A Bridge Too Far

[HighlandSniper58]

There are now two Bridges over the Rhine at Arnhem. The Bridge is now names John Frost Brug for obvious reasons, can anyone name the other bridge?

What was the name of the nearbye Luftwaffe night-fighter base, still in use by the RNLAF for air landing excercises?

[Derrick Stephenson]

Hi Highland Sniper, are we talking of the Deelen Air Base, and the Nijmegen Bridge?
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

Yes to Deelen, negative to Nijmegen. The bridge i'm looking for runs almost parallel (sp?) to The John Frost Brug

[Zofo]

Joe's Bridge?

[HighlandSniper58]

No - the name is totally irellevant to Op. Market Garden.

[HighlandSniper58]

Clue - named after someone who lived on an offshore island named after a small bird, much against his will.

[HighlandSniper58]

ANSWER

The Nelson Mandela Brug

[Zofo]

No - the name is totally irellevant to Op. Market Garden.

I see what you mean now about being irrelevant :roll:

[Frisco-Kid]

Zofo- When you guessed "Joe's Bridge," were you referring to PFC Joe E. Mann?

[Zofo]

Hi,
This is the info I came up with - I'd just heard of the place but Highland Sniper is the chap to ask I guess.


"The bridge became known as 'Joe's Bridge', probably after Lt-Col Vandeleur, but also possibly because a troop of 615th Field Squadron RE was known as 'Joe's Troop' - and it was they who made the bridge secure".

Cheers,
Zofo

[Zofo]

I've posted a pic I found regarding the name of the bridge - probably find it under places if mr webmaster doesn't shift it!

[HighlandSniper58]

AFAIK, "Joe's Bridge" was the start-off point for XXX Corps in the advance toward Arnhem via Graves and Nijmegen, I'm not 100% certain, but "Joe's Bridge" may in fact be in Belgium.

[Zofo]

Joe's Bridge

"This is the spot where Operation Market-Garden really began. On the evening of 10 September 1944 a combined force of the Irish Guards Infantry under Lt Col J.O.E. Vandeleur rushed the bridge. Twenty minutes later a troop of tanks went speeding over it securing the start line for the operation one week later".

As far as I can find out it seems to be in Holland - the original name was "De Groote".

[Frisco-Kid]

Thanks, guys. The reason I asked was because there was a 101st Abn. Div. paratrooper that was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor, our nations highest award for valor, for his actions at a bridge in Holland. This was at the town of Best, Holland, and I understand that the town named a park after him. Thought maybe they did the same with the bridge.

PFC JOE E. MANN
Company H, 502 Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division

His citation reads:

"He distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. On 18 September 1944, in the vicinity of Best, Holland, his platoon, attempting to seize the bridge across the Wilhelmina Canal, was surrounded and isolated by an enemy force greatly superior in personnel and firepower. Acting as lead scout, PFC Mann boldly crept to within rocket-launcher range of an enemy artillary position and in the face of heavy enemy fire, destroyed an 88mm gun and ammunition dump. Completely disregarding the great danger involved, he remained in his exposed position, and with his M-1 rifle, killed the enemy one by one until he was wounded four times. Taken to a covered position, he insisted on returning to a forward position to stand guard during the night. On the following morning the enemy launched a concerted attack and advanced to within a few yards of the position, throwing hand grenades as they approached. One of these landed within a few feet of PFC Mann. Unable to raise his hands, which were bandaged to his body, he yelled "grenade" and threw his body over the grenade, and as it exploded, died. His outstanding gallantry above and beyond the call of duty and his magnificent conduct were an everlasting inspiration to his comrades for whom he gave his life."