Every war is a human tragedy, with people being wounded and killed and innocent victims all over. But also during every war some heroic acts are recorded, small and big. These can change the lives of people involved and also serve as testimony to the spirit of mankind.

During World War II bomber campaigns played a very important part for all involved parties. For example the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940 by the Germans to break the Dutch resistance, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in an attempt to end the war in the Pacific, and countless German cities being bombed by the Allied forces to defeat Hitler and his gang. These bombings caused death and destruction among those affected on the ground. However also the involved bombing crews, at least those lucky enough to survive the war themselves, didn’t come out unscathed. Although PTSD was only officially recognised around 1980, many soldiers suffered from this because of all the horrors they had witnessed and also inflicted.

Some Allied bomber crews ended the war in a totally different way though, which very much helped them to process the evil part of the war. They were able to contribute in a positive way with their bombers, actually helping the people on the ground. How? By “bombing” them with food!

In 1944 the Southern half of The Netherlands was liberated, but the Allied triumph was halted at the large rivers because of the failure of Operation Market Garden. During the following harsh winter, the so-called Hongerwinter (hunger winter), huge shortages of especially food and fuel caused the death of thousands in the still occupied parts of The Netherlands. Especially the people in the large cities in the West were hit. Shortly before talks about the capitulation of Hitlers Germany started, the Allied forces negotiated permission for food droppings. These were carried out in April and May 1945 under the names Operation Manna and Operation Chowhound and some 11.000 tons of food were dropped over the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.

WO1 Hugh A. Buchan, a Canadian pilot serving with 166 squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force, was one of the pilots involved in Operation Manna. He flew no less than 6 missions over Rotterdam and surroundings with his Lancaster, dropping tons of food, chocolate and cigarettes. These were the last operational missions he (and many others) flew as the war in Europe ended only a few days later. He returned to Canada, only to immediately volunteer for another tour of duty in the Pacific. There the Japanese still hadn’t surrendered yet and brave as he was, he wanted to help ending the war there as well. His voluntary duty was accepted by the RCAF, however before he could actually leave back to the UK for further travel to the Pacific, the war over there ended as well. So his selfless efforts were no longer needed and he could finally return to his family.

Buchans daughter Edna had planned a visit to the Operation Manna memorial in Rotterdam Terbregge in 2020, for the 75th anniversary. COVID put an end to that plan, but five years later she was finally able to make the journey after all and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the droppings. Together with her husband Peter Peshut and their friend Richelle Turner of the Australian diplomatic service, a small but worthy ceremony was organised at the monument on the morning of May 2nd.

First a fly-over was performed as a tribute by three historic aircraft, a Chipmunk, a Piper Cub and a Tiger Moth, flying in a formation with the fitting call sign ‘Distinction’. Then a moving speech was given by Peter. “We are gathered on this beautiful May morning in The Netherlands to commemorate the 80th birthday of the Operation Manna missions. This humanitarian effort marked a turning point in history at the end of a long and destructive war. “ Edna remembers that being able to help the Dutch people and save them from starvation was crucial to her father, when he returned home and had to get back to “normal life”. His participation in this great humanitarian mission really helped lifting his spirit. It was the only part of the war he was prepared to talk about. Its importance? As another pilot is quoted on the memorial: “It was more than food. For five years we delivered death and destruction. In the last week we saved thousands from starvation.” Edna recalls her father never flew again after the war, apart from one flight with his son in a sports aeroplane. More they couldn’t afford, but he was a very happy man living a modest life until he passed away at the age of 78 in 1999.

The monument is an artist’s impression of the belly of an Allied bomber, loaded with food parcels as cargo. Inside the ‘boxes’ are related images, like a B-17 dropping food or Dutch people waving at the low flying aircraft. The initiative for the memorial came from local Henk Dijkxhoorn, who as 11 year old saw “the manna” fall from the sky. It has been revealed in April 2006.

Easy as it sounds to do the food droppings, even those required courage. Especially in the beginning, as it wasn’t clear whether the Germans would keep their word and wouldn’t attack the low-flying and unescorted bombers. That put the crews on the top of their nerves, and although it was rare, some aircraft did get shot at.

The day before the formal capitulation of Germany, one B-17 was actually shot down, and 10 people (crew and observers) were killed. So for civilians like Dijkxhoorn, pilots like Buchan were heroes. But for both of them the missions were live saving, be it mentally or physically. And their importance must never be underestimated nor forgotten. As Peshut said, using these well-chosen words to end his speech:

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We, standing here today, represent the generations of the free world people who have benefitted from their contributions, sacrifices and courage. We must persist in keeping the memory alive, through gatherings as this, and sharing stories, to honour all those who faced danger and hardship so that our futures may have opportunities for health, happiness and well-being