The Bad Penny Crew of Operation Manna

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in September, 1944, paratroopers were dropped over southern Holland in operation ‘Market Garden,’ an Allied strategy to open a corridor through occupied Holland into Germany for British ground forces. The strategy was expected to end World War II quickly.

To aid the Allied forces by restricting the movement of German troops and supplies, the Dutch government called for a rail strike. The rail strike began, but operation Market Garden failed. As a repurcussion for the rail strike, the Germans blocked the transportation of food to northwest Holland and as another harsh winter set in, nothing moved by rail and the canals were frozen. Dutch citizens were starving.

Bob Upcott was the Flying Officer of the Lancaster bomber crew nicknamed “The Bad Penny.” His crew was tasked with a dangerous test mission. Could planes drop food near The Hague without being shot down? On April 29, 1945, the Bad Penny took off from England with only hope in their hearts and a plane loaded with food, not bombs.

Under the wary eyes of enemy anti-aircraft gunners, the Bad Penny crew flew over the dykes of Holland to a pre-determined drop zone, a horse race track. The test was a success. ‘Operation Manna’ had begun.

This Community Memories Exhibit focuses on heroes who risked their lives in a humanitarian mission to relieve war-weary citizens living in national despair. The story of these missions of mercy bridges international interest and spans all age groups.