Operation Manna-Chowhound: The First Airborne Humanitarian Airdrop
- Garth Calitz
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Garth Calitz
As the war wound down in Europe, the Allied combined bomber offensive launched a mission of salvation for starving Dutch civilians, a humanitarian effort that sought to alleviate the dire conditions faced by the population of the Netherlands. The situation in the country had become increasingly desperate as the war dragged on, particularly during the harsh winter of 1944-1945, known as the "Hunger Winter." This period was marked by severe food shortages, exacerbated by the German occupation and the Allied blockade, which left many Dutch families struggling to survive.
In one of the most remarkable missions by the Allies during World War II, the closing days saw British Lancaster and American Flying Fortress bombers undertake a unique operation. Instead of delivering bombs, these aircraft dropped rations, symbolising salvation and mercy. The famine, compounded by a lack of fuel for heating, resulted in approximately 20,000 civilian fatalities. With only half of the country liberated, those in the northern and western regions continued to suffer under German occupation, facing limited food supplies and the harsh winter conditions of northwest Europe.
As the war approached its end in April 1945, the Allies devised a strategy to deliver vital food supplies to the Dutch through an airlift, aiming to alleviate their suffering. This initiative, which preceded the famous Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, encountered several complexities. A significant challenge was the presence of German anti-aircraft artillery, ready to target Allied bomber formations on their raids over Nazi Germany. Additionally, the Allies and Germans were still engaged in conflict, with British forces advancing into areas where many of the supplies needed to be delivered. There was an ongoing concern that Josef Stalin might view any negotiations between the Western Allies and the Germans with suspicion, fearing it could lead to a secret and separate peace agreement that excluded the Soviet Union.
After receiving authorisation from Winston Churchill in London and Franklin Roosevelt in Washington, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, initiated negotiations for relief operations with a group of German officers overseeing the occupied Netherlands. This process was facilitated by Swiss and Swedish emissaries. The Allied leadership consented to these negotiations on the condition that a Russian representative was present. These discussions among adversaries led to the implementation of Operation Manna, the British component named after an event in the Book of Exodus, and the American Operation Chowhound, named for the US forces.
One of the principal agreements stipulated that specific corridors would remain "open," permitting Allied airmen to fly through, with assurances from the Germans that they would not be targeted by anti-aircraft artillery. This assurance, combined with the requirement for aircraft to operate at altitudes of 400 feet or lower to ensure the safety of the parcels, understandably caused significant concern among the crew members.
The missions proceeded almost flawlessly. The Germans largely upheld their promise that no coordinated anti-aircraft fire would target the planes, allowing numerous Dutch civilians to receive this "manna from heaven." From April 29 through VE-Day on May 8, 1945, the combined operations resulted in over 5,500 sorties delivering an estimated 10,000 tons of food to the starving and grateful Dutch population. Among those who survived the "hunger winter" and benefited from Operation Manna-Chowhound was the malnourished granddaughter of the former mayor of Arnhem, a teenage Audrey Hepburn, the subject of the infamous "bridge too far".
During the operation, three aircraft were lost—two due to a collision and one as a result of an engine fire. Despite the ceasefire, several aircraft returned with isolated bullet holes, which are believed to have been caused by individual German soldiers.
A member of the initial crew reported that in Terbregge, located in the Rotterdam area, the large field was so overrun that even a horse-drawn cart could not access it. Consequently, thousands of individuals had to manually gather and transport the food. First Aid stations were established nationwide due to concerns about food parcels potentially injuring people in the fields as they awaited the aircraft's arrival. As a precaution, the Germans decided to position anti-aircraft guns at certain drop sites. This measure was intended to allow for an immediate response in the event that the Allied aircraft deployed paratroopers instead of food supplies.
An Operation Manna sculpture was erected in May 2021 at the International Bomber Command Centre, which commemorates one of the earliest airborn humaniterian relief efforts. The statue depicts supplies falling from a Lancaster bomber as people cheer below. Bomber crews from many Lincolnshire air bases flew during Operation Manna during which about 7, 000 tones of food aid were dropped over the Netherlands.
