SWM Photo. 44th Troop Carrier Squadron, 316th Troop Carrier Group near late p.m. takeoff time 23 Sept. 1944, for Overasselt
landing, Market Garden. Marshaled for single tow.
SWM Photo. Awaiting takeoff, 23 September 1944, Cottesmore. Glider at right flown by 1st Lt Clyde M Litton, Market Garden. 44th TCS,
316th TCG.
THE AIRBORNE INVASION OF HOLLAND in which the 442nd T.C. Group took part in September 1944,
was staged from bases in the United Kingdom. This photo shows paratroopers getting ready to board aircraft at Chilbolton Airdrome for the 442nd
paradrop at Eindohoven on 17 September 44.
THE AIRBORNE INVASION OF HOLLAND in which the 442nd T.C. Group took part in September 1944,
was staged from bases in the United Kingdom. This photo shows paratroopers getting ready to board aircraft at Chilbolton Airdrome for the 442nd
paradrop at Eindohoven on 17 September 44.
Flight Route from England to Holland for both British and American Troop Carriers.
--Photo by Signal Corps, Photographer: Klosterman. Back caption:
Col William B Whitacre, Western Springs, Ill., left C.O. of the 434th [Troop Carrier Group] discuses immediate battle planswith Capt James Davis, Colubia, S.C., and Captain Karl Kirshner, Adams, New York. Aldermaster Field, England. 18 Sept 1944 Col. Whitacre received
the Silver Star for his part in the Holland mission. On the 18th of Sept, 10 miles from the LZ the formation encountered heavy ground fire. The right engine of Colonel Whitacre's
craft was hit and it began to smoke and back-fire badly. Although advised by the pilot of the glider and by pilots of other panes in the formation that his aircraft was in a dangerous
condition and that he should give the release order to the pilot and bail out with his crew, Col. Whitacre resolutely continued on course, conscious of his responsiblility as serial leader
and of the hazards of a premature glider release over unsuitable terrain. Proceeding with his crippled craft through intense enemy fire, Colonel Whitacre led the serial to the landing zone
where all gliders were successfully released. Then, because his reduced speed might endanger the entire formation if he continued to lead the serial on the return trip, Colonel Whiticare
turned the serial over to the deputy leader and dropped out of formation. Flying on alone thrugh a barrage of anti-aircraft fire Whitacre was able to extinguish the fire in the right engine
and to make it funtion again. By flying a shorter course, Colonel Witacre caught up wwith his serial, again assumed the lead position and led the entire formation back to its home field...
National Archives/NWWIIGPA collection Back Caption: Credit...Signal Corps Photo. American Airborne Troops,
members of the new airborne allied army, relax beside their decorated glider before the take-off for the assault on Holland and the Nazi-held Sigfried Line. 377th [Glider] Field Artillery
[flown in by the 438th TCG / 87th TCS from Greenham Common]
Back Caption:Member of the 9th Troop Carrier Command prepare their gliders for another mission in Holland. 2 Sept. 1944
National Archives/NWWIIGPA collection
The man to the very right is 1st Lt. Martin H. Stutman who was the platoon leader for Battery C of the 81st Anti Aircraft/Anti Tank Battalion.
He sat in the copilots seat, because they were short copilots and rather than have the seat empty, and for balance reasons, infantry and usually someone of rank,
was put in that seat. The pilot next to him is Flight officer Lt. William.V. Zajac from Buffalo N.Y. Lt.Stutman was from New York City
and they are watching Sgt. S. R. Romero,
from Nora, New Mexico put on the finishing touches to their glider. The photo was taken on 9/18/44 at their 438th field just prior to Market Garden. D-1. Zajac and Romero
were in the 89th TCS 438th TCG, Greenham Common.
This photo shows the tail number and Charles Day said Glider serial is 341613 which is 43-41613 which is a legitimate Gibson Refrig production number likely delivered
around middle of 1944.
The route from England.
National Archives/NWWIIGPA collection Back Caption:The glider pictued here at Best, Holland, was just one of many used in the invasion of Southern Holland, 18 September 1944.
(H. den Brok collection) In a village just before Eindhoven, civilians cheer and point
to the sky while C-47s and gliders pass by.
(National Archives/H. den Brok collection) A formation of tow planes and gliders of the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron over the inundated Dutch coastal area. The gliders are heading for LZ-T.
Half of the squadron’s gliders would overshoot the LZ and the majority of the glider pilots became prisoner of war.
(National Archives - Still Signal Corps film/H. den Brok collection)
Glider landing at Son.
(M. Litton/H. den Brok collection) Crossing the British coast, heading for Holland.
