By: cbstd - 3rd June 2004 at 19:11
In the movie, they used minatures and then only in silhouette. To my untrained eye they looked like Lanc’s but they probably were meant to be Halifaxes.
Thanks for the info.
Scott
By: Smith - 3rd June 2004 at 05:45
cbstd – the short answer to your question is no – Lancasters were not glider tugs. Was the footage in The Longest Day genuine newsreel stuff or post-war film? If the former it may be that what you saw were Halifaxes.
Have a look here http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/marfleetwright/GPR/tugs.htm
By: Olds Cool - 2nd June 2004 at 23:29
Albermarles aswell towed (297 squadron definately) not sure but possibly from Manston. A fantastic piece of logistics if anyone gets to see a picture of them all hooking up on the runway.
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd June 2004 at 21:37
My father saw the Horsas off from Tarrant Rushton, towed by Halifaxes on the night of June 5th 1944, There is a famous picture somewhere of over 60 Halifax and Horsa Gliders assembled on the runway and along the peri track waiting for ‘the off’
By: Hatton - 2nd June 2004 at 20:54
Notice the Skyraiders too?
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June 2, 2004 at 8:26 pm