John S. Thompsonbrug, Grave - The Netherlands
Posted by: 
superstein
N 51° 46.139 E 005° 44.176
31U E 688794 N 5738886
The John S. Thompsonbrug is a bridge over the Maas River between Grave and Nederasselt in the Netherlands.
Waymark Code: WMVEE0
Location: Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Date Posted: 04/08/2017
Views: 12
The bridge was built in 1929 as part of the main road between 's-Hertogenbosch and Nijmegen.
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.
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". 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. Source- Wikipedia
Date Built: 01/01/1929
Parking Coordinates:: Not Listed
Length of Span: Not listed
www: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Log your find with a picture of the bridge with yourself or your GPS in the foreground. This shot does not have to be taken "on" the bridge. The shot should show the "truss" structure of the bridge as well.