Fliegerhorst Gilze-Rijen, deel V

       Airfield during the war

                                      June 6, 1944 “D-Day”

The most important day of the second world war perhaps was D-day on  June 6, 1944. The Allies landed that day on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. This was the turning point in the war. From the beginning of the landings sorties are flown from Gilze-Rijen with Ju.88 en Ju.188’s to drop sea mines in the English channel between England and France. These modern mines that already detonated as a ship even neared the mine were destroyed on time by the allies by the many Allied mine sweepers in the channel. The allies had such a dominance in the air that little of German attacks on the invasion beaches and beyond in land was noticeable. But the German attacks will continue until the end of June. In Gilze-Rijen are stationed at the end of June:

KG2/Staf. with 4 Ju.188’s

II/KG2 with Ju.188’s

5/KG76 with Ju.88’s

5/KG51 with Me.410’s

III/KG2 with Do.217’s

On July 5, 1944 the Allies preformed large scale attacks on German airfields to give the invasion army room to breathe. Gilze-Rijen is the target of 40 American B-17 bombers again of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing, 303rd Bombardeer Group (H) counting 38 aircraft and of the 384th BG with 2 aircraft that were equipped with radar . They flew under mission No. 196. Coming from the North they flew over a closed cloud deck toward the airfield. The first group of 20 bombers dropped their bomb load on 09.45 hrs over the airfield consisting of 299, 500 pound bombs. Three minutes later followed by a second group of 18 aircraft (two turned around to England because of mechanical problems) that dropped a further 187, 500-pound bombs at a height of approximately 25.000 feet on the airfield. 130 bombs fell on and around the south-west runway with 30 bombs directly on the on the runway. More than half of the total number of bombs, about 200 or so, fell on the village of Gilze killing 20 civilians. The damage to the village was huge with many houses completely destroyed and in some streets not a single house was left without damage. It was a black day for the inhabitants of Gilze. Though the air raid sirens’ had sounded no one was expecting an attack on the airfield due to the low cloud cover and contiguous fog clouds.

Because of these poor weather conditions the inhabitants of Gilze were under the impression that it were over passing aircraft towards Germany.

On August 7, 1944 the airfield was attacked by 24, B-24 's with bombs being dropped both on and outside the airfield killing four people. Missions are flown every night from Gilze-Rijen during the month of August with 20 to 40 aircraft taking off in to the direction of France to attack the Allies. As a result of these attacks the British and Americans in response increase their continued attacks on German airfields. In the evening of  August 15 Gilze-Rijen is attacked by a 100 British Lancaster bombers assisted by Mosquito's that mark the target with flares. The British bombers as a result bomb the airfield exactly at the right spot whit heavy damage inflicted over the entire surface resulting in disablement of the airfield over a long period.  Almost no bombs were dropped outside the airfield.

On September 3, 1944 the last big attack on the airfield took place. Lancaster bombers supported by Mosquito's and Spitfire's attack the airfield and drop their bombs. After the bombardment the Mosquito's and Spitfire's attack the aircraft on the ground that were still intact and by using their cannons were able to destroy several of them. On September 4, 1944 the remaining German aircraft left into the direction of Germany leaving behind the airfield empty and ground troops begin with the destruction of facilities on the airfield. The air defence around the airfield is removed as much as possible and where the Germans were not able to remove them explosives were used to destroy them. Large groups of fully loaded vehicles leave the airfield. Ammunition and gasoline depots are destroyed with explosives and Camp Prinsenbosch is evacuated. Many vehicles in the area and horses and farm vehicles were claimed by the Germans to carry all usable goods from the camp on their way out. The buildings in the area were Germans where housed over a long period were blown with explosives but fortunately by talking in on the Germans some were able to prevent the destruction of  factories and other important buildings.

One could see it was a hasty retread because the Allied ground forces were already in Northern Belgium. The retread of the Germans was a relief to the population around the airfield because there were no more German aircraft on Gilze-Rijen but more important the period of the bombing of the airfield was fortunately in the past. The days that followed were calm with the air filled with slowly over flying Allied aircraft without the fear of being fired at by the German anti-aircraft batteries that disappeared or had been destroyed. At one moment all looks so quiet and deserted on the airfield that many people were unable to resist the temptation to go and take a look on the airfield. A lot of stuff appeared to be left behind and the people started to take home every thing that they could find that was of use. Rumours spread fast around the villages near the airfield that in Camp Prinsenbosch and on the airfield lots of usable goods, German army gear, household goods, and even food could be found. But the people did not yet realise that the Germans were still the boss in this area and a few days later a German regulation decided that all the stuff taken away from the airfield and from Camp Prinsenbosch had to be returned or else two civilians would be shot as a reprisal. Part of the civilian population obeyed to this order. It is during these last few days dangerous for everyone and especially for men who are outside in the streets because the Germans arrest all the men they find to make them dig tank traps and other defences for the Germans. A curfew was set and being together in groups of five or more persons was forbidden. In the early days of September 1944 it was clear to see by the nervous way the Germans acted that the Allies were closing in. But the Germans were holding out against the allies at the Albert Canal in Belgium. Hundreds of bombers and fighter aircraft passed Gilze-Rijen on a daily basis without resistance from anti-aircraft fire from the airfield. On September 11 and 12 the destruction of buildings and infrastructure at the airfield proceeds. The entire two day’s explosions of dynamite charges should could be heard.

Then came September 17, 1944 the day of the Allied airborne landings. Operation Market garden begins and early in the morning the air is filled with fighter aircraft. Typhoons, Mustangs and Spitfire's fly around in search of enemy ground targets. Then about 50, P-47 Thunderbolts pass followed by several Short Stirling light bombers and a moment later again a large group of Thunderbolts followed by Dakota's filled with paratroops on their way to the drop-zones. The entire population is standing outside watching this impressive spectacle, Operation Market-garden was in full swing. Later on hundreds of Dakota's and Stirling's with gliders on tow came over Gilze-Rijen and for three hours the air from west to east was filled with overflying formations of aircraft, briefly followed by aircraft that came back again from the drop-zones to return to England. Over the city of Breda a Dakota lost his glider that landed near the village of Hulten a short time later. All occupants are able to leave the glider unharmed and are engaged  in a fire fight with the Germans almost immediately. Some managed to escape from being captured by the Germans and escaped to German imprisonment. On September 18, a rainy day, the lifts by air continue and one of the escorting Thundebolts is hit by enemy fire with the pilot leaving no other choice than to crash-land between the villages of Gilze and Riel. Three other fighters provide him cover by constantly flying low over to the Germans to keep them on a distance so that the pilot could escape. Five weeks the pilot is hidden in Gilze. Gilze was liberated by the first Polish armoured Division on October  from the direction of the villages Baarle-Nassau and Alphen with a day later   the British liberating the village of Rijen with the Greys and the Royal Dragoons advancing from the village Goirle near the city of Tilburg. The municipality of Gilze-Rijen was rid of the Germans and the population celebrated. A start could be made with restoration, repairing and cleaning the area.