No Victory Rolls Please Pilot

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by Cee, Jun 28, 2022.

  1. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi all,

    According to the Pegasus Archive the attached photo was taken before liftoff on D-Day where in actual fact I believe it is an Operation Varsity related photo. I can't locate its IWM catalogue number?

    No Victory Rolls Please .jpg

    Regards ...
     
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  2. VarsityGlider305

    VarsityGlider305 Well-Known Member

    Hi Cee

    I think I have your answer (and more). The photo is part of a collection IWM ref CH 14881 titled "Airborne Armada takes off for Germany: Saturday 24th March 1945"

    AIRBORNE ARMADA TAKES OFF FOR GERMANY : SATURDAY 24TH MARCH 1945

    This Hamilcar glider is also featured in the rough assembly footage, reel 2 at 07.27

    OPERATION VARSITY : Airborne Invasion East of the Rhine, March 24th 1945 (rough assembly and offcuts) [Main Title]

    I've been wondering which one it was for some time and recently came across a letter in The Eagle Magazine (The Eagle Vol 9 No 3 August 1999 p14 for those who have copies) accompanied by the photo in which the pilots are revealed, S/Sgt Jean William Rodway Bonome and Sgt Jack D Hulse both of 1 Flight C Squadron. Their Hamilcar had serial number HH927, they were carrying a crew of the 3rd Airlanding Anti-tank Battery RA with a Dodge truck and 17 pounder gun onboard.

    They were towed from Woodbridge by W/O LEJ Ussell of 644 Squadron in Halifax NA284 2P-Q. Take-off is recorded as 07:21 in the ORB. the glider was released at 10:38.

    As we know the GRRs for this operation are incomplete so I cannot verify the CN but I believe it is 243.

    Jenny
     
  3. Cee

    Cee Senior Member Patron

    Hi,

    That pretty well confirms it. Marvellous stuff Jenny! Now I must update a PDF with acknowledgement to your findings.

    Regards ...
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2022
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  4. VarsityGlider305

    VarsityGlider305 Well-Known Member

    Hi Cee,

    Glad I could help! It's great when all the little pieces of information come together isn't it? Who knows maybe a relative will come across this thread one day and will be able to tell us what happened next.

    Jenny
     

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