The sequel to 'Tugs and gliders to Arnhem' was published in 2004: 'Green On!', subtitled:
' A Detailed Study of the British Parachute Resupply Sorties During Operation 'Market Garden' 18-25 September 1944'.
The author holds a small stock of this title.
There will be no more reprints and the present stock of this title is diminishing fast.
If you are interested in acquiring a copy of this book contact the author.
About the book:
In September 1944, the largest airborne operation ever, took place over and on Dutch territory: Operation ‘Market Garden’.
The scope of “Green On..!..” concentrates on the involvement of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Army Service Corps ‘Air Despatchers’ and their parachute re-supply sorties, flown during Operation ‘Market’.
The RAF provided the flying expertise to bring the RASC air despatchers to their ordered re-supply drop points and the air despatchers were tasked to swiftly drop their panniers over the DZ in the shortest possible time.
Both depended on the other; none could do his job without the other. In order to get the supplies where they were needed most, both trades did their utmost to supply the airborne troops which had jumped or landed by glider behind the enemy lines.
Between 18 and 25 September 1944, Stirlings and Dakotas of Nos. 38 and 46 Group flew 628 re-supply sorties to the ‘Arnhem/Oosterbeek area’. Of these, 89 aircraft did not return to base, most of these crashed or belly-landed in enemy-occupied territory and many of their aircrew, flying personnel and air despatchers alike, paid the ultimate price. With the help of Dutch people and their resistance movement, many RAF and RASC air crew (and sometimes a ‘passenger’) were able to escape and evade capture. Others had to endure captivity in a German prisoner of war camp. Their stories will be told in this book.
Extensive research has brought to light that many authors have reproduced ‘statistics’ without properly checking the data behind these statistics. The author’s findings on the ‘retrieval percentage’ show that the ground troops were able to collect more re-supply tonnage than previously indicated. Nevertheless, the saddening fact remains that most of the re-supply goods still fell into enemy hands. The reasons for this have been elaborately described in this book.
In addition to this the author has tried to shed light on the aspect of ‘Air Support’.
An often read remark in books on Operation ‘Market Garden’ is that “Air Support was poor”..
This was certainly not the case. Given the circumstances the ‘little friends’ of the US 8th Army Air Force, Air Defence of Great Britain, and 2nd Tactical Air Force did their utmost to bomb and strafe the German troops in the path of the air armadas and to provide the lumbering transport aircraft with sufficient escort and area cover. As “Green On..!..” will show, the German Air Force was able to penetrate the protective fighter screen on one single day only. However, when able to hit back, the German Luftwaffe hit back hard…
Lieutenant-Colonel Michael St.J. Packe, the Commanding Officer RASC of the 1 Airborne Division, who had landed by glider west of Arnhem, witnessed the re-supply drops from below and he described his feelings as follows:
“My most poignant memory will always be the time I spent watching the supply aircraft coming over and dropping their containers on an area not under our control….
They were met by a screen of flak, and it was awe-inspiring to see them fly straight into it, straight into a flaming hell.
We thought that some would not face it and would jettison their cargoes, in which case we should get them, for they would fall short and therefore in our lines; but they all stuck to their course and went on, nor did they hesitate”.
This book is dedicated to the brave men of the Allied Air Forces and to the Air Despatchers from the Royal Army Service Corps. During Operation ‘Market’, 151 RAF crew, 80 Air Despatchers and 2 passengers, paid the ultimate price. “We Will Remember Them”.
The author in C-47 'Dakota' / #42-100882 / 'Drag 'Em Oot'. This C-47 participated in para drops and resupply flights during Operation 'Market Garden' in September 1944.
This picture was at the Royal Netherlands Air Force Soesterberg air base. Shortly after this photograph was taken the author and his son Jeroen participated in a commemorative flight over the Arnhem-Oosterbeek CWGC Airborne Cemetery.
At the time when this photograph was taken the aircraft was still owned by friend 'Paddy' Green, who has since regrettably passed away.
Pilot Peter Kuijpers (in the left hand seat) flying 'Drag 'Em Oot' while his co-pilot navigates by map and Garmin GPS. (Author's collection).
Flying over historic grounds. The former Divisional HQ of 1st Airborne Division in September 1944.
Now the Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein' at Oosterbeek. (Authors collection).
Reviews 'Green On!'
Those who read Arie-Jan van Hees’ book “Tugs and gliders to Arnhem” will find “Green On!” another beautifully produced and quite extraordinarily well researched book on a subject not attempted by any other author as a tour de force such as this work is. It measures 12” x 8 1/4”, has 379 pages, 600 photos, diagrams etc. and a 16 page index containing 1,300 names.
This is a book which is required by any reader of the Battle of Arnhem. RAF tug and re-supply pilots as well Glider Pilots will find new and fascinating information on themselves and their planes. There are airfield maps, routes and targets of re-supply and the author has discovered a huge collection of unpublished photos of Arnhem and Oosterbeek during and immediately after the battle, as well as innumerable wreckage, and forced landings of aircraft, particularly Stirlings, Dakotas and the fighter planes involved on both sides.
8.900 containers were loaded with Stirlings, 628 sorties were completed, with 89 aircraft failing to return and a detailed list of all 232 aircrew and dispatchers, who were killed in their attempt to relieve by supply the men of Arnhem.
Lieutenant-Colonel M. St.J. Packe, Commanding Officer of the RASC describes the re-supply drops by the RAF: “They were met by a screen of flak and it was awe-inspiring to see them fly straight into it”.
“The Eagle”, the Magazine of the Glider Pilot Regimental Association. April 2005.
Dear Mr. van Hees, I believe you have produced a work of considerable scholarship, which will be referenced for many years to come. Thank you once again for the dedication you have shown in researching and publishing an aspect of my Corps’ history.
Colonel G.E. Vaughan, Secretary of the Institution of the Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport. RHQ Royal Logistics Corps, Camberley, Surrey
Employing production values that would put many ‘full-time’ publishers to shame, Arie has produced a labour of love.
His first book was the quite exceptional “Tugs and Gliders to Arnhem” in 2000 and readers may remember the news feature we carried recently on his discovery of a substantial piece of a Short Stirling fuselage in the Netherlands, having been used as a shed for 59 years.
The sub-title says it all: “A detailed survey of the British parachute re-supply sorties during Operation Market Garden, September 18-25, 1944. A brilliant piece of work.
Flypast, Britain’s Top-Selling Aviation Monthly, December 2004, page 52.
I must offer my congratulations for an astounding publication, so painstakingly researched and beautifully produced. It really is a quite brilliant piece of work, and surely, along with “Tugs and Gliders to Arnhem” must become one of the standard reference books for Operation Market Garden. I think every Market Garden Veteran should have a copy by his bedside. Well done Arie-Jan !
Stan Webster (ex Flight Sergeant 48 Squadron RAF) who flew C-47's during 'Market Garden'
I have read the whole book with much interest and have found the intense detail and plentiful statistics thrilling and most absorbing.
At last, the part played by the R.A.F. and the Army despatchers in the last phases of the Arnhem battle, which had been sadly neglected in previous books, has been fleshed out and fully documented. The task you undertook was monumental but you should be very proud of the book which must surely be regarded as the ‘bible’ of British parachute resupply activities at Arnhem.
Mr. Gordon Frost (ex Flight Sergeant 570 Squadron RAF)
This meticulously researched book of almost 400 pages contains literally hundreds of photographs of aircraft, crews and despatchers involved in the supply and re/supply missions to Arnhem. It tells the whole story of every mission flown, includes many air photographs of the area and includes many personal accounts of soldiers and airmen involved.
This beautifully produced book supplements the excellent “Tugs and Gliders to Arnhem”, by the same author which received wide acclaim. It is readable, excellent and authentic; it must not be missed by any student of the Market-Garden operation and it will bring back many memories of those who took part in, or observed from the ground, the heroic efforts of aircrews and despatchers to supply the troops in action below.
Arnhem Veterans Club Newsletter, June 2005