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By Joseph S. Covais
On September 17, 1944, a massive but hastily planned airborne invasion of the Netherlands was launched. Codenamed Market-Garden, the operation called for three Allied airborne divisions (British 1st and American 82nd and 101st) to land along a narrow corridor reaching from advanced positions along the Dutch-Belgian border to a bridgehead on the northern bank of the Rhine River at Arnhem.
It was a bold move and would yield tremendous results as long as everything unfolded just right. But Arnhem was about 70 miles behind German lines, and that was farther into enemy-occupied territory than any large-scale airborne drop that had been attempted up to that time. Nonetheless, as it was conceived by British Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery, the plan could immediately place American and British forces within striking distance of the German industrial heartland.
As the world now knows, things did not go as planned. Unbeknownst to the Allied command, two rehabilitated SS divisions, along with a strong contingent of German paratroopers, were coincidently in the vicinity, refitting close to the Allied drop zones, making resistance was far greater than the operation’s planners were expecting.
Moreover, the British armored column that was tasked with racing through the two American airborne divisions to join the British paratroopers at Arnhem proceeded cautiously, fell far behind schedule, and left its countrymen beleaguered on the north bank of the Rhine.
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4 thoughts on “The Guns of Finger Ridge: Airborne Artillery on the Defense in Market-Garden”
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4 thoughts on “The Guns of Finger Ridge: Airborne Artillery on the Defense in Market-Garden”
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Nice article, in general, interesting insight into small unit actions and the value of leadership.
It needs correction with regards to the flame thrower. Compressed nitrogen is the propellant not the “burning agent” which was usually some sort of thickened gasoline. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammenwerfer_35. If you are going to go into that much detail on a weapon at least look it up on line and get it right.
Additionally the 20 mm fire was likely high because the Americans were above the enemy, properly positioned near the military crest of the hill. As the Germans approached they had to shoot at higher angles causing the fire to be high. If the Germans had possessed a few mortars they could have wrinkled out the Americans in short order.
Never found out where there officers were.
I know this story is not about glider pilots but the rank and full names of the Glider Airborne is listed on the photo “Flak Happy” and only the name Marks is listed. I thought it would also be appropriate to list the rank and full name of the Glider Pilot, who got the members of the 319th Communications Section, that were in his glider, down safely. The glider pilot was Flight Officer William Marks with the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, 316th Troop Carrier Group. In his intelligence report given on his return on 28th of September, he reported that their take-off time was 1135 on 18 Sept. and they were over the LZ at 1440.
They encountered heavy fire during landing and 88mm cannon after landing along with heavy small arms fire. Their landing location was 5 deg. 57 min 30 sec E / 51 deg. 47 min N. In the report he continues to list his actions on the front line and that they were strafed by flights of about 8 ME 109s and FW 190s in morning and afternoon of the 19, 20, 21. His only complaint was that he could have used an airborne bed roll.
Kind Regards
National WWII Glider Pilots
Dear Patricia,
After seeing this article again, I felt it necessary to comment via a reply: Here it is.
RE: 1. SOURCING REQUIRED – – The image of “Flak Happy” is the PROPERTY OF (then) Flight Officer William Marks who served our Nation for 33 years 10 months 15 Days, retiring from USAFR at rank of Major, and NOW MINE. There is another image with the troop NOT aiming his weapon over the head of his fellow Warrior. 3. Private Englander wrote F/O Marks a letter to update him on the progress this unit accomplished and requested COPIES of the photo taken by F/O MARKS that morning.
RE: NAMES of troops: 1. THAT morning before takeoff, F/O Marks scribed the names/addresses/NoK with the promise to write each when he returned to Cottesmore AFB that he’d landed them safely. 2. 1984 I USED that list to trace down four of the seven troops whom F/O Marks flew in on 18 September 1944. 3. There is more to this story than depicted in this article. THE LIST, as written by Marks: “First Sgt. Rosenwasser” & “CPL Ernest W. Osborne” & Johnnie S. Moore” & SGT> Jarret A. Fury” & Pvt. D. Vassill” & Cpl Ed Ryan” & “PFC S. Englander (Seymour)” There is nothing like an original document, written THAT DAY, for accurate information.
RE: “glider pilot Marks” is my FATHER. 1. The original tow pilot communicated to Marks the C-47 was experiencing engine malfunction and would have to pull out. Marks got out of the glider, approached the Flight Line OIC and “demanded” another Tug. 1st Sgt. Rosenwasser instructed Cpl Ed Ryan to ” …follow the pilot and make sure nothign bad happened.” QUOTE from Cpl. Ed Ryan.
RE: Photos – Marks carried his own camera and requested 1st Sgt Rosenwasser to snap photos of the FLIGHT OVER to LZ – T. There was an exchange of conversation between Marks and Rosenwasser that I have in my files; Once Marks “cut off” to land, he and Livingston make a sweeping turn OVER the German border to land; The German Army was dug in at the tree line so unloading took the Troops and Glider Pilots to fight back and then the lull appeared and the gliders were unloaded. There are also images of unloading the gliders and Testimony of those who WERE THERE, including the German Army Ambush on 24 September 1944 of the Glider Pilot’s Evacuation Convoy requiring Marks to go up front with his buddy F/O William Rufus Livingston joining the Brits to fight off the onslaught of the German Army. Marks and Livingston were pressed into Forward Observer Duty to measure the German Army movements; they were moving their self propelled 88’s to do more damage to the convoy, Three Shermans were called in from the 44th RTR, upon arrival they were taken OUT by the 88’s.
QUESTION: How many Officer Pilots, 1. Wore a Steel Pot (combat helmet), or carried a THOMPSON? Marks and Livingston did and they used them.
I’ve a photo of Marks and Livingston and McRae (landed in the next wave a few days later) in FULL BATTLE DRESS, Marks and Livingston with their THOMPSONS and McRae with his M-1 Carbine. BATTLE DIARY: Marks kept a battle diary of his and Livingston’s 10 Days of Ground Infantry Combat Duty before they were evacuated. Marks and Livingston were the LAST Glider Pilots to return to Cottesmore AFB.
SO when the Glider Pilots are NOT given credit for being on the Front Lines, then shame on those who write these kinds of articles.
AN APOLOGY would be a good start.
I’ve STOOD on LZ – T, (Twice with two visits to England and the Continent) with the GPs who landed LZ-T and on LZ-N with ground troops and fought along side those very same troops because General Gavin’s MTOE was at 65 %. I’ve 36 years of Interviews, both written by me and on film, with these great guys, The Greatest Generation and WARRIORS themselves.
Later, in Operation Varsity (aka Burp Gun Corner), based on the requirement that Operation Market Garden Glider Pilots were used in Ground Infantry Combat Duty, VARSITY troops were given approximately 30 days of combat training.
I’m also told that Combat Photographers were not deployed on Market Garden because it was deemed too dangerous. I believe that to be true.
Greg Marks – Son of William Marks, WW II Veteran and Officer Pilot and member of World War II Glider Pilot Association (now Committee).
LAPD Policeman 3 + 1 Senior Lead Officer (retired) “There is no such thing as a ROUTINE radio call or Traffic Stop”: member American Legion (Mine Honor and Life both grow in One, THEREFORE Death Before Dishonor is not an option.)