G Squadron Glider Pilot Regiment, Operation Varsity

Hi all, does anyone have a list, or know where I can find one, which has the names of who flew in each glider of G Squadron in Op Varsity? Im trying to research someone who was MID'd on this operation and would love to find some general info about it.

Regards

James

 

Hi Rifleman,

Will this do I'm not sure if its the complate list but your welcome to that...

00637 Hamilcar G S/Sgt R S Tillings Sgt J Huard Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00638 Hamilcar G S/Sgt A C White Sgt Sid Dadd Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00642 Hamilcar G S/Sgt P A Attwood Sgt O Frazer Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00643 Hamilcar G S/Sgt C Channell Sgt G Heaton Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00644 Hamilcar G S/Sgt R W Desbois Sgt E Camb Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00648 Hamilcar G S/Sgt A White Sgt W Jeavons Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00652 Hamilcar G S/Sgt D K Roberts Sgt A Preston Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00653 Hamilcar G S/Sgt G H Gabbott Sgt L Thorne Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00654 Hamilcar G S/Sgt W P Jackson Sgt R Weeks Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N
00655 Hamilcar G S/Sgt D G Hatton Sgt A Lee Tarrant Rushton 6 AB Recce N

Cheers
Tom

 

Tom,

Many thanks for that quick reply. Much appreciated. PM Sent.

Best regards

James

 

Hi Tom,

Do you have the actual glider manifests which details the names of the crew and pax??

 

Who got the MiD ?

 

Steve Wright (GPRegt member on this site) I feel certain will be able to fill any gaps re. G Squadron, 1 Wing GPR. Steve's book, The Last Drop, Operation Varsity, holds a wealth of information.

Just for interest to everyone I was at the Airborne Forces Museum in Duxford last week to meet an 86 year old lady to have lunch with Joan and her son David.

Sadly Joan's sight is beginning to fail. Her memories during WW2 building Hamiclar Gliders at Lynham were being recorded in the Archieves Department at Duxford that day.

An amazing lady who at the age of 86 can still today tell you anything you want to know about the assembly of those incredible Hamilcar Gliders, together with her involvement with test flights etc. at Lynham and other events that took place.

A full record of her service during WW2 and her time spent assembling the Hamilcar Glider will be available to read on ParaData later this year.

Quite a remarkable lady indeed, who, when at the age of 80, thoroughly enjoyed her first flying lesson!!

Joan's memories of her involvement during WW2 at Lynham will not now be forgotten but will become available to all those who are intrested for many years to come.

 

James,

I've checked the Varsity MIDs in the GPR History; unfortunately, none of them is referenced in my book. A name may help uncover futher info.

Steve W.

 

Hi James,
I am trying to research a similar GPR Pilot, who was KIA at Varsity, as follows:
14389378 Sgt Gordon Knight Richardson, a native of Preston.
I understand that he was in G Squadron, so if anyone could help, I would be very grateful. I am particularly trying to relate him to a particular 'Chalk Number'.
Kind regards
David.

 

Hello David,

G Squadron : Glider Pilot Regiment : Chalk Numbers and Landing Zones

Nos. 183-206 x 24 Horsa Gliders x LZ R
Nos. 207-226 x 20 Horsa Gliders x LZ R

Nos. 373-378 x 6 Horsa Gliders x LZ B
Nos. 379-384 x 6 Horsa Gliders x LZ A
Nos. 385-393 x 9 Horsa Gliders x LZ P
Nos. 394-402 x 9 Horsa Gliders x LZ P
Nos. 403-408 x 6 Horsa Gliders x LZ P

Steve Wright I feel might be able to help you more with your enquiry.

Sgt. G.K. Knight is listed with others from G Squadron GPR who were KIA on 24.03.45. Operation Varsity, in the book written in 2005 by Alan Cooper called: Wot! No Engines? This book is primarily about RAF Glider Pilots and Operation Varsity.

Good luck with your research,
Lindsay

 

Hello David,

Will this help any ???

In Memory of
Serjeant GORDON KNIGHT RICHARDSON

14389378, Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C.
who died age 20
on 24 March 1945
Son of George Knight Richardson and Muriel Richardson, of Preston, Lancashire.
Remembered with honour
GROESBEEK MEMORIAL

Cheers
Tom

 

My Father (Staff Sergeant Victor David Miller), was a first pilot on Operation Varsity.

I believe he was one of the first gliders (His was a Mk II Horsa) in as he took in 30 troops to take a farm that was overlooking one of the landing (LZ R) fields, near Hamminkeln.

He had taken a sniper course at Watford, so was issued a .303 rifle with telescopic sight and 200 rounds of ammunition.

His copilot was Sergeant McGordon (RAF), who was a replacement for S. Tom Hollingsworth (Taken prisoner at Arnhiem and later shot [Oct 1944] in the POW camp they were sent to).

Flew from Great Dunmow, Essex, towed by an American (FO Bliss) serving with the RAF.

I have his log books tucked away, so might be able to het serialnumbers etc, if of interest.

Read more details in his book “Nothing is Impossible” 1994 - Spelmount Publishing.

Peter657@earthlink.net

 

Looking for info on my late uncle sgt Eric Alan Taylor Glider Pilot Regiment - his number, service record etc. if possible.

Any help greatly appreciated
Allan

 

Allan,

I believe your uncle was number 14,421,841 Eric Allan (note spelling) TAYLOR, he transferred to the GPR from the Royal Artillery (Field branch) 18 August 1944 and subsequently served with the RAOC from 5 Jan 1947 being discharged ("A" release) 22 June 1947. As far as I can tell he did not take part in active glider operations but you may different!! I would be interested in any other information you have about him. Hope this helps, best wishes, C

 

Allan,

I believe your uncle was number 14,421,841 Eric Allan (note spelling) TAYLOR, he transferred to the GPR from the Royal Artillery (Field branch) 18 August 1944 and subsequently served with the RAOC from 5 Jan 1947 being discharged ("A" release) 22 June 1947. As far as I can tell he did not take part in active glider operations but you may different!! I would be interested in any other information you have about him. Hope this helps, best wishes, C

I am sure he is the one, shall pass on to my cousin, he gave all of his records and medals etc to his first wife when they divorced

 

Further with regards to Sgt Eric A(l)an Taylor. 14,421,841 is correct thanks to gliderpilotregiment.org however he took part as a glider pilot in a couple of active glider operations, the Rhine crossing and Arnhem. Part of his duty was transporting supplies, troops and guns. He also used to tell stories about 11 hour return trips to deliver supplies to Norway, not in a glider. He claims to have had 10 glider crashes on landing. There's no question he was permantently injured as a result of the war due to him being classified as disabled soon after his 50th birthday due to all his back problems. Info courtesy of his daughter (my cousin) Army records have ALLAN, birth certificate ALAN

 

Two of my cousins currently in service:
Lt. Colonel Lance Malin MBE Demining many areas including Afgahistan, now
Chief of Operations for the UN Mine Action Office in Southern Sudan
Lt. Colonel Kearn Malin AGC (RMP) formerly Provost Martial then on to Baghdad, now at Senior Course 117 at NATO

 

Hi, I'm trying to find out more about my great-uncle, SSgt George Duns, who was in 24 Flt, G Sqn, and killed on VARSITY. If anyone has information about chalk numbers, loads, and destinations, I'd love to hear from you.

Jon

 

Hi, I'm trying to find out more about my great-uncle, SSgt George Duns, who was in 24 Flt, G Sqn, and killed on VARSITY. If anyone has information about chalk numbers, loads, and destinations, I'd love to hear from you.

Jon
Hej Jon

According to the book Glider Pilots at Arnhem (Mike Peters & Luuk Buist) SSgt George Duns (4 453 864) flew in Glider Chalk No. 435 at Arnhem (Operation Market). He was one of the lucky ones to make it back across the Rhine to Nijmegen and thence back to the base.
I do not have any information regarding Varsity.
Hope this helps.

Steen

 

Would any one know what chalk numbers. pilots names and airfield that flew in B Coy Royal Ulster Rifles on OP VARSITY.

Steve

 

Hi Rifleman,
I am also looking to find the names of 2 pilots of G squadron who flew Horsa 390 from Great Dunmow carrying my grandfather and men from B troop HQ1 3rd Airlanding A/T Bty RA destined for LZ P. They were both killed .
Hope this may help .
Paul