My father flew three Chowhound missions, the first week of May 45, with the 34th Bomb Group.He often talked about those missions and how they rigged up plywood in the bomb bay that was hinged for the 10 in 1 rations. He got over in January 45 with his crew and they didn't have any missions for him other than the food drops.He later did POW/DP returns and two years flying C-47s out of Tempelhof in Berlin.
@@raymondmcfalone26 The photo at 2:03 is taken in Santpoort-noord, my hometown. It's taken on the 'Rijksweg', the houses at the left site are still there. On the right site is now a highway and a new village called 'Velserbroek' , named after the polder at the time.
My dad is one of the people interviewed. The two Chowhound missions he flew, along with the ferry missions back to France for French POWs, were the highlight of his time there. Thank you!
and we should recognize the British airforce preceded us by a few days, primarily due to low altitude weather was better for them leaving from England, and they provided half the food transport, as well as thanks to the Canadian Army who controlled this zone around Holland.
WOW! Had not seen this. My father was Robert Penovich's Co-Pilot. 390th/570th. That's their plane at 9:49 "Square-J" "X-Ray". So proud of them! Way cool. Thanks for sharing.
Are your parents Robert and Iris? If so, I never met your Dad but I knew Iris quite well from the 390th reunions. You might want to watch Penovich's full interview on TH-cam that I did. Here's the TH-cam link to the Penovich interview: th-cam.com/video/qISgcZsO8cs/w-d-xo.html If the link doesn't work you can just put in "Robert Penovich" in the TH-cam search box. Glad you liked the Chowhound video.
Dear Mr. McFalone I loved your video on Operation Chowhound and am excited to share with you that my great grandfather was part of that operation and was mentioned by one of the men in the video. If at all possible I’d love to chat and learn more about this and connect with anyone who may have known my great grandfather Ted Murphy. Thank you, Liam Christensen
The greatest respect to these men. History from the people who were there it worth a thousand photos or books. Thanks to TH-cam their stories will never be forgotten. Surprised there are so few comments.
My dad was Ralph DiSpirito. He was in the 390th BG, 568th BS. He was a radio operator/waist gunner on a B-17 Maidens Prayer/I'll Be Around. He went on 5 or 6 Chowhound food drops in May 1945. He was never interviewed by anyone but I did help supply some information he gave me for a website on Chowhound/Manna food drops. operationmanna.secondworldwar.nl/chowhound3.php
Just finished reading a novel called Of Windmills & War. It is fictitious except for the history part. The Operation Chowhound comes toward the end of the book. I was truly amazed. I did not know this part of the history. Very touching.
Well done to the American airmen , but lets not over look the fact that the USAAF dropped 4000 tonnes whereas the Royal Air Force dropped 6800 tonnes and started 3 days before the truce was rattified . Also the whole operation was the plan of a RAF officer Andrew Geddes.
Hi James - You're right. Eisenhower appointed Andrew Geddes to design and organize the food drops. It could not have happened without Geddes brilliant leadership. On the first day of the operation, the American bases were socked in with bad weather, which lasted for 3 days. The British bases were clear enough to allow takeoff. The first British aircrew was incredibly brave because, technically, the Germans had not yet signed off on the truce. To the Germans credit, they did not shoot at the plane and allowed the food drop to take place. Of the 7 crew members on that first British plane, 5 were Canadians - I'm a proud Canadian. Thanks for your helpful input.
As you can tell, this mission evoked so much emotion in these men who were so used to dropping death and destruction were now dropping hope and life saving food. Outstanding. I’m tearing up just watching it now. God bless them.
Wonderful video. EXCELLENT. Id heard of this drop back in the 1950s when i was a kid. It had to be a bit worrisome for the bomber crews not knowing what to expect from the German anti aircraft crews. But, in the end, it must have been so rewarding for the bomber crews to be helping feed starving people instead of dropping death on an enemy. Thank you for such a nice video. Wish history was taught as it once was in our public schools.
Thanks. Much appreciated. All of the crew members that I interviewed admitted being nervous on the first drop. But after they realized the Germans weren't going to shoot at them, they settled down. As veteran John Magill said, "it was so satisfying dropping food rather than bombs on people". Again, thanks for the nice feedback.
Its a nice historic twist that the iconic picture of the food drop was taken over Leiden. Leiden was starved to the brink of submission during the Dutch war of independence, Making this second relief of Leiden even sweeter
Those 10 days before the end of the war in Europe were important to the Dutch as every day counted;; after that flights continued but food was quickly provided in larger quantity and to more locations via ships, trains, trucks
German gunners had been defending against low flying Spitfire dive-bombers for months. RAF Fighter Command had sent aircraft over for months to counter the V-1 and V-2 rockets and supply lines. The anti-aircraft gunners were well acquainted with shooting at low fast moving aircraft flying over the Dutch coast-so there was a reason to be nervous.
John Magill, the bombardier, tells the story as if it were only yesterday. His face animates and I swear I’m looking at the boy who dropped food ‘instead of bombs’ as he said. God bless him.
We formed friendships with a lot of the veterans - but John was special. His humanity was right there in his eyes. You can watch his complete interview in my play list - Magill, John B-17 Bombardier Thanks for watching.
One of the pilots, Lloyd Parman of Oklahoma City, just passed away on July 4, 2019. God rest him.
My father flew three Chowhound missions, the first week of May 45, with the 34th Bomb Group.He often talked about those missions and how they rigged up plywood in the bomb bay that was hinged for the 10 in 1 rations. He got over in January 45 with his crew and they didn't have any missions for him other than the food drops.He later did POW/DP returns and two years flying C-47s out of Tempelhof in Berlin.
Thank you Yanks !! Greetings from Holland.
Wonderful to hear from our friends in Holland.
@@raymondmcfalone26 The photo at 2:03 is taken in Santpoort-noord, my hometown. It's taken on the 'Rijksweg', the houses at the left site are still there. On the right site is now a highway and a new village called 'Velserbroek' , named after the polder at the time.
Thank you for filling in some of the details. Much appreciated.
Bedankt VS voor Operatie Chowhound 75 jaar friedom uit Nederland.
My dad is one of the people interviewed. The two Chowhound missions he flew, along with the ferry missions back to France for French POWs, were the highlight of his time there. Thank you!
and we should recognize the British airforce preceded us by a few days, primarily due to low altitude weather was better for them leaving from England, and they provided half the food transport, as well as thanks to the Canadian Army who controlled this zone around Holland.
WOW! Had not seen this. My father was Robert Penovich's Co-Pilot. 390th/570th. That's their plane at 9:49 "Square-J" "X-Ray". So proud of them! Way cool. Thanks for sharing.
Are your parents Robert and Iris? If so, I never met your Dad but I knew Iris quite well from the 390th reunions. You might want to watch Penovich's full interview on TH-cam that I did. Here's the TH-cam link to the Penovich interview: th-cam.com/video/qISgcZsO8cs/w-d-xo.html
If the link doesn't work you can just put in "Robert Penovich" in the TH-cam search box. Glad you liked the Chowhound video.
@@raymondmcfalone26 Yes Mom and Pop. Sorry you didn't get to meet Dad. I'll check out the Penovich interview. Thanks.
Thank you to these brave men. My mom, mother and brother went through the hunger winter and survived. She was from Loosduinen near The Hague.
Toen herinnerde ze zich de V-2's in haar buurt bij Ockenburgh en Bloemendaal.
Dear Mr. McFalone
I loved your video on Operation Chowhound and am excited to share with you that my great grandfather was part of that operation and was mentioned by one of the men in the video. If at all possible I’d love to chat and learn more about this and connect with anyone who may have known my great grandfather Ted Murphy.
Thank you, Liam Christensen
Wow..... Thank you, ,in Jan 1945 my father was Born in Den Haag, The Hague, lettely whitout the dropped aid that little boy didnt servived
The greatest respect to these men. History from the people who were there it worth a thousand photos or books. Thanks to TH-cam their stories will never be forgotten. Surprised there are so few comments.
My dad served in the 390th Bomb Group and his crew flew 6 Chowhound missions dropping food to the starving people of Holland.
Johnny - who was your Dad? I've interviewed over a hundred 390th veterans. Ray
My dad was Ralph DiSpirito. He was in the 390th BG, 568th BS. He was a radio operator/waist gunner on a B-17 Maidens Prayer/I'll Be Around. He went on 5 or 6 Chowhound food drops in May 1945. He was never interviewed by anyone but I did help supply some information he gave me for a website on Chowhound/Manna food drops.
operationmanna.secondworldwar.nl/chowhound3.php
Your dad saved my family, living in Utrecht. THANK YOU!!!
You are very welcome. He was always proud that he was able to help the Dutch people in their time of need. I am glad your family survived....
Just finished reading a novel called Of Windmills & War. It is fictitious except for the history part. The Operation Chowhound comes toward the end of the book. I was truly amazed. I did not know this part of the history. Very touching.
Well done to the American airmen , but lets not over look the fact that the USAAF dropped 4000 tonnes whereas the Royal Air Force dropped 6800 tonnes and started 3 days before the truce was rattified . Also the whole operation was the plan of a RAF officer Andrew Geddes.
Hi James - You're right. Eisenhower appointed Andrew Geddes to design and organize the food drops. It could not have happened without Geddes brilliant leadership. On the first day of the operation, the American bases were socked in with bad weather, which lasted for 3 days. The British bases were clear enough to allow takeoff. The first British aircrew was incredibly brave because, technically, the Germans had not yet signed off on the truce. To the Germans credit, they did not shoot at the plane and allowed the food drop to take place. Of the 7 crew members on that first British plane, 5 were Canadians - I'm a proud Canadian. Thanks for your helpful input.
As you can tell, this mission evoked so much emotion in these men who were so used to dropping death and destruction were now dropping hope and life saving food. Outstanding. I’m tearing up just watching it now. God bless them.
God bless you also Raymond and Sally
You are very welcome and thanks for watching. Raymond
Wonderful video. EXCELLENT.
Id heard of this drop back in the 1950s when i was a kid. It had to be a bit worrisome for the bomber crews not knowing what to expect from the German anti aircraft crews. But, in the end, it must have been so rewarding for the bomber crews to be helping feed starving people instead of dropping death on an enemy.
Thank you for such a nice video.
Wish history was taught as it once was in our public schools.
Thanks. Much appreciated. All of the crew members that I interviewed admitted being nervous on the first drop. But after they realized the Germans weren't going to shoot at them, they settled down. As veteran John Magill said, "it was so satisfying dropping food rather than bombs on people". Again, thanks for the nice feedback.
Its a nice historic twist that the iconic picture of the food drop was taken over Leiden. Leiden was starved to the brink of submission during the Dutch war of independence, Making this second relief of Leiden even sweeter
Very nice job. Well done.
Those 10 days before the end of the war in Europe were important to the Dutch as every day counted;; after that flights continued but food was quickly provided in larger quantity and to more locations via ships, trains, trucks
My cousin Gene Greenwood was a member of the 100th Bomb Group. He did 2 chow hound missions just after Germany surrendered.
Best Bombing runs ever!
German gunners had been defending against low flying Spitfire dive-bombers for months. RAF Fighter Command had sent aircraft over for months to counter the V-1 and V-2 rockets and supply lines. The anti-aircraft gunners were well acquainted with shooting at low fast moving aircraft flying over the Dutch coast-so there was a reason to be nervous.
John Magill, the bombardier, tells the story as if it were only yesterday. His face animates and I swear I’m looking at the boy who dropped food ‘instead of bombs’ as he said. God bless him.
We formed friendships with a lot of the veterans - but John was special. His humanity was right there in his eyes. You can watch his complete interview in my play list - Magill, John B-17 Bombardier Thanks for watching.
Wonderful.
Thank you! Cheers!
Chow weighs less then bombs. I hope they checked with the crew chiefs on how to squeeze in more C Rations.
I bet the crew chiefs squeezed in every calorie they could.
Not even 10.000 views? I'ts happening now! Just 2 or 3 thousand kilometers away. Ukrainia, I can only weep.