Gliders on D-Day

[Omag 2.0]

I just stumbled on a doc. ( Men and Machines) on NGC on D-day. There were two pilots who reached the French coast first and made the first attack by taking some bridges behind enemy lines. They used gliders to reach there target?

What kind off planes did they use? there were several privates in the back as a attack-squad. I never knew they could build big enough gliders for that. And how the hell did the evade the AA-fire? Weren't the towingplanes noticed?

Strange story, but very brave men!

[ozzy72]

The two types of glider that would have been used were the Horsa and the Hamilcar, here is a link to some info. http://www.raf.mod.uk/dday/ac_gliders.html#horsa

Ozzy

[HawkerTempest5]

What kind off planes did they use? there were several privates in the back as a attack-squad. I never knew they could build big enough gliders for that. And how the hell did the evade the AA-fire? Weren't the towingplanes noticed?

Strange story, but very brave men!

Not only were they big enough for troops but some even carried Jeeps and light field artilary. The tow planes were mainly Sterling and Halifax heavy bombers and these flew on and bombed other targets to help act as a diversion.

[Hagar]

Here's a photo taken on D-Day. It shows Horsa gliders on the ground after they landed. They're not broken or damaged as many people think. The rear fuselage was attached by explosive bolts & jettisoned to allow rapid deployment of men & equipment.



I believe the Stirling & Halifax were used for paratroops on D-Day. The Albemarle & C-47 would be the most likely glider tugs. Some of these aircraft could could tow 2 or more gliders.

[Woodlouse2002]

Major Howards attack on Pegasus Bridge is the one you are referring to. The reason they evaded the AA is because they were released from their tugs about five miles from the target. The Gliders then glided down to the bridge. The guards on the bridge initially thought the first glider to land was a crashing bomber and so failed to do anything about it. It came as a complete suprise to find 30 commando's rushing at them.

In contrast to what Hagar has just said though I believe Halifax's and Stirlings were the main glider tugs on D-Day. Though C-47's laden with paratroops could also tow them.

[Hagar]

In contrast to what Hagar has just said though I believe Halifax's and Stirlings were the main glider tugs on D-Day. Though C-47's laden with paratroops could also tow them.

You could be right Woody. I also hesitate to argue with Tempest but I'm only going on what it says on the RAF history site. http://www.raf.mod.uk/dday/ac_trans_index.html

[Felix/FFDS]

The June 1944 issue of the Aeroplane Monthly has a very good description of the attack on the Pegasus Bridge, from the viewpoint of one of the glider pilots.

[Hagar]

Thanks Felix.

Omag. You might find this interesting. http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircraft/WWII/horsa/info/info.htm

[Omag 2.0]

Thanx for the info guys! I'm still impressed by all of this...

[Hagar]

Unfortunately these gliders were mostly of wooden construction & very few examples survive. They were intended for one-way trips & any not used on operations were sold off as scrap after WWII. Many ended up as garden sheds, workshops or even garages. I don't think the Hamilcar was used on the Pegasus bridge attack. To give you some idea of size of this glider it was later fitted with 4 engines & evolved as the Blackburn Beverley. http://www.beverley-association.org.uk/history/history.htm
The Me 323 Gigant was also developed from a glider & even bigger. http://www.constable.ca/me323.htm

You might also be interested in the gliders used out in the jungles of Burma by the Chindits. These were usually the smaller American Waco CG-4A. http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/air_power/ap26.htm
Some were retrieved by an amazing pick-up system involving a hook trailed behind a C-47 flying low over a hurriedly prepared airstrip. The hook picked up a loop in the towrope draped over a structure resembling a limbo pole. This method was used successfully to evacuate casualties from far behind enemy lines.

[Craig.]

If your ever near middle wallop, they have a bunch of gliders and exhibits on this that are really good.