21st - Ardennes Offensive

Battle of the Bulge.

Still no flying today, weather is keeping everything grounded.

In 2012 the Musee en Piconrue, in the city of Bastogne, was playing a film of a recent project where high school students went out to the community and interviewed those adults who had been at the age of 20 in 1945. A similar age to the interviewer. It was titled: “J’avais 20 ans en ‘45 a Bastogne” “I was 20 in 1945 in Bastogne”.

“I’m called Louise Marie-Therese, married name Maquet. At the time I was 6.. I lived in the Rue de Neufchateau but owing to the circumstances of the war the Americans made us movew closer to the Rue de Marche and we went to my grandparent’s house just next to the Lebrun hotel. We left all the toys we’d got for Saint Nicolas, just recently. But we had to leave all the same. My teddy bear stayed in Bastogne. And the Americans asked why I was crying. I didn’t have many toys. I said: ‘I’d like my teddy.’ So one of the Americans said, ‘I will go get it f or you.’ Then my mother seized the opportunity to say: ‘Well if you're going, I’ll give you a bottle of rum’, ‘No problem.’ The American came back with the teddy. And through the cabin, a shrapnel had gone through. He’d risked his life, the poor man! But I had my teddy and I was happy and that’s what mattered the most to him.”

16th - Ardennes Offensive

Battle of the Bulge.

Between 17 December and 22 December the weather kept the aircraft from completing any resupply missions to Belgium. The 82nd A/B at St. Vith; Task Force Hogan 3rd Armored Division at Marcouray and the 101st A/B at Bastogne, were all in need of supplies and medical aid. Researched and written by: NWWIIGP Research Group. Photo is the 98th TC Sqd. of the 440th TC Group, Air Field A-90 Orleans, Fr.

At 2030, that same day [Dec. 17], a phone call from Chief of Staff, XVIII Corps (Airborne) was placed to Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe, Acting Commander of the 101st Airborne Division, for their immediate deployment to Bastogne. Both the 82nd Airborne Division and 101st A/B were rushed to the Ardennes.

Robert "Bob" C. Casey

Final Flight-- December 11th 2014.
b.1922 - d.2014

Robert Casey was one of those rare glider pilots who flew three major combat missions. Bob was assigned to the 82nd Squadron of the 436th Troop Carriere Group. He flew Normandy (Elmira mission), awarded Air Medal GO #33, IX Troop Carrier Command, awarded on 5 July 1944 ; Flew Holland (Market) recieved 1st Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster GO #117, IX Troop Carrier Command, awarded on 2 November 1944; and the invasion of Germany (Op. Varsity) Varsity, 2nd OLC. The last operation was his hardest operation with two major firsts, one they had to fly for two and a half hours on double tow. The 436th landed in LZ S. Second they were landing in an unsecure landing zone. In Bob's Intelligence Report he noted under Suggestions Regarding Glider Operations and Training: “Have gliders land in secured field from now on.”

Bob attended many of our veteran glider pilot reunions and was active in attending commemorations for WWII Glider Pilots.

George R. Whitten

Final Flight-- December 9th 2014.
b.1924 - d.2014

Born in Pittsfield Maine in 1924, George Whitten graduate from Uxbridge Massachusetts High School, Class of 1942. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps during WWII and graduated from advanced glider training at Victorville, California in class 43-4 on April 6, 1943. Before D-day he was shipped over to the European Theatre where he was assigned to the 90th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 438h Troop Carrier Group as a Glider Pilot. He flew a glider in Normandy Operation “Overlord”, Elmira glider mission where he received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat:

GO. o. 89, Hq. IX Troop Carrier Command
2 October 1944

GEORGE WHITTEN, JR. t1 279, Flight Officer, 90th Troop Carrier Squadron, 438th Troop Carrier Group, Air Corps, United States Army. For wounds recieved in action against enemy of the Untied States on 6 June 1944 while serving as co-pilot of a Horsa glider on a combat operational mission over enemy occupied continental Europe. Home address: Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

He also recieved an Air Medal for his part in the Normandy operation.

GENERAL ORDERS )
                                 :
NUMBER ...........33)

...Ninth Air Force, Subject: “Award of the air Medal”, addrssed to the Caanding General, IX Troop Carrier Command, dated 26 June 1944, the following named officer of the organizations indicated are awarded the Air Medal, in recognition of meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights in te European Theatre of perations during the period 16 October 1943 to 7 June 1944.

As Troop Carrier glider plots, these officers meritoriously climaxed a most successful program of intensive, specialized training and joint maneuvers with airborne units in aerial flights by their superb perforance in the initial Troop Carrier phases of the invasion of the European continent.

The magnificent spirit and enthusiasm displayed by these officers, combined with skill, courage and devotion to duty is reflected in their brilliant operation of unarmed gliders of light construction at minimum altitudes and air speeds, in unfavorable weather conditions, over water, and into the face of vigorous enemy oppostition, with no possibility of employing evasive action, and in their successful negotiation of hazardous landings in hostile territory, to spearhead the Allied invasion of the continent. Their respective duty assignments were performed in such an admirable mannor as to produce exceptional results the greatest and most successful airborn operation in the hisory of world aviation.

Two months later, George flew the Holland Operation where he was awarded a second Air Medal in the form of a

After the war George owned and operated Whitten Corporation, located in Mendon MA, until his retirement in 1993. Mr. George R. Whitten Jr., 90, of Auburn MA, died on Tuesday December 9, 2014.

Capt. Clyde Martin Litton

Final Flight-- November 30th 2014. b.1917 - d.2014

Martin Litton was born in Los Angeles on February 17, 1917. He grew up in Southern California. Graduated from UCLA, class of 1939. Martin entered the glider program in June 1942.

Primary was at Lonoke, AR; Basic at Waco, and Advanced at Dalhart where he graduated in Class 43-4 on February 27, 1943.

Martin was sent to the European Theater on the Louis Pasteur and was assigned to the 44th Squadron of the 316th Troop Carrier Group as a glider pilot. The 316th was located at Station 489 Cottesmore, England. Squadron code was 6E. On September 23, 1944, they transported the 82nd to Groesbeek in Operation Market.

On October 22, 1944, Martin wrote a story for the Los Angeles Times , where he had worked before the war. His report to the intelligence officer on the other hand had a different tone. On 15 November 1944 Clyde Martin Litton was listed on General Order 113:

By direction of the President, under the provision of Exectutive Order Number 9158 (Bull 25, WD 1942), and amended by Executive Order Number 9242-A (Bull 49, WD 1942) and in accordance with authority delegated by the War Departiment, and pursuant to authority contained in letter, file 200.6, Headquarters, United States Strategic Air forces in Europe, Subject: "Awards and Decorations, dated 8 September 1944, an AIR MEDAL is awared to the following named offiers, organizations and residences as indicated, for meritorious achievement whil participating in aerial flight during the period 17 September 1944 to 23 September 1944. As Troop Carrier glider pilots, these officers demonstrated exceptional airmanship and resolution in the execution of missions vital to the vertical envolopment of enemy position in Holland. Piloting thier gliders over extended routes in difficult weather, and braving hails of flak and small-arms fire, they formed part of the vast glider armada which successfully landed thousands of airborne troops and huge quantities of combat equipment and supplies at designated objectives behind enemy lines. Their outstanding achievements in the greatest airborne operation in military history reflect the highest credit upon the military force of the United States.

Happy Thanksgiving

Photo by B. Overman

Approximately seven hundred U.S. Service men from our wing attended this Service. The song, at the close, “America the Beautiful,” sung from the heart by seven hundred airmen homesick for home in America, never sounded sweeter.

Our stay in England is memorialized in the form of a lectern with an inscribed tablet at the Northbrook Methodist Church in Newbury. This is done to commemorate the friendship and hospitality shown to us during our stay there.

Final Flight

Lt. Col. Jack Rawls Jones Jr., USAF (Retired Reserves)

Jack graduated from Advanced Glider Training from South Plains Army Airfield and was commissioned as a Flight Office on January 21, 1943. He was assigned to the 53rd Squadron, 61st Troop Carrier Group. On 18 September 1944, 2nd Lt., Jack Jones piloted a glider to Landing Zone T near Groesbeek, Netherlands, in Operation Market. On landing, his glider nosed over. The glider had been subjected to German anti-aircraft fire and other weapons. The LZ had just been cleared. One of the glider riders was seriously wounded and did not survive.
Jack was awarded the Purple Heart:

JACK R. JONES, O 887 793, Second Lieutenant, Air Corps, 53rd troop Carrier Squadron, 442nd Troop Carrier Group. For wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States, on 18 September 1944. Home address: Meriam, Kansas.

Photo by B. Overman

US Air Force Memorial, Arlington VA, early morning Veteran's Day, 2014
Honor Flights of WWII Veterans attended the AFA/AFSA Veterans Day Wreath-laying Ceremony. They themselves were honored by all who attended.

Photo by Overman

Glider Pilot's Memorial Plaque which rests under a beautiful red maple tree at Arlington National Cemetery.

Photo by Overman

As you can see from this photo the Glider Pilot's Memorial red maple tree, located in section 33, sits in a beautiful setting at Arlington National Cemetery just down from Arlington House.

V-Day -1:
Association Members, Bob Smith and Bruce and Patricia Overman, participated in Veteran's Day ceremonies with the 82nd and 17th Airborne at Arlington National Cemetery.

Photo by Overman

17th Airborne Color Guard

The 44th Annual Reunion

RAY FARY passed away on 1 October 2014.

b.1925 - d.2014 - Obituary

Ray Fary was an active member of the National WWII Glider Pilots Association. Ray was one of those rare heroes known as a “glider rider.” He came into the 82d Airborne Division, 80th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion, C Battery, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, as a replacement, one of those men who had to come into a company by himself without knowing anyone and having to fit into a group of men who had been fighting through the Normandy campaign. Ray recalled on his arrival to Leicester, England;

“the very first words I heard were; ‘WELCOME TO THE AIRBORNE’; We didn't know what those words meant the Officer explained; ‘the unit that you are now assigned to, left yesterday for the airfields on an airborne mission, should they have many casualties, you will be sent to fill the vacancies, your mode of travel will be by either landing craft or by glider’ None of our group had ever heard about or seen a glider ( this is where I actually left the 75th Infantry Division, and became a glider rider in the 82d Airborne Division Replacements)” The 82nd fought for 32 days and returned to Leicester on July 18th 1944.

New book published, Battle of Burp Gun Corner will debut at the National WWII Glider Pilots’ reunion

The author, Hans den Brok from the Netherlands, will give a presentation on Thursday evening and the book will be available for sale throughout the reunion. Hans will be showing, never before seen, footage of the take-off, glider landings, and before and after battle scenes. The film was shot by then, Capt. Charles Gordan, Glider Commander of the 435th TCG during March 24th and 25th 1945. All book proceeds will go to the Silent Wings Museum.

This year Scott will be flying his C-60 Lockheed Lodestar. Glider pilot veterans are very familiar with the Lodestar. Don Ehr, a glider instructor at both Lubbock, TX and Laurinburg Maxton said, “The C-60 was a joy to fly. It was used for many things during the war including submarine chasing off the coasts, bombing, and towing gliders. I logged a lot of time as co-pilot in a C-60.”

Cowden has also informed Scott he would be on his tail again this year. Last year at our reunion it was a thrill for the 12 veterans who each climbed into “Pecos Bill” for a joy ride. Bill Beach, a C-47 pilot during WWII, had it down to the minute when he said, “I have waited seventy-one years, four month, five hours and twenty minutes to fly in a P-51.” What a gift!

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BATTLE OF BURP GUN CORNER Presentation

WWII veteran Major Robert Swenson, with the assistance of Patricia Overman, will recount the tale of the Battle of Burp Gun Corner in March of 1945. As Part of Operation Varsity, Major Swenson piloted a Waco CG-4A. After landing Maj. Swenson became a member of the 435th Provisional Glider Pilot Combat Team. The presentation will be at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington on May 10th from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Further information at: Museum of Flight