Today in Dutch WWII History: Operation Manna

The winter of 1944 -1945 in the Netherlands was very harsh, even to Dutch standards. The still occupied Northern and western half of the Netherlands suffered badly of this harsh winter. It is still known by the Dutch as the "Hongerwinter" or "Hunger Winter". In that winter between 15.000 and 20.000 people died because of the hunger and the cold.
In an effort to relieve the Dutch famine, the Allied negotiated for months with the Germans for a coordinated dropping of food by the Royal Air Force over what was still German-occupied Dutch territory. The result was "Operation Manna". The operation took place from 28 April - 8 May 1945.
On 29 April the first planes took of from their bases for the first food droppings.
The Lancaster's, who did the droppings, flew at very low altitude and at a very slow speed.
The crew could see the people everywhere cheering and waving.
On 1 May the US Air Force joined the relief operation in Operation Chowhound .
A total of 3100 flights were made by Bomber Command, and an additional 2200 by the American Air Force. More than 11,000 tons of food were dropped in the ten days of the operation.
It was the only time that Bombers dropped something else then bombs.

Thanks for reading!