One third of the Polish troops landed two days later, on September 23rd, near Overasselt, just behind the city of Nijmegen. They arrived in Driel on the 24th.

Historical and recent images combined: Polish paratroopers near Overasselt in September 1944 along with a present-day photo of Driel

Major General Sosabowski in full gear before departure from England, near the Dakota’s that would bring the Poles to Driel.

Polish Paratrooper leaves a Dakota during an exercise.

CAAerial photograph Driel from 1944; (1) Catholic church (location of the Information Centre) (2) Boys’ school/Field hospital, (3) Headquarters, (4) Driel ferryPPP

On September 21st 1944, this area formed ‘Dropzone K’ (DZ K). The surroundings of Driel at that time mainly consisted out of fields and orchards. At 17:15, around 1000 paratroopers of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade jumped out of the 73 Dakota-transport planes of the American air force and landed on these fields.

Landing sites – then fields and orchards

Photos