HEADQUARTERS
FIRST ALLIED AIRBORNE ARMY
Office of the Commanding General

SUBJECT: Commendation.


1. It is my desire to congratulate and to commend the officers and men of all ranks of IX Troop Carrier Command for their fine performance in Operation VARSITY.

2. The Pilots and co-pilots of many aircraft displayed great courage in their determination to continue to their assigned DZ's and LZ's in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, exceeding anything previously encountered by our units in this theater.

3. The Commanding General, 6th Airborne Division, was most emphatic in his high praise of the precision which characterized the drop of his division. the Commanding General of the 17th Airborne Division has written me, expressing unbounded admiration for the skill, courage and devotion to duty of all crew members of our aircraft and gliders.

4. Many individual cases have been cited where damaged and burning aircraft continued to their assigned areas in spite of the fact that the crews well understood that continuing on course destroyed any probable chance of survival for themselves.

5. The conduct of glider pilots, in general, is beyond written words of commendation. Not only did they deliver a magnificent and well coordinated landing which in many cases was in the midst of hostile positions, but were immediately engaged with their airborne associates, in the hottest kind of hand to hand fighting. In one specific instance, a glider pilot serial immediately organized for all-round defense and withstood heavy counter-attacks with the weapons at their disposal, putting one enemy tank our of action in this engagement. the discipline and combat efficiency of these glider pilot soldiers has called forth the highest praise of division and regimental officers.

6. the extremely low number of abortive aircraft and the speed with which abortives were re-dispatched indicates superior performance by all ground echelons. This devotion to duty is worthy of the highest praise.

7. the courage and devotion to duty of all IX Troop Carrier Command personnel is worthy of the very highest standards of our armed forces.

8. It is my desire that this letter be brought to the attention of all personnel of your command.