Bayo's Arnhem 80th Anniversary Parachute Jump

Through late summer and into the early days of September 1944, one of the most audacious and heroic operations of World War 2 was nearing its final stages of planning.

Operation Market Garden, up till now, is the largest ever airborne operation.

Forty-one thousand British, Polish and American soldiers took part, with more than 34,000 parachuting or glider landing around the Arnhem (Holland) countryside, behind enemy lines to seize and secure key bridges and terrain.

If the allies could capture the bridge over the Rhine at Arnhem the road to Germany would lay open and thus bring the horrors of World War II to a quicker end. The task of capturing the Rhine Bridge fell to the British 1st Airborne Division.

On 17th September, the airborne divisions landed across multiple landing zones in the Dutch countryside. Fighting was fierce and eventually all the bridges were captured.

The 1st Airborne Division, equipped to hold the Arnhem bridge for 48hrs against regular infantry, held the bridge, with light weaponry, for 72hrs. Without reinforcements the allied forces were eventually overwhelmed by elite and well rested German SS Panzer divisions stationed locally. And thus, one of the most heroic actions of the second world war ended in tragic defeat.

September 17th will mark the 80thanniversary of this action. On September 20th I will conduct the second of my WWII commemorative jumps. I was lucky enough to jump on the 50th Arnhem anniversary along with over 12,000 NATO colleagues and Arnhem veterans and am now humbled to be taking part again 30 years later.

My first commemorative parachute jump (Normandy '80) in June raised almost £12,000.

This second jump into Arnhem on Friday 20th September, will raise much needed funds for Essex based mental health charity Trust Links.

Any help, no matter how small will be appreciated.

Thank you, Bayo

#Remembertheheroes #arnhem #WWII