As many of you know, all glider pilots assigned to Operation Varsity were placed on detached service with the 17th Airborne Division. This marked the first time glider pilots were officially tasked with serving as infantry after delivering their cargo. To prepare for this new role, the 17th Airborne, now based in England, was responsible for training the glider pilots. Of the ten groups in the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, two squadrons from each group participated in this initial training. The 75th Troop Carrier Squadron from the 435th Group documented this training in remarkable detail which included the 76th Squadron.

SEVENTY-FIFTH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, Historical Report, November 1944:

The following glider pilots from our squadron proceeded to Ogbourne St. George on 14th November for Infantry Training with the 17th Airborne Division:

All members of this contingent were billeted in permanent type British barracks which were constructed of brick: washing and latrine facilities were excellent. Actually, the living facilities were superior than those on our home station.

Before the day was over, the orientation talks were augmented with discussion by Major General Williams, Ridgeway and Miley who were all very much interested in this initial training given by the 17th division to the Glider Pilots.

The first day’s instructions (15th) consisted of the Rifle M1: Field and detailed stripping, care and cleaning, use of the sighting bar, “dry-run” on the prone, kneeling and sitting positions; physical exercises and double-time. That night MI’s were issued and it was the duty of every man to clean his rifle. On the 16th, there were dry runs on both slow and rapid fire in all positions, explanation of range procedure and use of score book augmented with physical training. General Ridgeway visited this training in the field. On the 17th, during a continuous rain work was done in the range pits at the Liddington Range which was about five miles from the camp-site. It had been planned to fire on this range during the afternoon but the volume of rain postponed the activity, hence, the afternoon was spent in cleaning rifles and drying the mod on shoes, trousers, etc.

Again on the range in the mud on the 18th; M1’s were zeroed in; slow firing from kneeling, sitting and standing positions; followed by work in the pits during the afternoon.

The 19th being Sunday was a day of relaxation with no instruction scheduled.

With the opening of the new week, instructions on the 50-caliber machine gun with the M63 mount (AA) were given during the first morning. The afternoon was again spent on the Liddington Range, this time firing the Bazooka at a wrecked tank and also firing one hundred rounds with the 50-caliber MG. This was followed by thirty minutes of close order drill.

During the morning of the 21st the entire instruction was devoted to explosives and their use particularly with the various types. Each man had the opportunity to prepare and detonate an explosive charge. This was followed by a demonstration of a “crater-blast&rduo;. In the afternoon the instructions were on booby traps the construction of push-pull and release types which was followed by half of the class laying booby traps and the other half subsequently finding and disarming these traps.

On the 22nd the M3 MG was used on the range in a familiarization course. In the afternoon classes were held on map reading and the use of the compass. [Stating at] 1900 there was a night compass march in which the “students” set out in groups of three and four spaced at five-minute intervals. The groups reported to the destination from 2230 until 0330 the following morning. The weather was inclement with haze and rain which restricted visibility to several feet.

During the morning of the 23rd there was a critique on the compass march during which overlays were made of the course. This was followed by a first-lass Thanksgiving Dinner and then complete relaxation during the afternoon and evening.

The 24h was used for scouting and patrolling, terrain appreciation, messages and message books and day and night reconnaissance patrols. This was augmented by a training film on reconnaissance. From 2000 until 2230 the Airborne gave a demonstration on night patrolling.

On the morning of the 25th, actual practice in patrols, their formation, and crossings of different type terrain were made. This was followed by a patrol problem in the afternoon.

The entire day of the 17th was spent studying the Carbine and dry-runs were held in firing this weapon from all positions.

The 28th was to be used for record firing on the MI, however, weather prevented this, so lectures were given on the history of the organization of Airborne tactics, technique and units. In the afternoon Major General Miley talked on what the duties of the Glider Pilots would be in the event the 17th airborne division were used in an actual operation against the enemy. He emphasized that the Glider Pilots would have to set up an independent organization modelled on an infantry company or Battalion which would probably not be used as offensive ground forces but would be required to defend themselves. Following the General’s lecture there was a review of morning reports and circumstance reports which was meant to familiarize everyone with one administrative side of the Glider Pilot Combat Unit.

On the 29th, AT and AP Rifle Grenades were fired on the range at a nearby range. Following this were lectures on military government and First Aid.

The morning of the 30th was used for firing the carbine for record and during the afternoon familiarization firing of the BAR [Browning Automatic Rifle] was accomplished.

On the 1st December, the entire day was used for firing the rifle MI for record on the Liddington Range. Our Squadron qualified all members with both the MI Rifle and also the Carbine.

Field and detailed stripping and dry runs with the 30 Cal MG with the M2 tripod mount were conducted all day the 2nd.

All day of the 4th was used for the 30 Cal MG the morning for field stripping and dry runs and the afternoon for actual firing on the range. From 1900 to 2030 there was an intelligence lecture on OP’s and messages.

The 5th duplicated the activities of the 4th.

This was followed on the 6th by extended order drill in reference to platoon tactics. In the evening, there was an examination on the intelligence lectures of the two previous days.

Extended order drill was given on the 7th with the emphasis on the Rifle Squad.

The entire day of the 8th was used for a Division Maneuver during which there was a simulated LZ on which a landing had been made. The Glider Pilots accompanied their individual Airborne “loads” to their respective Airborne CP’s. From there each Glider Pilot had to report to his “Squadron” CP, then to the “Group” CP and then to the “Wing” CP where K Rations were issued for dinner. This was followed in the afternoon by a tactical infantry march cross country to the Base Camp a distance of about thirteen miles.

Platoon Defense Extended Order Drill was practiced on the 9th. In addition, Platoon Defense by digging-in.

On the 11th each man dug a fox hole and then allowed a tank to run over the fox hole with its occupants inside. The was succeeded in the afternoon by a field demonstration of German and American mines and minefields.

On the 12th the MI rifle was fired against field targets at Liddington Range.

On the 13th during the morning all personnel packed and after dinner they were transported by truck to our Home Station.

All personnel of our Squadron successfully completed their training; in fact, our total and average scores in almost all of the firing led the entire detachment of Glider Pilots who were attending this course of instruction during this period of time. This included Glider Pilots from two Squadrons from each Group in the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing.

On December 18, Glider Pilots from two squadrons attached to the 438th TC Group and two from the 434th arrived at Ogbourne St George to begin infantry instruction. However, on December 16, Field Marshal Rumsfeld launched his offensive into the Ardennes, surrounding Bastogne. All glider pilot combat classed were cancelled on the 19th of December. By 25 December, the 17th Airborne Division had moved to the Continent.

Despite these developments, the 435th Troop Carrier Group completed their training. Major Pearson called upon the Group Officers to augment a missing company in the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. One group of glider pilots was chosen for this task. It was Major Charles Gordon (then Captain) of the 435th who volunteered his group of glider pilots, forming what became known as the 435th Glider Pilot Infantry Company. This company included pilots from the 75th, 76th, 77th, and 78th Squadrons. These men received combat infantry training in preparation for the invasion of Germany on March 24, 1945.

To learn more about the 435th Glider Pilot Infantry Company of the 17th Airborne Division, I recommend reading Hans den Brok’s book, Battle of Burp Gun Corner, available from the Silent Wings Museum.

Edited by Patricia Overman