AIR BATTLE FOR ARNHEM

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Over a period of seven days troops of the 1st Airborne were taken by the RAF in towed gliders for Operation Market Garden. In subsequent days the RAF showed courage of the highest order to make sure that the ground troops were supplied with ammunition and food to sustain them in their efforts to take the bridges at Arnhem. Its efforts were costly, 309 aircrew and 79 Air Dispatchers were killed and 107 aircraft. Its efforts to make sure the supplies were released from the aircraft to the besieged men on the ground was a vital factor in getting vital supplies to the troops.