Apart from the 524 men of 17th Airborne Division the Americans had more fatal casualties on March 24, 1945: 85 glider pilots died, 98 aircrew of IX Troop Carrier Command were killed, as well as 113 aircrew who flew in B24s - these bombers of US 8th Air Force were tasked with resupplying the airborne forces. All in all Varsity cost 820 American lives.
British losses of Operation Varsity were just as severe: We know the names of 566 men of British 6th Airborne (or attached to it) who died between March 24th and March 26th, 1945. Again, the vast majority on this day - 76 years ago: March 24th, 1945. Additionally, 100 British glider pilots died, 21 RAF aircrew of tugs were killed in action.
It is more difficult to get exact numbers and names for the German casualties of Operation Varsity - an exact count is under way, though. On 24 March 1945 Lieutenant Erich Mitschke was severely wounded near DZ "W" and died after having been evacuated to an American hospital west of the Rhine.
