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Vrienden van het Airborne Museum
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK
Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ Oosterbeek, Netherlands
Representative in Great Britain: Mr.A.Maynard, M.B.E.
Glenfarg Road, Catford, London SE 6 1XN
Tel.: Ol.698.8969
NEWS-LETTER No. 9- February I983
Editor: Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil Dutch-English translation: S.G.Beek-Hobart

Dear Friends,
As we approach the Annual General Meeting, which is to take place in March, this would seem to be an appropriate moment to clarify the relationship between the Airborne Museum and our Society. It is apparent from various conversations and questions, that many are not adequately aware of the difference between the “Stichting Airborne Museum” (Airborne Museum Foundation) and the “Vereniging Vrienden van het Airborne Museum” (Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek).
The Foundation came into being in order to help keep up the Airborne Museum. The Foundation’s Committee manages the Museum and determines the way in which the internal and external matters and activities are to be run.
The Society’s activities are particularly directed towards encouraging interest in the Airborne Museum and the giving of assistance and support to the Airborne Museum Founda¬tion, when possible and desirable, It must be emphasised that the Society is not involved in the management or organisation of the Airborne Museum.

Through our Adviser, Major W.J.M.Duyts, who is also Secretary of the Foundation’s Committee, contact is maintained with both of the Committees.
Between the Committees of the Foundation and the Society there is a bond of friendship, but nevertheless each one functions independently and has its own responsibility. As a friend, our Society may give advice, make suggestions and, if necessary, offer material or personal help. As a friend, the Foundation’s Committee can either accept or reject our suggestions, offers etc. in part or in their entirety. The reverse of course also applies. I hope that this clarifies all doubts on the subject. I look forward to meeting you all at the

Annual General Meeting. Drs.J.Smits, Chairman.
The Third. Annual General Meeting of Members which will take place on the 12th March, 1983.
We have pleasure in inviting you to the Third Annual General Meeting of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum, which will take place on Saturday, 12th March, at 2 p.m. in the Concert Hall opposite the Old Church on the Benedendorpsweg in Oosterbeek.
The Agenda for the afternoon is as follows:
1. Opening of the Meeting
2. Minutes of the 2nd Annual General Meeting of 20th March, 1982
3. Annual Report 1982
4. Financial Report 1982 and Budget for 1983
5. Election of new Committee members
6. Appointment of members of the Cash Committee
7. Any further business
8. Members retiring from the Committee
9. Closing of the Meeting.

With respect to No. 5: According to the Resignation Roster, Mrs.J.Smit-Duchateau and Mr.J.A.Eykelhoff are to resign their positions; Mrs.J.Smit-Duchateau is not available for re-election.
The Committee presents the following candidates:
a. Mr.J.A.Eykelhoff
b. Mr.C.van Roekel, Benedendorpsweg 119, Oosterbeek. numbers and
According to Article 8 of the Statutes, candidates can be presen e y writing,
Committee. Candidates presented by the members should follow this p o .
at least 10 days before the Meeting, delivered to the afore-mentione r , , 0
Secretary of the Society. This should be accompanied by the signatures o a members. The candidates must themselves be members of the Society, they mus and they must also supply a written agreement with respect to their candi acy. Half-an-hour before the Meeting commences, the report of the Cash Committee will be available for perusal.

The film entitled “Airdrop at Arnhem” will be shown after the Annual General Meeting on the 12th March.
The commentary of this American documentary film, which takes about half-an-hour, is given by the well-known American C.B.S. reporter, Walter Cronkite. As a young war¬correspondent in September 1944, Cronkite covered the landings of the 101st American Airborne Division near Eindhoven.

Annual Report for 1982.
The number of members of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek greatly increased in 1982. On the 31st December, I982, the Society had 483 members both at home and abroad (374 last year).
The Second Annual General Meeting on the 20th March 1982 was attended by 99 members, including Mr.A.Maynard, M.B.E., who is our representative in Great Britain. For an ex¬tensive report of this Meeting, please see Newsletter No. 6, June 1982.
Four News-Letters were sent to the members in 1982 in both Dutch and English. The English translations were done by Mrs.S.G.Beek-Hobart (3 issues) and Mr.A.Groeneweg (1 issue).
Two Special Afternoons were organised on the 26th June and the 20th November respectively. On the 26th June, Messrs. Groeneweg, Van Roekel and Voskuil organised a walk through Oosterbeek, giving special attention to some of the places where heavy fighting took place during September, 1944, On the 20th November, Mr.W.Boersma gave a talk about the radio communications during the Battle of Arnhem, followed by two films.
Both afternoons were very well-attended with 120 and 160 members respectively.

The death of Mr.P. Ch.Schi jf.
We have been informed of the death of Mr.P.Ch.Schijf of Arnhem. Mr.Schijf was a member of our Society.

A new photo-book about the war-battered villages of the Southern Veluwe.
In August 1980, a photo-book was published entitled, “Oosterbeek Verwoest, 1944-1945” (“Oosterbeek Destroyed”) compiled by G.H.Maassen. One can see from the photographs how enormous the devastation was in Oosterbeek, where the major part of the Battle of Arnhem took place. But also the other nearby villages suffered heavily, and there are also photographs in existence showing this. Some of these photos have been bundled together and now form a new book, compiled by G.H.Maassen, entitled “Vier geschonden dorpen, Doorwerth/Heveadorp, Heelsum, Renkum, Wolfheze in 1945” (Four Devastated Villages in 1945 – Doorwerth/Heveadorp, Heelsum, Renkum, Wolfheze)(freely translated (S.B.-H.) and not yet in English).
The damage to these villages and neighbouring countryside was mainly a result of the Allied bombardments of the German line of defence situated on the Southern Veluwe The looting and senseless destruction of houses and buildings also contributed towards the cheerless scene in 1945- The photographs ate described with great care, and not onlv are the locations given with as much exactitude as possible, but other points of when relevant, are also mentioned. F 1 lnreresib
“Vier Geschonden Dorpen” is published by “Hoog en Laag B.V.”, Oosterbeek And f 17.-. The book is also available at the Airborne Museum.

ASSETS BALANCE as of 3ist December, 1982 (DOWNLOAD letter)
f 16.199,67 f 16.199,67

BUDGET 1983
DEBITS CREDITS
f 8.900,—

A new edition of Frost’s book. “A Drop Too Many”.
In 1980 John Frost’s book, “A Drop Too Many” was published, describing his experiences during the Second World War. Now a second and supplementary edition has been published. When war broke out Frost was in Iraq. When he returned to England, he became a para¬trooper. He became’widely known in February 19^2 when he successfully led a parachute attack on a radar station near Bruneval situated on the French coast.
In September 19^2 Frost as Commander of the 2nd Battalion of Paratroopers, took part in the first major airborne operation in Northern Africa. Afterwards, Frost’s 2nd
Battalion ‘became part of the airborne troops who landed on the Italian island of Sicily in July 1943. A period of training then followed in England.
On the 17th September, 1944, together with his Second Battalion, Frost parachuted down onto the fields nearby Wolfheze. On that same evening, he and his men arrived at the traffic-bridge in Arnhem. On the next day, he led the defence of the small bridge-head around the northern ramp against the German attacks. And there was no relief from either the Second Army or the remainder of the First British Airborne Division.
Frost was wounded on Wednesday, 20th September, and was taken a prisoner-of-war. He returned to England after the Liberation, and this is where the first edition of his book finishes.
In the second edition, Frost has added a few chapters about the post-war period, the annual Commemorations in Arnhem and the filming of Ryan’s book, “A Bridge Too Far”, in which he acted as adviser.
In the final chapter, which he calls “Last Thoughts”, Frost considers some of the mis¬takes which to his idea were part and parcel of the failure of the Battle of Arnhem. Although Frost’s book is of course primarily his personal story, it can nevertheless be also considered as an historical version of the 2nd Battalion Paratroopers during the war years. This second edition, published in 1982 by Buchan & Enright, London, costs f 48.- in the Netherlands,

Hartenstein’s safe opened after forty years.
On Saturday, 30th October of last year, in the cellars of Hartenstein, the steel door of the safe was finally opened after an operation which took over twelve hours.
The door had not been opened for about forty years because the key was lost at the beginning of the war.
During the war, the Germans had tried to open the steel door with explosives, but this had failed, only leaving the door and the steel rabbet out of alignment. They then hacked a hole in the side wall of the safe, after which the steel inner plate could be removed. This space allowed them to rifle the safe.
In October of last year, this same space was again used in order to get into the safe. Wim van der Hoogen, a lock-specialist from Arnhem, had to saw – standing in the safe itself – the fire-proof inner door open in order to reach the lock mechanism. But even when this mechanism had been released, the door still refused to budge because it was completely jammed in the rabbet.
Wim van der Hoogen, Martijn Toebosch of the firm Van Amerongen in Arnhem and Berry de Reus spent many hours using high-pressure apparatus trying to get the door open, which eventually gave way after a great deal of labour.
The safe-door will novi be repaired and given a new lock. The safe has been completely cleaned up and will in future be used for keeping the archives.

Colonel Geoffrey Powell’s book about “Operation Market Garden” which is in preparation.
Colonel Geoffrey Powell (Retired) is busy collecting material for a new book about “Operation Market Garden”, Powell has already visited the Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek and gone through various reports and photographs. He has also visited Nijmegen and Eindhoven.
In September, 1944, Powell was Company-Commander of the “C” Company of the 156th Para¬troopers Battalion, who parachuted onto the Ginkel Heath on the 18th September, 1944, and consequently took part in the fighting in Oosterbeek.
Using the pseudonym of “Tom Angus”, he published “Men at Arnhem” in 1976. The Dutch translation appeared in 1979, entitled, “De Helden van Arnhem”, which was published together with the book written by Lipmann Kessel and John St.John entitled “Een Chirurg valt uit de lucht”; these two books were bound as one, entitled “Van de Kernel in de Hel” and published by Omega Boek, Amsterdam.
Powell’s new book about “Market Garden” will be published in 1984.
News-letter No. 10.
The next News-letter will appear in May or June, 1983.
R.P.G.A. Voskuil,

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NEWS-LETTER No. 7. AUGUST 1982
Editor: Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil Dutch-English translation: Drs.A.Groeneweg
Dear Friends,
It is a pleasant thought that our Society is gradually becoming better known. For the first time a delegation of the committee attended a meeting held to coordinate the activities during the Airborne March and the September pilgrimage. The other participants at this meeting were the Renkum Police Sports Association, the Lest We Forget Foundation, the Poland-Driel Committee and the Airborne Museum Foundation. Elsewhere in this News-letter the programme for the September Remembrance Week-end is printed.
Although the time for making preparations is rather short, we are trying to propagate our existence during the Airborne March on the 4th September.
This is what we in fact did when we literally went out in the streets on the 26th June during a walking tour along the western side of the perimeter in Oosterbeek. The interest shown by our members was overwhelming. We counted more than 120 members, from all parts of the country. The enormous attendance, the cooperation of the Trustees, the Director and staff of the Airborne Museum and the oral and visual explanation by Messrs Groeneweg, Van Roekel and Voskuil together with Arnhem-veterans Ken Scott- Phillips and Reg Whotton, all this resulted in a very successful excursion. Many thanks to all concerned!
In view of the many positive reactions the committee considers the possibility of organizing other excursions along the same line. Your suggestions are welcome. Finally we should like to ask those members who took photographs during the tour to present a copy for our archives. The Hon. Secretary will be pleased to receive them. With many thanks for your cooperation,
J.Smits, president.

In Memoriam Henk Aalbers.
On 7th July Mr.H.G.Aalbers of Oosterbeek suddenly died at the age of 64.
From the beginning Henk Aalbers was involved in the annual Airborne Memorial Services. He was deeply interested in everything connected with the Battle of Arnhem and he was an enthusiastic member of our Society.
We convey our sympathy to his wife, children and family.
From the administration.
Perhaps superfluously, members are reminded that the official year of our Society concurs with the calendar year. Cancellations of membership should be received not later than 1st December.
Programme of the 38th Anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem.
The following Programme was received from the Lest We Forget Foundation.
Thursday 16th September: At approx. 20.00 hrs.: Arrival of British and Polish pi g (place of arrival: Town Hall, Oosterbeek).
Friday 17th September: At 18.00 hrs.: Annual General Meeting of the Arnhem Veterans Club, in the Concert Hall, Oosterbeek, followed by the Reunion of the Arnhem e (both Meeting and Reunion for members of the Arnhem Veterans Club only).
Saturday 18th September: At 9.00 hrs.: Assembling at the Town Hall, Arnhem, for wreath laying at the John Frost Memorial. .
At 10.00 hrs.: Official Reception at the Municipality of Arnhem. (Vehicles can be parked in the Market Square opposite the Town Hall). The Reception will end in time to enable the guests to attend
at 12.00 hrs. : the Parachute Descent onto the Ginkel Heath by 10th Bn Parachute Regt. After the Drop, there will be a short Service of Remembrance at the Monument on the Ginkel Heath.
At 15.00 hrs.: Wreath Laying at the Polish Monument at Driel.
At 19-45 hrs.: Tattoo on the Market Square, Oosterbeek.
At 21.00 his.: Social Evening and Dancing for all the British visitors (and their hosts) in the Concert Hall, Oosterbeek.
Sunday 19th September: At 8.30 hrs.: Holy Communion Service, Old Church, Oosterbeek.
At 9.3O hrs.: R.C. Mass, R.C. Church, Utrechtseweg, Oosterbeek.
At 11.00 hrs.: The Memorial Service at the Airborne Cemetery, Oosterbeek.
At 14.00 hrs.: The Boat-trip on the river Rhine, until 17.00 hrs.
Monday 20th September: Departure Times for the British and Polish visitors.

Miniature Horsa Gliders.
A glass case in ons of the ground floor rooms of the Airborne Museum contains three large models of Horsa Gliders.
For a number of years two enthusiastic Dutch model builders, Messrs B.Belonje and A. van Pelt, spent almost all of their spare time collecting data about this type of glider and building the models.
Relatively little information about this type of glider is available. Not a single Horsa has been completely preserved, although some 2000 of them were built during the Second World War. British museums count three cockpits and one incomplete fuselage among their exhibits.
With the help of photographs, drawings and instruction books Messrs Belonje and Van Pelt have succeeded in reconstructing the gliders to the smallest detail. The perspex models are on a scale of 1 : 32. Wooden master copies of the cockpit, fuselage, tail and wings were made. Heated perspex was then pressed around the master pieces. A frame of spars and longerons was then fitted into the models. The interior of the cockpit was constructed according to the Pilot’s Manual. Apart from the instrument panel it contains three compressed air bottles for the air brakes a TR radio, a battery for the lamps and a rack for signal cartridges.
The position of the models in the glass case is not arbitrary but was based on aerial and ground photographs taken on 17th and 19th September 1944-, on the landing zones near Wolfheze. It shows the unloading of three Horsa gliders, carrying men and material of 1st Airlanding Brigade. y
The Horsa with the fixed tail carried troops sitting on opposite benches. On landing, they left the glider through doors aft of the wing.
The tail sections of the other Horsas have been removed. Runners have been slinned out and jeeps, a trailer and a six-pounder anti tank gun are driven out of the gilders.
Here, too, much attention has been given to detail
The words of praise from many visitors to the Muse™, among whom a number of-ex-glider pilots, are proof that the two modellers have delivered work, for which the Airborne Museum owes them sincere gratitude.

The Horsas, built by Belonje and Van Pelt, are hardly distinguishable from the real thing, as the photograph shows. The models were put out in the open and photographed in close up.

(Photograph: B. de Reus)
The Airborne Museum during the September Pilgrimage.
The Museum, which is normally open from 11.00 – 17.00 hours, will be open until 21.00 hrs. on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th September.

The Old Church at Oosterbeek.
The Old Church on the Benedendorpsweg at Oosterbeek is open to visitors from June to October on Tuesday and Thursday from 14,00 – 17.00 hrs.
If you wish to visit the Church at other times, please contact:
the Parish Office, Utrechtseweg 218, Oosterbeek, telephone (085) – 333094 or
Mr. Vergunst, Benedendorpsweg 127, Oosterbeek, telephone (O85) – 333728, or Mr. Van Deventer, Benedendorpsweg 131, Oosterbeek, telephone (O85) – 332122.
Brig, Mackenzie presents Cap Badge.
Brig. Charles Mackenzie, who was GSO I (Ops) to General Urquhart during the Battle of Arnhem, has presented his cap badge to the Airborne Museum. Brig., at that time Lieut- Col. Mackenzie wore the badge of his original regiment, The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, during the September days in 1944.
The badge is on view in the diorama of General Urquhart’s H.Q. in the cellar of the Airborne Museum.
Addition to the Collection of Radio Sets,
Mr. C.W.Weimar of Zeist has presented a number of radio sets from the Second World War. This important collection consists of two British receiver-transmitters^type 19, two receiver-transmitters type 38, an R-109 receiver and a German “Tornister receiver. All sets are complete with spare parts and instruction notes and are in perfect order.
Another gift of a Plasma Set.

In the last News-letter mention was made of the donation of two bottles of blood plasma, complete with tube.
Mr. J. Pol of Arnhem has now presented to the Museum a metal box containing a bottle of dehydrated blood plasma, a bottle of sterilized water and a complete set of tubes. The rubber tubes and the needles are still in their original wrappings.
This important acquisition will also be on display in the diorama of the first aid post in the cellar of the Museum.
Gift for the improvement of the Wheelchair Lift.
The (Dutch) Committee for Summer Postage Stamps has allocated the sum of Dfl. 20.000.- for the improvement of one of the wheelchair lifts of the Museum. The location of the lift at the front of the Museum has proved to be difficult. It has been decided to install a new wheelchair lift at the back of the Museum near to the main entrance.

A New Airborne Museum in Normandy.
The Sixth Airborne Division landed in Normandy during the night of 6th June, 1944, east of Caen. The division formed part of the huge Allied invasion force that initiated the liberation of the Continent of Europe. One of the tasks allotted to the Airborne Division was the capture of some heavily defended concrete fortifications near the village of Merville. The casemats, which presumably enclosed four 150 mm guns, were a serious threat to the British and Canadian troops that would land on the beach west of Ouistreham in the morning of June 6th. 9 Para Bn, commanded by Lieut.Col. Terence Otway, was ordered to destroy the Battery.
The attack, however, was made in quite a different manner than planned. Only 150 men of the 750 parachutists reached their rendez-vous and practically all heavy weapons and equipment were lost.
In spite of these disasters Otway succeeded in capturing the battery. The guns turned out to be of the 75 mm calibre and would have endangered the landings on the beach much less
The story of this operation is told in detail in a new book by John Golley, entitled “The Big Drop”, published by Jane’s Publishing Company, London, at £ 8.95.
Copies were presented to veterans of the 9 Para Bn on 5th June during the opening ceremony of a new museum in one of the big casemats of the battery near Merville. The museum shows the preparations for the battle and the course of the battle.
We hope this new Airborne Museum will get the attention it deserves and that it will soon become a well-visited reminder of this episode of the D-day landings.
The News-letter.
News-letter No. 8 will appear in November.
R.P.G.A.Voskuil.

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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK
Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ Oosterbeek, Netherlands
Representative in Gr.Britain: Mr.A.Maynard, M.B.E. 49, Glenfarg Road, Catford, London SE6 1XN
NEWS-LETTER No.5. Tel.: 01.698.8969 February 1982.
Editor: Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil Dutch-English translation: S.G.Beek-Hobart

Dear Friends,
We have pleasure in inviting you to the 2nd Annual General Membership Meeting of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum, to be held on Saturday, 20th March, at 2 p.m., in the Concert-Hall on the Benedendorpsweg, opposite the Old Church, in Oosterbeek.
The Agenda for the Meeting is as follows:
1. Opening
2. Minutes of the 1st Annual General Meeting, which took place on the 14th February, 1981
3. General Report, I98I
4. Financial Report, I98I, and Budget, 1982
5. Election of new Committee members
6. Appointment of Cash Committee
7. Any other business
8. Departure of resigning Committee members
9. Closure of Meeting.
Explanatory note with reference to No.5: As you will have seen in our previous Newsletter, Mevrouw M.H.Steinweg-ten Horn has resigned from the Committee. Mevrouw S.G.Beek-Hobart and de Heer H. van Krieken will also be vacating their positions on the Committee as of the 20th March, 1982, due to personal reasons. In accordance with Article 8 of the Statutes, both the members as well as the Committee can propose candidates to occupy the positions which are being vacated. Members who intend to propose a candidate should present such candidacy, in written form, at least ten days before the Meeting, to be delivered to the above-mentioned address in Oosterbeek. This recommendation should be accompanied by the signature of at least ten members, and the candidate must be a member of the Society and also be of age. The Committee submits the following candidates (in alphabetical order):
1. de Heer R.Fennema Benedendorpsweg 150, 6862 WP Oosterbeek
2. Mevrouw J.M. de Langen Sportweg 2, Postbus 69, 3870 CB Hoevelaken
3- de Heer J.Smits Boulevard 9> 6881 HN Velp.
Half-an-hour before the Meeting commences, the members may peruse the:
a. Minutes of the 1st Annual General Membership Meeting of the 14th February, I98I;
b. The Report of the Cash Committee (by Messrs. Kardol and Smits).
After the Meeting, a film will be shown (see hereunder).
On behalf of the Committee,
R.P.G.A.Voskuil.

Presentation of the film “De Bevrijding van Nederland” (The Liberation of the Netherlands) which will take place on the 20th March, 1982, immediately after the Annual General Membership Meeting.
After the failure of the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944, the Dutch front in the area around the major rivers became rather still. The southern part of the Netherlands was liberated, but the remainder of the country remained occupied. Finally, at the end of March, 1945, the long-awaited Allied offensive started. The opening attack in the Netherlands was carried out by the First Canadian Army Corps.
Cameramen assigned to the Canadian Army filmed the advance and the
place in and around the various towns in the central, ea April Even
country. There are also a few shots of Arnhem during.the battlerath,e 17th April. : Even the dropping of food-supplies for the starving “Vesting Holland (the German fortified western part of the Netherlands) and the Capitulation. negotiations in Hotel De Wereld in Wageningen have been filmed. We are also able to witness into the western part of the Netherlands and the consequent Liberation festivities which took place. The last part of the film is dedicated to the preliminary efforts at getting the battered country back into some sort of liveable state., and the rounding-up and transportation of the German prisoners-of-war. “De Bevnjding van Nederland ., which has a Dutch commentary, will be shown by Ir. J.Voskuil, who received a copy of this film shortly after the war.

Annual Report for 1981.
The number of members of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum increased sub¬stantially during I98I: to our great satisfaction, as of the 31st December, 1981, we had 374 members both at home and abroad (last year: 234 members).
The 1st Annual General Membership Meeting, held on the 14th February, I98I, was attended by a gratifyingly large number of members: 96 in all, including our representative in Great Britain, Mr.A.Maynard, M.B.E.
Both the Annual and Financial Reports for I98O were approved, without comments, and adopted.
A permanent Committee was chosen to replace the Interim-Committee which was formed when the Society came into being. The permanent Committee chosen was as follows:
de Heer H. van Krieken, Chairman
de Heer J.A.Eykelhoff, Vice-Chairman
Mevrouw S.G.Beek-Hobart, 1st Secretary
Mevrouw M.H.Steinweg-ten Horn, 2nd Secretary x)
de Heer H.A.Hendriks, Treasurer
Mevrouw J.Smit-Duchateau, Membership-Administration
de Heer Drs.R.P.G.A.Voskuil, Editor of Newsletters and Afternoon Topics.
x) To our regret, Mevrouw Steinweg has resigned from her position.
Major W.J.M.Duyts, adviser to the Society on behalf of the Airborne Museum Foundation, assists the Committee in word and deed.
Messrs. J.Kardol and J.Smits were appointed members of the Cash Committee.
The members present showed their interest in the well-being of the Society by the presentation of gifts and by their lively participation in the open discussion at the end of the Meeting, for which the Chairman expressed his appreciation.
The after-noon was rounded off by the presentation of a few authentic films about the Battle of Arnhem shown by de Heer A.Groeneweg, who also gave an accompanying commentary.
Three News-letters were sent out this year, both in English and Dutch.
Two afternoons with a special topic were organised and presented by de Heer Voskuil on the 13th June and the 28th November. De Heer Maassen’s cooperation dn-ring the afternoon with the topic “Verwoest Oosterbeek” (“Oosterbeek in Ruins”) was most appreciated.
With regard to the decision of.the Police Sport Association, Renkum, to refuse a British group permission to join the Airborne Walk accompanied by a couple of old howitzers, a letter was sent to the Board of the Police Sport Association, Renkum, protesting this decision.
On behalf of the Society, a contribution was made towards the “collection” for the purchase of a specially adapted car for Mr. Len Clark.
A British soldier who met with an accident during this period, was also given our attention in the Velp hospital. &
We are most grateful to Mr. A.Maynard, M.B.E., who is of such enormous support with regard to our British members, our thanks are also due to Major Duyts for his help as adviser, as well as to the Airborne Museum Foundation for permittiC us to use the Museum for our Committee meetings. ng u TO use tn
And, above all, thanks go out to our members, both at home and abroad, for their immense interest, their gifts for the Museum collection and their monetary donations which help the Society in one of its objectives, which is “giving support to the Airborne Museum”.
S.G.Beek-Hobart.

News from the Treasurer:
A great number of members have already paid their contributions for 1982 (often with an additional contribution!) for which I am most grateful. May I ask those members who have not yet paid their contribution, to do this as soon as possible. In so doing, will you please state clearly whether you desire an ordinary membership or a Family Card? I shall be much obliged for this cooperation. (This is of course only applicable to members residing within the Netherlands).
I would also like to thank our member, de Heer C.G. de Graaf, an Accountant in Oosterbeek, who has considerably simplified our financial administration by utilising a computer which he has set up for the Society completely free of costs.
H.Hendriks, Treasurer.

The Society now has a Technical Adviser.
In connection with the Society’s audio-visual activities, it has been decided that a Technical Adviser would be most welcome; our member, de Heer W.T.B. de Ruyter has agreed to accept this position.
Exhibition of the Dutch Commando’s activities during Operation “Market Garden”.
An exhibition was opened in the Airborne Museum on the 5th February last, entitled, “The Endeavours of No.2 (Dutch) Troop of the No.10 Allied Commando During Operation “Market Garden”, September, 1944″.
This exhibition, compiled by de Heer W.Boersma, a member of the Committee of the Air¬borne Museum Foundation, attempts to explain, by means of photographs, texts, documents and articles, the role of the Dutch Commando’s during this air-borne landing operation. The period before September, 1944, is also taken into consideration.
During the exhibition-opening, a number of veteran Commando’s were present: Messrs. A.J.P.Beekmeyer, M.J.Knottenbelt and W. de Waard, who represented the Dutch Commandos assigned to Arnhem in September, 1944.
De Heer Boersma has prepared a brochure which tells all about the No.2 (Dutch) Troop; this brochure is available at the exhibition, which will be open to the public until the 14th March, 1982.
A substantial monetary gift for the Airborne Museum Foundation.
The Airborne Museum Foundation has received an amount of f 25.000,— for the purchase of modern audio-visual equipment.
By combining sound, slide-projection and special lighting of the maquette, it is hoped to give a clearer picture of the Battle of Arnhem.
The donated amount is made up of f 3-500,— given by the National Tourist Office, f 10.000,— by the “Comite Zomerzegels” and f 11.500,— by the “Anjerfonds Gelderland”.

The “Oranje-bataljon” (Orange Battalion) during the Battle of Arnhem.On Friday, 30th October of last year, in Hotel Dreyeroord in Oosterbeek, the book written by Charles L.J.J. Douw van der Krap entitled “Contra de Swastika” was presented, in the presence of a large and interested audience. Naval Officer Douw van der Krap describes in his book his experiences during the Second World War. After having fought against the German troops in Rotterdam in May, 1940, he becomes a prisoner-of-war. He recounts the imprisonment camps of Colditz and Stanislau, from which he finally manages to escape after great difficulties, and how he finally arrives in Warsaw. Here he joins up with the Polish Resistance. In August, 1944, he manages to get out of Poland and arrives, by way of Germany, in the Netherlands.
Douw van der Krap finds himself in Arnhem at the beginning of September, 1944, where he once again offers his services to the Resistance Movement. The Commander of the Resistance in Arnhem at that time is Piet de Kruyff, nicknamed “Piet of Arnhem”. Douw van der Krap settles himself in the house of the Deputy-Commander, Toon van Dalen, on the Veerweg in Oosterbeek.
When the Airborne Landing takes place on the 17th September, Douw van der Krap gets in touch with the British troops. At the Hartenstein Headquarters, he meets Lieutenant- Commander Wolters and Lieutenant Knottenbelt, who have been assigned as liaison officers to the Airborne troops. Douw van der Krap is asked to form a small group of volunteers, made up of a number of civilians who had already offered their services to the British. This group, comprising about twenty civilians, became known as the “Oranje-Bataljon”; (one of the members of this group is de Heer Eykelhoff, who is at present the Vice- Chairman of our Society). In an unpretentious way, the Dutch civilians help during the following days in doing reconnaissance as well as gathering together the supplies which have been dropped. Relatively speaking, however, the British do not make much use of their help.
When, on Thursday 21st September, it starts becoming obvious that the operation is not going according to plan, the volunteer-group is disbanded.
After the battle, a somewhat disheartened Douw van der Krap makes his way towards Benne- kom. He accepts an offer by the local Resistance Movement to participate in operation Pegasus I and thereafter, together with a large group of Allied soldiers and a few Dutch, he manages to escape over the Rhine on the night of the 22nd October, 1944. And so, after having travelled around for almost four and a half years, he finally reaches liberated territory.
“Contra de Swastika” is published by Van Holkema & Warendorf in Bussum; the book contains 320 pages and costs f 39,50. This book has not yet been translated.
R.P.G.A.Voskuil.

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SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK
Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ Oosterbeek, Netherlands
Representative in Gr. Britain; Mr. A. Maynard M.B.E., Glenfarg Road, Catford, London SE6 1XN Tel.: 01-698-8969.

FROM THE EDITOR;
Dear Friends,
At the General Membership Meeting which recently took place, you were able to meet our Society’s first definite Committee. Since then, the positions on the Committee have been delegated, with the result that we now have a permanent Editor for the News-letter.
Nevertheless, we have not yet been able to decide on the size of the News-letter and the’ frequency with which it will appear. This is much dependent on the available finances. Until now, the News-letter has been printed, free of charge, by a group with the interests of the Museum at heart. However, it is impossible for this Group to continue the printing work, and we shall therefore have to find another means of printing the News-letter, which will certainly incur costs.
The high postal expenses also limit our possibilities. Nonetheless, our intention is to send three News-letters per year, which will not only contain news about the Society and the Airborne Museum, but also more general information concerning Operation Market Garden.
Discussing newly published books on this subject, is one of many pos-sibilities. And, naturally, any ideas or suggestions from our members are extremely welcome.
J R.P.G.A. Voskuil

NEWS FROM THE SOCIETY;
Information from the Secretariat;
The First General Membership Meeting.
As you well know, our first General Membership Meeting was held on the 1^th February, 1981. The provisional Committee was extremely pleased to welcome 96 members, as well as Mr.A.Maynard M.B.E., our representative iin Great Britain, who had managed to find the time to be present, at his own costs, for which we are most grateful.
The Chairman opened the meeting with a warm welcome to all present. The Annual General Report for 1980 was presented and considered with no further comment. Thereafter, the Annual Financial Report for 1980 was considered, and accepted..
The election of your first definite Committee was noted as No. 4 on the Agenda. The interim-Chairman expressed his gratitude to the members of the provisional Committee who were now resigning, namely Mr.C.G.Klaver and Mr.M.E.Mooy; their contribution in getting the Society onto its feet was most appreciated. Special words of thanks were also given to . Major W.J.M.Duyts for all the support which he gives to our new So¬ciety in so many ways in his capacity of adviser.
The two new candidates for nomination (presented by the provisional Committee) were introduced to the members present, and as there were no further candidates (presented by the members), the Committee was chosen without the need to vote. Since then, the various positions on the Committee have been delegated, and are as follows:
Mr. H.van Krieken – Chairman; Mr. J.A. Eykelhoff
Mrs. S.G.Beek-Hobart – Secretary (1st); Mrs. M.H.Steig
Secretary (2nd); Mr. H.A.Hendriks

Treasurer;Mrs. J. Smit-DucMteau Member; Drs. R.P.G.A. Voskuil – Member.
The Chairman thanked the members present for their con i enc Committee. , _ , Q
Messrs.J.Kardol (Paasberg 17, Oosterbeek) and J.Smits (Boulevard 9, Velp) were nominated for the Cash Committee; in this respective years 1980 and 1981 will be taken into consideration as the Society bad no Cash Committee during its first year of existence.
At this point, the members were asked if there were any questions. This resulted in a most interesting amount of suggestions and ideas, many well-prepared, varying from matters of policy to practical points. In the meantime, these points have been discussed and the respective persons have been, or will be, informed of the results.
During the meeting, the Committee was most pleasantly surprised with a few gifts for the Museum, namely from Mr. Schagen (Zaandam) three books which cannot be found in the bookshops anymore, relating to the “Battle of Arnhem”, and from Mr.Polderman (Zwijndrecht) Royal Artillery. The Chairman expressed his thanks for such generosity. On behalf of the Airborne Museum Foundation, Major Duyts thanked the provisional Committee for their initiative in setting up the Society of Friends, and for the time and attention which has been shown since. He wished the permanent Committee much success, and his words were much applauded by the members.
Finally, the Chairman thanked all the members present for their most enthusiastic participation, which had certainly contributed to the success of the afternoon. After the closing of the meeting, a few authentic films were shown, which the Museum had made available. Together with a number of guests, the members were shown extremely interesting and moving film material, by Drs.A.Groeneweg, who also explained and answered questions.
All in all, a most successful afternoon, which the Society can look back on with much pleasure and satisfaction.

Gifts from our members:
Since our last News-letter, the Society has received a few objects for the Museum. One member, who wishes to remain anonymous, surprised us by presenting six British maps from 1944; he also loaned the Museum a working 62 set (radio transmitter) with the relevant documentation. Yet another member presented a small tin used for water-purifying tablets. These gifts were gratefully accepted and have already found a place in the Museum collection. Maybe you could also see if you have anything which might be of interest to the Museum; documents and photographs are also most welcome.
We have also received a few donations. The Veterans’ Club of the well- known 21st Independent Parachute Company, donated an amount of /500 -. One of our members, Mr.K.G.Prockter, has twice sent us (via Mr.Maynard) an amount collected together by veterans, and another member made a donation in remembrance of Cdr.H.Heukesfeldt Jansen. Such gifts are not only of great financial support, but also a moral support, and the Society is most grateful.

Number of Members:
We now have almost 300 members including some veterans of the 1st Bri-tish Airborne Division, the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade as well as of RAF Squadrons. 6 ’
Should you wish to make any friends members, Information Sheets with Application Form attached, are obtainable in the Museum, or on written request. For members in Great Britain, requests can be made to Mr.A.Maynard M.B.E., 49, Glenfarg Road, Catford, SE6.1XN. London (Tel. d-698-8969).

General Informations
In order to keep postal oxponsos as low as possible, we have had to decide to send only ono copy of tho Nows-letter to each address, even when there are moro Society mombors living at the same address. How-ever, extra copies are always available, and can easily be forwarded on request. .
In this respect, we would also like to inform you that no personal titles will be used on the addressed envelopes simply because, in many cases, this is not known; for this reason, we feel it wiser to decline from mentioning titles which might be incorrect.
The Committee will be very pleased to hear about any new suggestions you might have (the suggestions at the General Membership Meeting gave much “food for thought”). Remember that this is your Society and your interest and contribution towards it, is of great importance.
S.G.Beek-Hobart Secretaries M.H.Steinweg-ten Horn

INFORMATION FROM THE TREASURER:
Mr. C.G. de Graaf, an Accountant living and working in Oosterbeek, has very kindly offered to help (with no financial reward) in the finan¬cial administration of the Society. Much of his assistance includes the use of a computer, and I would therefore ask you to kindly check your name and address, so that they be introduced correctly into the com¬puter system. Any alterations deemed necessary can be sent to me.
May I also remind those members who have not yet paid their contribu-tion for 1980 or 1981, to make the necessary amount over to the Society as soon as possible, for which I am most obliged. A duplicate “accept- giro”card is hereby enclosed for those concerned.
The Society would like to especially thank those members who have con¬tributed more than the minimum amount; such contributions are a great help to the Society.
At this point, I would like to elucidate somewhat on the minimum con-tribution of /15,-, half of which is handed over to the Museum in ac-cordance with our objective: supporting the Museum. The yearly admit-tance card is provided from this amount. It is obvious that with the remainder (/7,5O per member) the Society does not have much leverage.
The Treasurer, H.A. Hendriks

PRESENTATION OF THE FILM, “THEIRS IS THE GLORY”.
At the request of many members, “Theirs is the Glory” will be presented on Saturday, 13th June, at the Concert-hall in Oosterbeek. Most of the shooting of this film about the “Battle of Arnhem” took place in August and September of 19^5 in the same places where the actual fighting had taken place a year previously. Soldiers (of all ranks) who had fought here in September 19^, returned to the former battlefield especially to participate in this film; no professional actors were used.
This British film has no sub-titles.
Before the film presentation begins, Mr. Robert Voskuil will give a brief introduction, and explain how the film came into being. A few slides will also be shown in this introduction.
The presentation starts at 2 p.m. and is only open to members of the Society.

NEWS FROM THE MUSEUM:
British 3 inch Mortar for the Museum.
Last month a long-cherished hope of the Museum Board was fulfilled. The Museum finally came into possession of a British 3 inch Mortar, the type which was frequently used in the “Battle of Arnhem”.
A year ago. Mr. McAnelly from Woatorvoort, informed his contacts i England that the Airborne Museum would be most interested in receiving such a weapon; in February, a positive reply was received from _*’ne Central Ordnance Depot in Donnington, that such a Mortar could be presented to our Museum. Special thanks here are due to Mr.McAnel y, Mr.A.Maynard, M.B.E., Liaison Officer R.M. Captain Langford and the Netherlands Military Attach<5 in London, As far as we know, only the “Koninklijk Nederlands Leger en Wapen Museum (Royal Netherlands Army and Weapon Museum) in Leiden possesses such a British 3 inch Mortar.
The “Ordnance, smooth boro, muzzle loading, 3 inch Mortar”, as official¬ly described, was developed from the 3 inch Mortar which Sir Wilfred Stokes evolved in 1915. The range was originally ca. 1500 metres, but this was improved to 2600 metres (Mark 2). It weighs 66 kilos. High- explosive shells, smoke and light-shells can be fired. The mortars used in Arnhem had a specially modified bottom plate; the bottom plate which is now to be seen in the Museum was found some years ago in the Hartenstein park.
The Mortar was portable in four separate parts. Special carrying equip¬ment was used, and of the 52 such pieces of equipment dropped in Arnhem we do not have one, alas, in the Museum.
For the moment, the Mortar is exhibited in the Museum’s cloak-room, but its final position will be in the cellar. The present show-case will have to be enlarged and adapted so that a sort of garden is crea-ted where the jeep now stands. In this space, the Mortar, with the men operating it, will be reassembled. The Museum is in need of a few additions for this show-case, such as helmets, shoes/boots, packing material for 3 inch mortar-shells (containers and wooden boxes), as well as shop-window dummies, or parts thereof.
W.Boersma.

The Airborne Museum is now accessible to visitors in wheel-chairs; A short time ago, the Municipality of Renkum made an amount of fh-O.OOO,- available for the installation of 3 special wheel-chair lifts. There had been a continual problem that the main-door to the Museum was only reachable by a rather steep staircase. Visitors in wheel-chairs had to be therefore carried inside. The staircase to the first floor was much too steep to carry visitors in this way. For this reason, a wheel-chair lift has been installed at the front of the building, so that wheel-chair visitors can easily reach the ground floor of the Museum. There is a lift inside to the first floor as well as a lift at the back of the building for access to the cellar and the show-cases in the basement.

Increase in visitors to the Museum:
In 1980, 72,702 paying-visitors and 678 non-paying visitors (veterans etc.) came to the Airborne Museum. In 1979, there were 68,636 visitors.
We terminate this News-letter with the hope that you will be able to attend the film presentation on Saturday, 13th June, although we realise that members living outside the Netherlands will problably find this a problem,
And remain,
R.P.G.A. Voskuil
Dutch-English translation: S.G„ Beek-Hobart.

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Utrechtseweg 232, 6862 AZ Oosterbeek

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM

Dear Friends,

At long last, we are able to send you our first News-Letter which we hope will adequately inform you of the Society’s progress, as well as new acquisitions and interesting events concerning the Airborne Museum.

We would also like to thank you for showing such patience during the rather long wait before receiving much sign of life from the Society.

Membership

Including your membership, the Society now has some 192 members, many of whom come from Great Britain.

Visitors to the Museum

We are very pleased to inform you that great interest is being shown in the Airborne Museum – in some ways our Museum – and that up until the 31st October of this year, 68.612 visitors have been to the Museum. Quite a splendid number!

Acquisitions in the Museum

Since last September, the following items have been received by the Board of the Foundation; suffice to say that some of the acquisitions are quite spectacular:

We are very proud to have the uniform of Squadron Leader R.F.S. Cleaver, DSO, DFC, RMWO, Commander of the 570 RAF Squadron, which made daily flights tot Arnhem (in Stirlings) during the Battle of Arnhem.

Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina made Squadron Leader R.F.S. Cleaver a Knight of the “Militaire Willemsorder” 4th Class due to his heroic actions; notwithstanding the fact that on the 12th September, 1944, this RAF pilot was given command of the Squadron and had only made five flights with a Stirling, on the 17th September he flew to Arnhem with a Horsa glider behind his plane, whilst on the 19th, 21st and 23rd September, he dropped food and supplies in the area of Arnhem. On the last day, his plane was shot down and crashed. Miraculously he survived and managed, via Brussels, to escape to England, where he arrived on the 25th September. He then, once again, took over the command of his Squadron. These historic flights are all recorded in his logbook and the Museum is now in possession of a photostat copy of the logbook, generously given to the Museum by Mrs. Cleaver.

Another spectacular acquisition is the original, hand-written war diary of Lieutenant Colonel R. Payton-Reid, DSO., who commanded the 7th (Galloway) Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers during the Battele of Arnhem.

This diary was presented to the Museum by Mrs. Nan Payton-Reid, Lt. Col. Payton-Reid’s widow.

The Museum is also now in possession of its first “set of medals” belonging to an Arnhem veteran. They belong to George Gatland, Regimental Sergeant Major of the 11th Battalion The Parachute Regiment who, as Company Sergeant Major, fought in September 1944. At the last Memorial Service on the 21st September, these medals, earned with “blood, sweat and tears”, were presented to the Museum to be kept in safety and appreciation.

The Museum’s Library has been considerably extended after a most generous financial donation, whilst various smaller interns have also been added tot the collection; these are exhibited in the show-case of new acquisitions in the large Reception Room.

Exhibition of “Veterans of Today” (“Veteranen van Nu”)

From the 29th November to the 25th January, 1981, there will be a Photo Exhibition in the Airborne Museum. This Exhibition has been made possible with the cooperation of Photo Aviation Service, and in this way special attention is given to the great and historical planes, some still flying in Europe, which were so essential during and after the Second World War.

“Veterans of Today” consists of sixty black and white, as well as coulour, photographs and slide-boxes of veteran planes, such as the Boeing B 17, North American B 25 “Mitchell”, Douglas A 26 “Invader”, North American T-6.”Harvard”, Douglas DC-3.”Dakota”, Avro Lancaster, Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane, The Havilland “Tiger Moth”, Fairey “Firefly” and the Junker Ju 52.

Friends of the Society have free admittance to this Exhibition on showing their membership card.

General Meeting

The provisional Committee has pleasure in announcing the First General Meeting in January, 1981. A date has not yet been decided on as, first and foremost, we would like to have an idea of how many members will be present.

The Friends abroad will probably be unable to attend, if only due to pure destance. However, we will send you any further details as soon as they are known. We hope to show an authentic film concerning the Landing in 1944 at the same time as the General Meeting.

We hope that the first News-Letter will be of interest. May we mention that, should you have any suggestions which might improve or assist the Society and its aims, that you write and let them be known.

We remain,

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM OOSTERBEEK.

1. van Krieken
   Chairman.

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