Many gliders turned over during the landing because they were top-heavy. In Normandy a glider that was armoured because it transported an officer, turned over because of the weight of the men and jeep inside it. The officier, Brigadier General Don Pratt was killed instandly.
For Robert Bowen it was a very emotional moment when -for the first time after wwII- he returned to Normandy . In the beginning he didn't want to go to Utah Beach but after some moments he did. His friends Carmen Gisi and Bob Lott later told me that, after that visit, Robert was changed a lot. According to them he never talked that much about the war since 1945 after his visit at Utah Beach.
Monday, August 12, 2002 the three veterans visited the so called Island near the Lower Rhine in Holland. During Operation Market Garden they had been part of the heavy fightings in that part of Holland. It was remarkable how much Robert Bowen was able to recall. With a lot of details he told about his experiences. The other were very astonished that he, with 88 years the oldest of the three, recalled that much.
The next photos give an impression from their visit to Holland in an area that's called "De Betuwe". They were accompanied by Cas Jansen and his friend Bernard Florissen. Both are specialized in the 101 Airborne Division and are living encyclopedias when it has to do with the battle in the Betuwe. Because of that the three veterans could be brought to the exact spots where they had fought so many years ago.
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