OPERATION MARKET [Main Title]

First part of a film which shows the flight to Arnhem by the British component of more than 350 planes.

Five weeks after Eisenhower's announcement of the formation of the first Allied Airborne Army RAF tugplanes stand marshalled on airfields, awaiting the greatest airborne operation ever. On September 17, men stand beside their gliders for a final briefing, fold maps and fix parachute harnesses. At 9.45am Stirlings start to take off towing Horsas, followed by Halifaxes with Hamilcars and Horsas. Commentary gives way to music during air/air shots of armada crossing English and dutch coasts, with flooded fields below. At 1pm first gliders are released, air/ground shots showing many gliders askew in fields, hundreds of paratroops floating down (Dakotas visible) and lower altitude shots showing skid marks of gliders as well as gliders landing in crowded fields. Film concludes with commentary stating that "first phase of Operation Market is over".

35mm