A Perfect September Day
When I visited Son, just north of Eindhoven, the day couldn’t have been more beautiful. Warm sun. Cool air. A town square alive with food, music, and laughter. It was a fitting backdrop, because on a day much like this in 1944, Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment landed nearby, beginning their march south toward the Wilhelmina Canal—and the bridge at Son.
The Sight: A Simple Bridge with a Complicated Past
Today’s bridge looks like any other—just a swing bridge carrying cars, bikes, and pedestrians across the canal. It’s not the same bridge Easy Company approached in 1944; the Germans blew that bridge moments before the Americans could secure it. Nor is it the Hollywood version from A Bridge Too Far. It’s ordinary. Functional. And that ordinariness makes it even more moving when you know what happened here.
As Easy Company emerged from Son under a hail of German fire, the bridge exploded before them. Wooden beams, rocks, and debris rained down. Captain Winters hit the ground and thought, "What a hell of a way to die in combat."
Walking in Their Footsteps
Nearby, the Wings of Liberation Museum (Museum Bevrijdende Vleugels) offers an incredible, hands-on look at Operation Market Garden. Tanks, planes, personal artifacts—it’s one of the best WWII museums I’ve visited, and it stands beside the very drop zone where Easy Company landed.
Trusted Tips for Visiting Son
- Walk the Old Town: Enjoy the small squares, cafés, and quiet streets before heading to the bridge.
- Visit the Museum: Plan 2–3 hours for the Wings of Liberation Museum. It’s large and packed with well-curated exhibits.
- Connect the Dots: The museum and the bridge together tell a fuller story than either alone.
Experience It for Yourself
If you want to walk where Easy Company fought, Son is worth your time. And if you’re planning a self-guided Band of Brothers trip across Europe, my Band of Brothers Travel Guide can help you connect the dots between these powerful places.
— 📸 Thanks to James Skeffington, the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and the artists of Unsplash.
[Learn more and plan your journey with the Band of Brothers Travel Guide ➔]