FRANCE

Good morning,
I wonder if you can tell me how the Horsa Glider Project at RAF Shawbury is progressing. Along with many others, and in particular, Ray Conningham, I helped to set it up in 199?
Kindest regards
David Woods.

United Kingdom

DOUBLE HILLS IS AN ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE TO REMEMBER 23 MEN WHO WERE THE FIRST CASUALTIES OF OPERATION MARKET GARDEN.
THIS NOTICE IS THAT THE SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY 1ST SEPT 2013.
21 MEN OF 9TH FIELD COMPANY AIRBORNE ROYAL ENGINEERS AND TWO STAFF SERGEANTS GLIDER PILOTREGIMENT ARMY AIR CORPS ALL DIED WHEN THEIR HORSA RJ113 CRASHED INTO A MEADOW CALLED DOUBEL HILLS PAULTON SOMERSET NR BATH.
THEY WERE ENROUTE TO ARNHEM THE BATTLE FOR THE BRIDGE TOO FAR.
THESE MEN WERE THE FIRST CASUALTIES AND THEIR MEMORY IS HELD CLOSE AND DEAR IN THE HEARTS OF THE PAULTON VILLAGERS THEIR RELATIVES AND THIER FRIENDS.
CONTACT PETER YEATES FOR MORE INFORMATION
41 RIVERSIDE WAY
HANHAM
BRISTOL
BS153TF

The Haque The Netherlands

Hello.

I\'m looking for any information (photos, documents, Is he crashed and where? )about: Staff Sergeant Edwin Pickford, son of James A and Caroline Pickford, of Gorton, Manchester, originally enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment. He later transferred to serve as a Glider pilot with G-Squadron, 1st Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment. He took part in the Glider insertion to the Battle of Arnhem, during Op Market Garden.

Staff Sergeant Pickford, Service no:4129928, died of wounds on 27 September 1944, aged 25 years old. He was given an initial Field Burial in the temporary British cemetery beside Sophiaweg, at Nijmegen, before being re-interred later at Jonkerbos War Cemetery, near Nijmegen.

And any infomation about Cpl Blackburn and Cpl Allan who were also Glider Pilots (1945 ??)
Thanks

Regards

Fer Brouwer
ferryvon@zonnet.nl

cheshire uk

hi im lookin for information on my great grandfather, his name is Leslie Thomas Brereton Sant. All i know of his military career is that he was in the Glider Regiment, and is from cheshire.

any information please email at matmartian@aol.com

regards mathew

Odiham, Hampshire,

I was privileged to be presented with a copy of The History of The Glider Pilot Regiment By Mr Richard Long upon completion of phase two training at Middle Wallop on the 7th of September 2001, and to be able to by the man a drink(or two) in the bar after was a great honour, just wondering if anyone has any news of Mr long? he was very kind in sharing his time with us.

Essex, UK

I am trying to research my Grandfathers's military history and as part of that I am aware that he was part of the Glider Pilot Regiment taking part in Operation Tonga on the night of the 6th June. He was in 12 flight E Squadron and flew from RAF Down Ampney.

His first pilot was Flight Commander Lt Chris Dodwell. Their Horsa glider came down off the LZ and my Grandfather suffered a serious leg injury to his left leg. When walking for help he became detached from the group and may well have become a POW, although in a book written by S/Sgt Andy Andrews it is said that my Grandfather was left in the care of another Sgt John Wilson and they managed to find some medics who may have managed to get him back to the UK.

Sadly I haven't been able to find out anything that happened directly after these events.

My Grandfather was Sgt B S Osborne, he has sadly passed away a number of years ago so I am unable to hear any of this fascinating and heroic part of his history from the great man himself.

If anyone has any more information relating to my grandfather I would appreciate them getting in touch.

I have recently applied to join the GPR Association as an associate member and await a response.

Thank you to all the brave pilots of the GPR for all your sacrifices and selfless endeavours during WW2, you are all true heros.

Buenos Aires

My father, S/Sgnt. James A Partington 14320142 was in squadron H of the GPR 1942 to 1945 and later,1946, N squadron. I can't find a mention of these on the web but their existence has been confirmed. Anyone who has information and willing to share please get in touch.
brianpar@fibertel.com.ar

England

I am researching and writing about the Prisoners of War of the 6th Airborne Division. I am looking to get in touch with Veterans of the Glider Pilot Regiment and 6th Airborne Division who were taken prisoner or escape and evaded, in Normandy "Operation Tonga", the Ardennes "Battle of the Bulge" and the Rhine Crossing "Operation Varsity". If anyone has any information it would be great to hear from you.

sixthairborne@hotmail.co.uk

Netherlands

Wrote a new publication about Arnhem:

The Horsa MkI, Arnhem and Modification Record Plates

70 Pages, photographs,drawings,pictures, never published before

20 Euro Europe postage included

contact me at reinders2@upcmail.nl for orders

Tiverton, Devon

My father, Harry Puckett, was a glider pilot during the war and flew Horsas and Hamilcars. He was a Staff Sergeant. Many, many of the posts here contain the comment that 'he didn't speak about it much' and my dad was no exception - if he spoke at all about his war experiences, it would be a light-hearted tale. For example, he told me he took off for Arnhem but was in the 'third wave' and was recalled. He used to say to me 'if I hadn't been recalled, you wouldn't be here'. He took part in the Sicily landings (Turkey Buzzard), was in North Africa I think, and did the Rhine crossing. I think he landed a glider near Pegasus Bridge on D-Day, but I am not sure and I would love to know more; I don't know his service number.

Before he volunteered for the GPR, Dad was a regular soldier and was at Dunkirk. He returned across the channel in a fishing boat - my mother told me that the boat was shelled and the skipper got all the soldiers to stand on one side and thus managed to tip the boat enough for the hole to be clear of the water; my Dad was so exhausted he slept through the whole thing. I don't know when he volunteered for the glider pilot regiment but I think it was fairly early on. I would be delighted and thrilled to know more, or if anyone knew or remembers him.
harriettemullins@hotmail.com