Facing fierce enemy fire, two companies of 3/504th crossed the Waal river to seize it's vital bridges.
Loosing half their number in the crossing, those paratroopers that were left gathered in groups to push forward. One such group, of not much more than a squad was commanded by 1st Lieutenant James Megellas. They soon came up against one of the battalions key objectives, the Hoff van Holland (Fort Lent). A circular fortified position pouring 2 cm gun and machine-gun fire onto the paratroopers still crossing the river and also protecting the northern approaches to the bridges.
Megellas and his men supressed the fire from the top of the fort and worked their way to a causeway that crossed the moat and led to the forts entrance. Two men were sent across and a fierce firefight and exchange of grenades broke out. Megellas and his remaining men stormed across the causeway and climbed the steep banks surrounding the fort to gain the parapet and destroy the gun emplacements, forcing the defenders to retreat into the fort.

From: Osprey Publishing's: Combat, US Airborne Soldier versus German Soldier


PRICE: £670.00 (Unframed)
SIZE: Image approx. H 35cm x W 50cm (14 x 20 inches)
MEDIUM: Watercolour and gouache