The bridge was built in 1929 as part of the main road between 's-Hertogenbosch and Nijmegen. It still carries that road, now signed provincial route N324.
Capture by Allies during World War IIedit
In 1944, as a first lieutenant, John S. Thompson led his men during an air raid as part of Operation Market Garden. The light in the jump bay of the platoon's C-47 Skytrain came on later than expected, moving their landing zone from its intended location near Grave, North Brabant; the plane was passing over buildings when the paratroopers were signalled to leave the aircraft, and Thompson decided to wait until reaching several approaching fields.[1]
Thompson led his platoon in an attack against the nearby bridge spanning the Maas River, which was defended by German forces supplemented by two 20 mm flak guns, one on the near side of the bridge and one across the river. The platoon opened fire on the German forces, killing four.[1] Two trucks of German soldiers arrived on the scene, but they "showed no desire to fight... [and] ran away".[2] Thompson's platoon destroyed "electrical equipment and cables that they expected were hooked up to demolitions",[2] and their bazooka operator destroyed the nearer flak gun, permitting the establishment of a roadblock on the bridge while waiting for the remainder of the 82nd Airborne.[3]
Re-namingedit
Having had no official name, the bridge was renamed in 2004 to John S. Thompsonbrug in honor of Thompson's platoon's capture. Many veterans of World War II, as well as Thompson's wife, attended the ceremony.[3]
^ abBedingfield, Gary (February 10, 2007). "Baseball in Wartime – Jocko Thompson". Baseball in Wartime. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
Bibliography
Roberts, Robin; Paul Rogers (1996). The Whiz Kids and the 1950 Pennant. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN1-56639-466-X.
Ryan, Cornelius (1995). A bridge too far. Simon & Schuster. ISBN0-684-80330-5.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John S. Thompson Bridge.
January 01, 1970
john, thompsonbrug, bridge, over, maas, river, between, grave, nederasselt, netherlands, john, thompson, bridgecoordinates51, 76917, 73611, 76917, 73611carriesprovincial, route, n324crossesmaas, riverhistoryopened1929location, contents, construction, capture, . The John S Thompsonbrug is a bridge over the Maas River between Grave and Nederasselt in the Netherlands John S Thompson BridgeJohn S ThompsonbrugCoordinates51 46 09 N 05 44 10 E 51 76917 N 5 73611 E 51 76917 5 73611CarriesProvincial route N324CrossesMaas RiverHistoryOpened1929Location Contents 1 Construction 2 Capture by Allies during World War II 3 Re naming 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesConstruction editThe bridge was built in 1929 as part of the main road between s Hertogenbosch and Nijmegen It still carries that road now signed provincial route N324 Capture by Allies during World War II editIn 1944 as a first lieutenant John S Thompson led his men during an air raid as part of Operation Market Garden The light in the jump bay of the platoon s C 47 Skytrain came on later than expected moving their landing zone from its intended location near Grave North Brabant the plane was passing over buildings when the paratroopers were signalled to leave the aircraft and Thompson decided to wait until reaching several approaching fields 1 Thompson led his platoon in an attack against the nearby bridge spanning the Maas River which was defended by German forces supplemented by two 20 mm flak guns one on the near side of the bridge and one across the river The platoon opened fire on the German forces killing four 1 Two trucks of German soldiers arrived on the scene but they showed no desire to fight and ran away 2 Thompson s platoon destroyed electrical equipment and cables that they expected were hooked up to demolitions 2 and their bazooka operator destroyed the nearer flak gun permitting the establishment of a roadblock on the bridge while waiting for the remainder of the 82nd Airborne 3 Re naming editHaving had no official name the bridge was renamed in 2004 to John S Thompsonbrug in honor of Thompson s platoon s capture Many veterans of World War II as well as Thompson s wife attended the ceremony 3 Gallery edit nbsp The bridge being crossed by military vehicles nbsp A view from ground level nbsp Cyclists crossing the outside lanes nbsp The current lock in the canal under the bridge nbsp Old canal lock Control room in bridge nbsp Old canal lock in the canal under the bridgeReferences editInline citations a b Ryan p 239 a b Ryan p 240 a b Bedingfield Gary February 10 2007 Baseball in Wartime Jocko Thompson Baseball in Wartime Retrieved March 16 2010 Bibliography Roberts Robin Paul Rogers 1996 The Whiz Kids and the 1950 Pennant Philadelphia Temple University Press ISBN 1 56639 466 X Ryan Cornelius 1995 A bridge too far Simon amp Schuster ISBN 0 684 80330 5 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John S Thompson Bridge Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John S Thompsonbrug amp oldid 1132792028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
