Hi, New to the forum I'm researching Bridlington Cenotaph & have a member of the Glider Pilot Regt: Staff Sergeant Eric Brian Wikner 4393249 I know he transferred in from the Green Howards & was killed during the Invasion of Sicily but I wondered if anyone had details of glider crews/losses on the day Thanks
Hi John and welcome. We have a couple of Glider Pilot experts on this forum and I am sure one of them will be along fairly soon to help you in your quest. Can I ask what other sources you have tried so far? Mike
Hello John and welcome to the forum. Info I have is as follows: Waco CG4a Glider, Chalk No.13 loaded with troops landed quite fast in a field, Flt-Offr Sam Fine (co-pilot -USAAC) turned it to the left, the left wing of the glider caught a tree and it brought the glider to a halt. As Flt-Offr Sam Fine was unbuckling his seat belt he was hit in the shoulder. SSgt Wikner was hit in head during Italian counterattack on Ponte Grande I hope this helps.
First port of call was the CWGC. Then I posted a thread on RAF Commands Forum, which I was using to research Bridlington's lost aircrew, and they were very helpful. I've also been through the archives of the Bridlington Free Press. Thanks
Welcome to the Forum John. First place I would look is The National Archives. Files WO361/494 & 495 concern enquiries made into Glider Casualties Sicily. Brian
This thread has not been added to for quite a while, but Flt Offr Fine above features in ‘The Glider Gang’ by Milton Dank (US 439 Troop Carrier Group 44-45); some context was offered in: Glider pilots , Operation Husky Unfortunately, SSgt Wikner is not mentioned by name in the book, but Fine furnished the following memories of the events in which he was killed and which may be of interest: In addition to being remembered in Bridlington, Eric Wikner is also remembered in Hedon, where he grew up and is noted in a section of the local history walks: The Boulevard in Hedon was designed... - Hedon History Walks The next time I visit Hedon, will pass detail of this thread for local additional reference.
The author of the opening post was last logged on in 2012, I have sent him a PM to take a look. Assuming the email used when joining is valid.