I don’t know….but I know a man who might

Tim,

I’ve trawled through a few glider photos but I don’t recognise this :confused:

If the part is indeed a prop/skid from an assault glider then you could try contacting Phillip Reinders of the Arnhem Battle Research Group (google it!) – him and his team regularly search the landing zones used during operation “Market” and they’ve probably encountered every metal part used on the Horsa glider at one time or another.

The Hamilcar had a tail *wheel* which rules that one out.

I know for sure that it *isn’t* part of the sprung-loaded tail wheel affair used on the American CG4A glider (renamed “Hadrian” when it was used in small numbers by the British).

I haven’t seen anything like this fitted to the smaller Hotspur glider – the skid on that was located more in the middle of the fuse’ and kept the tail well off the ground.

Good luck!

Andy

Have you seen the fantastic work being undertaken at the Yorkshire Air Museum restoring a Waco?

I first saw this CG-4A back in 2003, it was in a very sorry state. WHAT a transformation!. Many thanks for the photo Robert.

Wonder if YAM will be painting her in RAF colours????.

Andy

Some interesting comments on this film, I think I’ll wait for a TV screening rather than buying it DVD though.

After watching the excellent Band of Brothers for the umpteenth time last week, I can’t help but think that the making of The Last Drop was a missed opportunity for someone to make a really pukka film solely about the 1st British Airborne Division’s involvement at Arnhem. It’s been what, 30 years since A Bridge Too Far was screened and good as it was for the time, ABTF was based on the Market-Garden Operation as a whole. A new film, with all the bells and whistles of modern-day special effects, would get across to an audience the true horror of what it must’ve been like for our lads at Arnhem.

The interest in WWII Airborne troops has never been greater and a film like that would’ve been much more welcomed I think.

..Come on Mr Spielberg, how about it! 😉

Andy B

Hi bud…email checked and replied to.

Cheers

It was a friend of mine who pointed out there was a discussion going on here about the Assault Glider Project. Not wanting to miss out on talking about a subject that is very close to my heart, I thought that I’d get myself registered so I could add my 10 pence worth.

First, an introduction is in order I think. I’m the Son of a WWII glider pilot who saw action in France and Holland during 1944. Since my Dad passed away I’ve become totally immersed in all matters concerning the British military glider program.

As Kev pointed out, the fragility of these aircraft cannot be underestimated. The gliders were made in sections with many of these component parts being built by furniture manufacturers. For Companies who were more used to making tables and chairs they excelled themselves in this “new” work but one does wonder if the odd error passed through the net. Due to the huge demands put on natural resources during the war, “B” grade timber was often used in the construction of military gliders too. Stories of these aircraft breaking up in mid-air, losing their tail sections e.t.c are unfortunately far too common. Yes, the gliders were fragile but those daring young men of the Glider Pilot Regt. flew what they were given with the kind of flying skill which even today, 60+ years after they did their “bit” for King and Country, is still admired by anyone who knows their ailerons from their elevators!. To anyone reading this thread I would say stick your hand in your pocket and go buy a couple of books on the subject, Alan Lloyd’s, “The Gliders”, “The History of The Glider Pilot Regiment” by Claude Smith and “One Night in June” by Steve Wright & Kevin Shannon are all great reads and they’ll give you an insight into the sacrifices made by some of the greatest pilots ever to walk this Earth.

It’s great to see that the Assault Glider Project is receiving such interest and in my own efforts to preserve the history of the GPR, I’m collecting stuff with a view to putting together a mobile museum, (a Glider Pilot “roadshow” if you like). At the heart of this will be a 1/1 scale replica of a Horsa cockpit. I’ve been gathering original parts for this for almost 3 years now and I’m hoping that the actual build will start in the very near future…. I’ll be sure to let you guys know when this happens….donations of bags of nails,circular saws with operators and cups of tea would be most welcomed 😉

On behalf of those who those who never returned from their last mission in a “matchbox”, thanks for taking the time to post something which will help to make sure they’ll never be forgotten.

Andy