Operation Varsity was the largest single airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day, and in one location. On the 24th March 1945, in perfect weather, nearly four thousand aircraft were involved along with more than sixteen thousand paratroopers. Aircraft from the 6th Airborne Division and the 17th US Airborne Division deposited fighting men, and equipment behind enemy lines, East of the River Rhine. Their mission was to capture key points and so assist the advance of the ground troops. Having learned the lessons from the Arnhem battle, the gliders and paratroops landed close to their targets and achieved total success. There are two CD-ROM's available about Operation Varsity in the World War II Aviation History section produced from previously unpublished documents held at the Museum of Army Flying in Middle Wallop, showing the planning, the execution and the logistics of the battle. War diaries and reports give a full insight into the British perspective; both aerial and ground photographs complete this insight into one of the major actions of World War II.
The video clip below is entitled The Invasion of Germany - Operation Varsity; In the American glider pilots' most dangerous mission yet, they lead the invasion of Germany and land right on top of the Germans.
From the early race to build gliders to the D-Day invasion at Normandy and Nazi Germany's final surrender, Silent Wings - The American Glider Pilots of WWII narrated by Hal Holbrook, reveals the critical role gliders played in World War II offensives. Through rare archival footage and photographs, the film places the audience right at the center of the action in the dangerous world of the American glider pilot.
During WWII, 6000 young Americans volunteered to fly large unarmed cargo gliders into battle. For these glider pilots every mission was do-or-die. It was their task to repeatedly risk their lives landing the men and tools of war deep within enemy-held territory, often in complete darkness.
Thousands of lives were saved and battles won because of their efforts. In fact, one pilot interviewed said - the 'G' in their emblem didn't stand for glider; it stood for 'guts'.
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