| Aerial photograph of Landing Zone “S” and “Z” by United States Army Air Force 27th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Reconnaissance Group, the day after the Market landings, the airborne phase of the narrow front invasion of the Netherlands. The aircraft was probably an F-5 Lightning, the photo recon version of the Lockheed P-38 fighter. Gliders litter the landing field in a disorganized fashion, as they were hard to control on landing. Landing Zone “S” is the landing site of the British 1st Airlanding Brigade consisting of the 1st Border Regiment, 7th King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment, together with a platoon of the 9th Field Company Royal Engineers and 181st Airlanding Field Ambulance. The 1st Airlanding Brigade, under Brigadier Philip H.W. “Pip” Hicks (September 25, 1895 – October 8, 1967) would land on LZs “S” and “Z” and move to secure the drop zones and landing zones for the following days’ drops. The Airlanding Brigade moved quickly to secure the landing zones. Only part of the unit could be landed on the 1st day; the rest would come in the days to follow. The 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment moved into Wolfheze on September 17, and then march to Arnhem from there. The rest of 1st Airlanding Brigade followed. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0536.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.10 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2663 x 2533 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Air Force Twenty-Seventh Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 18, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Wolfheze |
| State or Province | Gelderland |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 291980737 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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