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Fundraising Event – 'Operation Market Garden' – 12th-14th September 2008

The event is called Operation Market Garden and is in honour of those people who fought during the Operation Market Garden campaign in Holland in September 1944.
The event is being held at Spanhoe Airfield, between the villages of Harringworth and Laxton in Northamptonshire.  Spanhoe Airfield was the base for the American 315th Troop Carrier Group during World War II from where missions were carried out to Normandy, Holland and Germany.  We held an event called Operation Spanhoe there in 2005 which was hailed as a great success by veterans, public and those involved with all the proceeds donated to charity. The 315th veterans were brought to the UK by current serving members of the 315th in a C17 which landed at RAF Cottesmore Airfield in Lincolnshire.

We have again invited the 315th TCG veterans from America along with the American 82nd Airborne, British 1st Airborne and the Polish 1st Airborne veterans that were flown from Spanhoe Airfield into Holland by the 315th TCG during Operation Market Garden, many of whom will have strong links with the airfield.  A memorial service and parade will take place on the Sunday morning accompanied by a memorial fly past.  It is hoped that after the event the veterans will be able to travel accompanied to Arnhem for the services being held there the following weekend.
 
The event will include an airshow (with Dakotas, Spitfire, Hurricane and Mustang etc.) together with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Entertainment is to be provided throughout the weekend in a large marquee and on Saturday night there will be a 1940’s themed big band dance featuring the Ray McVay Glenn Miller Orchestra.  There will also be re-enactment displays, living history museums, military vehicles etc. together with many trade stalls and exhibits. A re-enactment battle scenario based on the British 'drop zones' at Arnhem will take place on both days. We are planning to have a C47 as a static display at this event.
We are attempting something that we feel has never been done before in the UK. We have approached the Pathfinder Group UK to parachute onto the drop zone from a C47 in two drops of six to start the battle scenario. It is not a definite yet that they will be able to parachute onto the droop zone but, they do want to do this and we are both in discussions with the appropriate people.

The re-enactment battle scenario that we are proposing to do is as follows:
Phase 1: A parachute drop onto the drop zone marked out by the 21st Independent and the ground crew of the Pathfinders.

Phase 2: British re-enactment troops gather on the drop zones with vehicles and PAK guns etc. from hidden areas around the drop zone carrying drop containers and chutes.

Phase 3: A reconnaissance patrol leaves the drop zone towards the battle site and encounters a German out-post position on the outskirts of the drop zone. A small battle ensues with the British turning back towards the drop zone.

Phase 4: The British PAK guns lay smoke and rounds onto the German out-post allowing the troops to move forward.

Phase 5: The British troops move from the drop zone and into the battle site to encounter heavy German positions.

Phase 6: The British and German troops engage in a battle with the British troops pushing the Germans back and taking POW etc. British and German Medics will be attending the wounded during the battle.

Phase 7: All troops finish the battle scenario by standing to the crowd for photographs etc.

We have contacted various TV companies including The History Channel which are keen to come on board. I have visited the Veterans UK website and I am wondering if you would be able to promote our event to the veterans you are in touch with by means of editorial web site link etc. as we would like to invite as many veterans as possible. The veterans will be looked after at the event, with a seperate marquee with food and refreshments on hand.

The event will be strictly non-profit making and the charities we are supporting are The Royal British Legion, Help for Heroes and Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.  We feel it is particularly important that as well as recognising the soldiers who took part in previous conflicts that today's soldiers are also given the help and support they need. The Help for Heroes organisation are contacting their patrons in the hope that they can attend the show. We are actively seeking a 'big name' for the Friday night entertainment as the marquee holds 1200 people seated and we need to make the most of the fundraising whilst the marquee is there, we hae approached Al Murray and various other acts but, we are waiting to hear back from them.
The website address is www.operationmarketgarden2008.co.uk and will be continually updated with latest news on the event
 

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