Sunday, 13 September 2009 09:00
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two CD-ROM's available about Operation Varsity in the World War II Aviation History section produced from previously unpublished documents held at the Museum of Army Flying in Middle Wallop, showing the planning, the execution and the logistics of the battle.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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Friday, 11 September 2009 09:00
Back in 1886, ten shillings would buy you a superior ball, rugby or association, hand sewn, made from the primest portion of selected hide, with the best bladders money could purchase. This advertisement GOY Limited, The Football Outfitters, London is from The Football Annual 1886, (Football Association and Rugby Union). The annual from 1886 is packed with fascinating facts from the past when players wore garters, knee breeches and caps. In Rugby Union a scrummage took place when a player placed the ball on the ground and continued until the ball was in touch or in goal. Details of Public Schools can be found with notes on their Champions and matches played including Harrow School, The Royal Military College Sandhurst and Rugby School. The Provincial Associations include Portsmouth Town, Portsmouth Sunflower, Upton Rovers and Upton Park. A summary of the season for the Principal Clubs includes Corinthians, The Kent Rovers and Preston North End. Football Abroad includes the Anglo-Australian Football Association, The Canterbury Rugby Union, The Otago Rugby Union and The Wellington Rugby Union.
Tuesday, 15 September 2009 09:00
On September 10th, 1914 the elusive German light-cruiser Emden, not been seen for several weeks, suddenly appeared in the Bay of Bengal. Between September the 10th and the 16th she captured seven British merchantmen, sinking six of them, and sending their crews to Calcutta in the seventh, the Kabinga. Among the vessels sunk were the Indus, Lovat, Killin, Trabbock, and Diplomat. The Emden Carries ten 4.1 inch guns, eight 5 pounders, four machine guns, and two torpedo tubes. This photograph, and many more First World War battleship photographs can be found on The Illustrated War News Volume 2 September 1914 CD-ROM, please note that the image shown is of lower resolution and quality than the image on the CD-ROM.
Home of Archive Britain's collection of Aviation History, Military History, Naval History, Soccer History, Rugby History, Cricket History, Theatre History, Portsmouth History, and Genealogical Resources. The Archive currently contains over thirty thousand images on over eighty CD-ROM's and is continuously growing. Our CD products are now downloadable. Please click here to register and receive new product notifications.
Wednesday, 09 September 2009 09:00
This adverisement from White Star can be found in the Southsea and Portsmouth Guide of 1929-1930. The return fare to travel third class on a White Star Cruise to the USA from England was £38. If a cruise was taken in 1930, it could have been on the RMS Britannic, which entered service that year. The Britannic was powered by diesel, and was around half the size of White Star's Titanic which sank in 1912, her route was Liverpool-Belfast-Glasgow-New York, and she could carry ove fifteen hundred passengers. Source; The Southsea and Portsmouth Guide 1929-1930 CD-ROM, please note that the image shown is of lower resolution and quality than the image on the CD-ROM.
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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.
