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'Route to Victory' -
2~5th May
On the first May Bank
Holiday, Lynne and I took a seven hour trip to Ramsbury, just south of Swindon,
for the 'Route to Victory' event. The Kennet Valley MVT, with the help of the
Stevens Brothers, organised a three day event focused around the village of
Ramsbury. Two of the days were for convoys of vehicles visiting bases involved
in the 'Market Garden' operation, while the third day was a static display in
the show field in Ramsbury. |
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The convoys visited places where US Airborne troops, and the British XXX Corps amongst others were stationed and trained. Around 60 vehicles were in the convoys which at times must have extended for 2 miles. Six motorcycle outriders stopped modern day traffic to allow the convoy through the many junctions on the trip and to keep everyone on the correct route. |
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Day 1 was an American led convoy to Membury Airfield ( 436th Troop Carrier Group ), Littlecote Manor ( home of the 101st Airborne ), Ramsbury Airfield ( 437th Troop Carrier Group ), and Savernake Forest which was a wartime ammunition dump. The return trip involved a short off road section coating everything in mud. |
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Day 2 was British led going to Netheravon and Everleigh Airfields. While at Netheravon, a C-47 Skytrain landed which was to be involved in a parachute drop on the static show day. This C-47 is a veteran of D-Day. One group seen in the last photo flew in from Malta for the event. |
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