Operation Manna and Chowhound - air corridors

[Leendert]

The food dropping RAF and USAAF bombers for Operation Manna and Chowhound over NW Netherlands, late April 1945 till early May 1945, had to follow certain air corridors.

Looking for a map showing those air corridors, thanks.

Regards,
Leendert

[Laurent Rizzotti]

No map of the air corriders, but a map showing the ten drop zones used: http://operationmanna.secondworldwar.nl/kaart2.php

From what I read, the first Manna mission was launched without German official approval, just a global cease-fire, so I am not sure that corridors were imposed at least at the start. It may have changed later.

[Leendert]

Laurent,
Thanks. However, it's just the negotiated air routes I'm interested in.

egards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

The routes don't seem to be as easy to find on-line as I would have thought. I did find a very detailed presentation about some aspects of the operation which does show a very small map of just one corridor in and out . See page 6 of this 90 page presentation:

https://100thbg.com/images/chowhound_3rd.pdf

There were (at least) two books written about the operations.

"Operation Manna / Chowhound", by Hans Onderwater, published in 1985.
"Operation Chowhound", by Stephen Dando-Collins published in 2015.

The first book is long out of print, the second had somewhat mixed reviews. I don't know If either book showed the air corridors in any detail.

Apparently the agreed upon "rules" had the planes flying at 400/500 feet altitude (or even lower) while in the corridors. The supplies were not dropped by parachute but were just dropped in bags or boxes (another reason for the low altitude flights).


A video on the operations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbt4e87DvWc

[edwest2]

Only one map that has a "do not fly east of this line" demarcation but no detailed air route(s). It is small and of low quality.

[Leendert]

Indeed tough to catch a map outlining the corridors to follow. 100th BG map useful, thanks. It seems to indicate the corridor to the Schiphol Drop Zone.
I mostly wonder if the drop zone in Utrecht, near the eastern line, would have to be approached from the south or from the west.

Regards,
Leendert

[Sean Welch]

One map with a line showing do not fly North of this line (53 degs. N) in 34BG records, no mention of corridors, only safety lines.
The mission reports with routes flown follow. Columns are point, co-ord, time, height:


1st May 1945. 34th Bomb Group. Rotterdam, two runs made, 35 a/c dropped 3240 cases

English coast 5157N-0120E 0820 700
Cont. coast 5142N-0341E 0855 600
IP 5143N-0426E 0906 400
5143N-0426E 0956 400
Target 5156N-0431E 0912 450
5156N-0431E 1004 450
RP 5152N-0437E 0917 600
5152N-0437E 1008 600
Cont. coast 5140N-0429E 0924 1/2 600
Coast in 5158N-0120E 1027 600


2nd May 1945. 34th Bomb Group. Utrecht, 41 a/c dropped 3554 cases

English coast 5158N-0122E 1221 1/2 600
Cont. coast 5145N-0400E 1302 420
IP 5153N-0515E 1328 520
Target 5206N-0505E 1335 400
RP 5239N-0503E 1350 700
Add points 5223N-0248E 1430 900
Cont. coast 5240N-0437E 1358 600
Coast in 5159N-0123E 1458 600


3rd May 1945. 34th Bomb Group. Schipol/Vogelenzang, 39 a/c dropped 8307 sacks. Fired on by short burst from mg top of building Alkmaar 1006

Schipol a/f 35 a/c briefed
English coast 5219N-0119E 0856 1500
Cont. coast 5210N-0422E 0943 1/2 400
IP 5210N-0430E 1048 400
Target 5218N-0448E 1056 1/2 200
RP 5231N-0457E 1106 1/2 400
Add points 5238N-0445E 1112 500
Cont. coast 5237N-0438E 1114 1/2 500
Coast in 5229N-0143E 1203 1300

Vogelenzang 5 a/c briefed
English coast 5157N-0120E 0535 1500
Cont. coast 5207N-0418E 1023 1/2 400
IP 5207N-0418E 1023 1/2 400
Target 5219N-0435E 1033 1/2 400
Add.points 5224N-0143E 1115 800
Coast in 5224N-0143E 1115 800

5th May 1945. 34th Bomb Group. Schipol a/f 34 a/c dropped 7135 sacks. Vogelenzang 5 a/c dropped 1065 sacks. Red flares reported from the Brelle and Ijmuiden danger areas

English coast Felixstowe 0807 1500
Cont. coast 1 M.N Hague 0854 1000
Add.points Leydon 0857 600
IP 5210N-0430E 0857 600
Target 5218N-0448E 1004 360
RP 5231N-0457E 1009 1100
Add. points 5238N-0445E 1013 1000
Cont. coast 5236N-0441E 1016 1000
Coast in Southwold 1058 1000

6th May 1945.34th Bomb Group. Schipol a/f 35 a/c dropped 7348 sacks. Vogelengang 5 a/c dropped 1065 sacks.

English coast Report illegible


7th May 1945. 34th Bomb Group. Schipol. 39 a/c dropped 8170 sacks. At 5218N-0153E 1526 B-17 caught fire and blew up at 700' 4 chutes in water

English coast 5211N-0134E 1303 500
Cont. coast 5227N-0434E 1352 400
IP 5227N-0438E 1352 1/2 400
Target 5219N-0448E 1357 1/2 400
RP 5213N-0425E 1404 500
Cont. coast 5213N-0425E 1404 500
Coast in 5212N-0136E 1444 1/2 1200

Sorry about the formatting it looked fine as I typed it!

[Leendert]

Thanks for all additional, detailed info. Mr. Hans Onderwater meanwhile wrote me that the airplanes had two Entry Points after which the shortest route to the drop zone could be taken by 'freedom of navigation'.
After the drop a westerly course again.

The entry points were for USAAF between Zandvoort and De Zilk, meaning a bit south of Haarlem, and for RAF between the lighthouses of Haamstede (Schouwen-Duiveland) and Goedereede (Goeree-Overflakkee), both on the islands SW of Rotterdam.

Regards,
Leendert