Description
Object description
British NCO served as pilot with Glider Pilot Regt during Normandy landings, France, 6/Jun/1944 and Operation Market Garden, Arnhem, Netherlands, 9/1944
Content description
REEL 1: Aspects of operations with Glider Pilot Regt in GB, 5-6/1944: comparison between civilian and military gliders; elementary flying training; posted to heavy glider conversion unit; description of Horsa and Hamilcar gliders; capacity and crew; types of bomber aircraft used to tow gliders; method of towing; description of tow rope; speed on take-off and in the air; landing gear; importance of differential braking on Horsa; flying and ground exercises; story of participation in Exercise Dingo at RAF Netheravon, 6/May/1944; purpose of night exercise; landing area T marked out with green lights; briefing; wind speed and problem of landing on T; collisions between gliders; assembled at rendezvous point; damage to Horsa gliders and minor injuries; preparations for Normandy landings, 6/1944. Aspects of operations with Glider Pilot Regt in Normandy, France, 6/Jun/1944: role in Operation Mallard; description of flight to Normandy; attacked by German Focke-Wulfe 90s over French coast; description of landing at Ouistreham near Caen Canal; problem of 20ft high posts in diamond formation on landing area; damage to Horsa glider; speed on landing; use of differential braking to avoid obstacles; disembarked Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from glider; glider pilots rendezvous near beachhead; story of return to GB aboard tank landing craft; role in further operations, 6-9/1944. Aspects of operations with Glider Pilot Regt during Operation Market Garden, Arnhem, Netherlands, 9/1944: briefing; description of take-off and flight over North Sea, 18/Sep/1944; wing of glider damaged by shell; attacked by German fighter jets; description of landing; problem of Hamilcar gliders nose-diving and turning over; disembarked jeep, trailer and 4 man crew from glider; rendezvous for glider pilots at Hartenstein Hotel; briefing; summary of operations in and around Arnhem; German POWs held in tennis court; use of POWs to dig trenches; heavy mortar fire on Hotel and perimeter; supply drops by Dakotas and Stirlings; opinion of RAF crews; problem of containers falling outside perimeter; story of Germans agreeing to allow in medical supplies; description of withdrawal to River Rhine; problem of lack of boats and swimming across Rhine; story of address by Lt.-Gen 'Boy' Browning; flew back to GB; further service in Italy and the Far East; demobilised, 1946.