Harskamp (NL). From the 12 to the September 17, twelve paratroopers of the "Folgore" brigade participated in the "Falcon Leap", an exercise reminiscent of the "Market Garden" airborne operation conducted in the 1944 by about 35.000 soldiers of the American, English and Polish divisions to facilitate access of the troops landed in Normandy to the Ruhr area, the industrial heart of Germany.
In Harskamp, home of the "11 ^ Luchtmobiele Brigade" of the Royal Dutch Army, the men of the 183 "Nembo" parachute regiment and the 185 "Folgore" artillery regiment worked shoulder to shoulder with their American, British, Polish and German counterparts , Dutch, Canadians and Belgians, sharing the techniques of aviation and parachutes in use, including the Canadian "CT1", the Dutch "TAP696" to the Polish "AD95".
Under the gaze of a large audience - 40.000 attendees at the event on September 17 - 750 red berets hooked the carabiners to the static cable of the "C130", "C160" and "CASA" aircraft of the Dutch and German Air Force, jumping on the "drop zones" of Houtdorperfeld, Ginkelseheide and Groesbeek from which, at 14.35pm on September 17, 1944, the first paratroopers landed, reorganized for the conduct of subsequent tactical acts.
The 183 ° "Nembo" and 185 ° "Folgore" paratroopers who took part in the exercise are the heirs of the fighters who, 72 years ago, almost at the same time as the "Market Garden" operation, gave life to the Combat Group "Folgore", engaged, alongside the Allies, in the war of liberation.
