Photograph of an Avro Lancaster Mk I (JE-C) of No. 195 Squadron dropping supplies over the Netherlands as part of Operation Manna, 1945

An RAF Lancaster of No. 195 Squadron, having swapped its usual payload of bombs for food, delivers essential supplies to grateful Dutch civilians.

As a result of the fighting of 1944, food supplies in the area of the Netherlands still occupied by the Germans had begun running short, leading to the Hongerwinter, or Hunger Winter. By April 1945, the situation was catastrophic. Thousands had already died, with thousands more on the verge of starvation. With the consent of the Germans, a ceasefire was called allowing British to air drop supplies. 3,156 Lancaster sorties and 145 Mosquito sorties delivered 6,684 tons of food during Operation MANNA. No. 195 Squadron had been formed as a Typhoon squadron in November 1942, but were disbanded in February 1944. They were reformed in October 1944, operating Lancasters, and served until being disbanded in August 1945.