Page 44 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

Exercise
Report Market Garden 2019

Participating aircraft flying from Eindhoven Right: Belgian C-130H CH-11 wore both

‘invasion stripes’ applied earlier this year
Air arm Type Serial Squadron to commemorate the D-Day landings and
RNLAF C-130H-30 G-273 336 Squadron ‘Tribute to 525 Squadron’ titles on the
nose. Left: A pair of RNLAF loadmasters
RNLAF C-130H-30 G-275 336 Squadron on the ramp of the Dutch Hercules.
RAF C-130J-30 ZH872 Nos 24/47 Squadrons Throughout Market Garden/Falcon Leap,
Hercules C4 the aircrew used World War Two-era
Belgian Air Component C-130H CH-11 20th Squadron/15th Wing callsigns for aircraft and initial points.
Luftwa e C-160D 50+77 LTG 63
Italian Air Force C-130J MM62178 ‘46-43’ 2° Gruppo
USAF C-130J 99-55822 ‘RS-86’ 37th AS/86th AW
USMC KC-130J 166380 ‘BH-6389’ VMGR-252

Inside the hangar of the Italian Air Force, Luftwaffe, as a great assignment, albeit Different nations use different
RNLAF’s Eindhoven-based Royal Air Force, RNLAF, USAF “pretty routine stuff” in terms equipment – for example, the
336 Squadron, hundreds of and US Marine Corps. of the airdrops. What made it German contingent brought
paratroopers gathered and Most of the paratroopers used different was the historical aspect the T-10 parachutes, and, the
checked each other’s parachutes. the static line technique, which and the opportunity to honour the previous day, the US colonel had
Military personnel from Belgium, entails fully automatic parachute heroes of World War Two as part jumped with a British parachute.
the Czech Republic, Denmark, opening after passing a hook on of the commemorative events. As An important aspect was gaining
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the rear section of the aircraft. a jumpmaster, the colonel was experience with jumpers from
the Netherlands, South Africa, September 21 also saw 36 soldiers responsible for controlling a group other nations, using other types of
the United Kingdom and the jump from higher altitude, pulling of paratroopers as they left the parachutes, different configurations
United States were present. the ’chutes open themselves. aircraft. “We have represented of troops and jumping from
The aircraft took off from [here in the Netherlands] every different aircraft flown by
Eindhoven in mixed formations, Improving skills year since 2011 and bring different other nations. Put together,
comprising transports from Speaking to AFM, a US special types of parachutes with us, such this was a great opportunity
the Belgian Air Component, forces colonel described OMG2019 as the T-11 or MC-6.” to improve interoperability.

Below: The US Marine Corps KC-130J
manoeuvres low over the province

of Brabant. The USMC was a first-
time participant in Market Garden/
Falcon Leap and its Hercules arrived
at Eindhoven from Sigonella, Italy.
Market Garden/Falcon Leap is now the
biggest cross-parachuting exercise
in Europe, and aircraft that drop
their own nation’s ’chutes are the
exception, rather than the rule.

44 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

42-45 MarketGarden AFM Dec2019.indd 44 11/11/2019 11:55:58