National WWII Glider Pilots Association

Legacy Organization of veterans National WWII Glider Pilots Association.



National WWII Glider Pilots Association emblem 1971-2018    Troop Carrier Command     Tweleth Air Force Wings of WWII Glider Pilots Association                  


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GERMANY--Rhine Crossing: Interview with Flight Officers Jella and HandOperation Varsity
Radio script appeared on COMBAT DIARY for Sunday April 1, 1945

Flight Officers Jella and Hand's interview on the COMBAT DIARY radio broadcast
Flight Officers Jella and Hand's interview on the COMBAT DIARY radio broadcast
RHINE CROSSING


SERIALS


BATTLE OF BURP GUN CORNER OFFICERS


GLIDER MARKINGS


A ONE POINT LANDING


INVASION OF GERMANY
Flight Officer O. Faris
Personal account


Flight Officer Edgar Jella
Personal account

Flight Officer Bill Cheolas
Personal account

17TH AIRBORNE REPORTS
Peterson’s Report

1st Lt. Frank Langston's article

NarativeFacts-1st Battalion - 194th GIR Report

NarativeFacts-2nd Battalion - 194th GIR Report

NarativeFacts-3rd Battalion - 194th GIR Report

194th GIR Unit Citation


Run in DiagramNational Archives

93rd Squadron Glider Landings Overlay
 USAFHRA
94th Squadron Glider Landings Overlay
USAFHRA

Brereton's Commendation to the IX TCC


Markings on top of gliders.

Photo curtesy of the U.S. National Archives
On March 22nd instructions were received from the Troop Carrier Wings to each Troop Carrier Group to paint an assigned marking, unique to each Group, on the top of all the gliders for identification purposes.

Gliders in LZ

National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection
Back caption: Troops of the 17th Air-borne Division, load aboard gliders before the take-off on the air-borne mission of the Rhine River. Germany 3/24/45



Thomas Pleger Collection/by daughter Marian Klieber
Back caption: Mar 24, 1945 - Pre Take off for Wesel Hop. 437th Troop Carrier Group. Base: Coulemere, France (near Paris) Personnel: Members 17th Air Borne Glider Inf. --Extra



Gliders on double tow

National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection
Back caption: 1st ALLIED AIRBORNE ARMY ETO HQ 45 24 MAR 22865-4 CREDIT ... U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS PHOTOGRAPHER T/4 CLYDE M. PLETCHER
A Double tow glider formation, one of the new techniques used for the first time in an airborne operation, is seen over drop area in vicinity of Wesel, Germany, during the 1st Allied Airborne Army's air invasion of Germany. Photograph was taken from a glider of the 439th Troop Carrier Group whose load was the 507th PARA-Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, 1st Allied Airborne Army.” [The 507th PIR was transported by the 439th Troop Carrier Group in Serial A-15. These consisted of glider chalk number 105 thru 125.



Gliders in LZ

National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection
Back caption: GLIDERS DOT THE GERMAN LANDSCAPE --- Allied gliders dot the German landscape behind the German front lines on the Rhine. Parachute troops were dropped, 24 March 1945 in advance of the Rhine-crossing ground troops by 1500 transports and gliders. The 1st Allied Airborne troops landed across the Rhine to support Gen. Montgomery's troops crossing the Rhine. Almost immediately after the airborne troops landed, 240 Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the U.S. 8th AF Second Air Division were on the scene to supply them with vital weapons, food, and medicine. March 1945.



Thomas Pleger Collection/by daughter Marian Klieber
Back caption: Mar 24, 1945 - Some landing tragic. Wesel Germany.



Gliders in LZ

National Archives
This picture was taken at LZ-N near the rail road crossing in that area. The photo was part of a series of photos in Life Magazine, April 1945 issue pictorial coverage of the Varsity Operation.

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