. To the south of the Polish Brigade there was a firm link with troops of the 130th Brigade, 43d Division, which had pressed around Elst to the west and approached the banks of the river.

On the far shore of the river the battered elements of the 1st Airborne Division still remaining were grimly holding out. Their perimeter had been further compressed, but they were heartened by strong supporting artillery fire from the southern bank and by the hope that succor was near.

D plus 7 to D plus 8.--Again on 24 September weather stringently limited air operations. Rain and low cloud prevailed over Britain in the morning and over the battle area in the afternoon. Only the most essential missions were carried out. Four Dakotas of 46 Group (RAF) based in Belgium took off to drop supplies west of Arnhem. Two did not drop their cargoes and the two which did saw no ground signals in the drop zone. All four were damaged by flak. Seventeen Dakotas based in Belgium resupplied the 82d Division. Fifteen dropped their bundles, and two landed on the strip which had been prepared west of Grave. Thirty-six Spitfires furnished uneventful cover.

Second TAF also endeavored to aid the 1st Airborne Division, sending offensive patrols into the Arnhem region at intervals. A special group of 22 Typhoons equipped with rockets performed a close cooperation mission, and ground reports indicated they were effective against enemy mortars and infantry.

During the night of 24-25 September small elements of the 130th Brigade crossed the Neder Rijn in boats and, together with about 400 Polish troops already on the far side, joined in the defense of the perimeter held by the 1st Airborne Division. During the day the German Air Force strafed the troops. A decision was reached on the morning of the 25th that the position north of the Neder Rijn was untenable in the face of such formidable supply and reinforcement difficulties. Plans were made to withdraw the troops of the 1st Airborne Division that night under the protection of the newly arrived fresh forces. Below the Neder Rijn the situation was improving as more troops got across the Nijmegen bridge. Elst had finally been taken late in the afternoon of 24 September and the corridor had been considerably widened to the west.

By morning of the 25th the 82d had consolidated its positions in the bend of the Waal to the east and was pushing back the enemy southeast of Nijmegen.

The supply road from the south was attacked for the third time in the late afternoon of 24 September. This time the thrust, which was in some strength, came from the west. Not only was the road cut between Veghel and St. Oedenrode, but the enemy managed to maintain his position astride the road for 36 hours. There was no traffic at all on the highway on 25 September.

D plus 8 to D plus 9.--Although the weather on 25 September was more generally favorable than on the preceding day, there wre showers with cloud bases 1,000 to 2,000 feet over teh Channel and the Holland area. Thirty-four American planes were dispatched on resupply missions to the 101st Division. There were no aircraft abortive and none lost. Escort, 60 Spitfires of ADGB, suffered no losses and made no claims.

In 2 missions 2d TAF came to the aid of the troops near Arnhem. Seven Typhoons strafed enemy guns and troops around the defense perimeter, while 53 Mitchells and 21 Bostons bombed guns and mortars. A good concentration was achieved and a blockhouse was knocked out. Escort was flown by 96 Spitfires and Mustangs of ADGB. These formations were attacked by 12 FW 190's, part of a force of about 100 enemy aircraft in the neighborhood. Apparently the other aircraft in the enemy formations were bombers attacking the Nijmegen bridge, since some 40 were reported by the ground forces to have dropped on that target. The bridge, although hit by 1 bomb, remained passable. From the ensuing combats between the opposing air forces, 2 Mitchells, 1 Boston, and 2 fighters were lost, and claims against the enemy were 16 aircraft destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, and 19 damaged.