On a sunny Sunday
afternoon in September, 1944,
paratroopers were dropped
over southern Holland in
operation 'Market Garden,' an
Allied strategy to open a
corridor through occupied
Holland into Germany for
British ground forces. The
strategy was expected to end

World War II quickly.
   To aid the Allied forces
by restricting the movement
of German troops and
supplies, the Dutch
government called for a rail
strike. The rail strike
began, but operation Market
Garden failed. As a
repurcussion for the rail

strike, the Germans blocked
the transportation of food to
northwest Holland and as
another harsh winter set in,
nothing moved by rail and the
canals were frozen. Dutch
citizens were starving.
   Bob Upcott was the Flying
Officer of the Lancaster
bomber crew nicknamed "The

Bad Penny." His crew was
tasked with a dangerous test
mission. Could planes drop
food near The Hague without
being shot down? On April 29,
1945, the Bad Penny took off
from England with only hope
in their hearts and a plane
loaded with food, not bombs.
   Under the wary eyes of