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Glider Regiment Casualties Database

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The Glider Pilot Regiment was a British airborne forces unit of the Second World War responsible for crewing the British Army's military gliders. It saw action in support of Allied airborne operations. Established in 1942, the regiment was disbanded in 1957. Its motto was proven by its record in the field: 'Nothing Is Impossible'. As an elite regiment of the British Army, members were primarily volunteers from other parts of the Army, though the RAF also contributed pilots. The highest standards were applied in flying training, initially on powered aircraft before learning to fly gliders. Glider pilots would only have one chance of landing in the correct spot and this called for a high degree of airmanship.

Once fully qualified, they would fly unpowered aircraft capable of carrying everything from troops to light tanks. They would achieve extraordinary feats of flying, landing on unprepared landing zones behind enemy lines, and taking up arms to fight beside the troops they carried into battle. After landing they operated as infantry and even sometimes medics and became known as 'Total Soldiers'. The Glider Pilot Regiment participated in some of the most influential turning points in the War including the invasion of Sicily, D-Day (memorably the action at Pegasus Bridge) and Operation Market Garden.

In post-war years The Regiment saw action in Palestine, and participated in the Berlin Airlift as well as serving on Operation Firedog in Malaya.

There is a specialist site dedicated to this elite band of warriors The Glider Pilot Regiment Society

As part of the excellent Pegasus Archive, there are many first-person action reports from members of the Glider Pilot Regiment here.

See also Paradata: living history of Airborne Forces

The Assault Glider Trust has a splendid site covering a number of topics including the restoration of a Horsa glider.

Missing Soldiers in the Netherlands information on the Glider Pilot Regiment is here

Excellent information on US glider operations is at ww2gp.org/eight-missions.php. This is a huge and comprehensive site.

Operations Covered in Database:Ladbroke, Fustian, Market Garden, Varsity, Elaborate, Overlord, Tonga, Mallard, Beggar, Turkey Buzzard, Freshman, Firedog, Dragoon, Planefare.


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#Name*First NamesTitleRankService No.AgeDutyAwardsServiceCommandComponentsDateOfDeathGlider DetailsTheatreOperationTaskGlider Crew•••••••••CauseofDeath•••••••••Regiment in 1939BornResided**********Family*********Buried/CommemoratedNotesPhotoLinks
1 AdamsNorman Vere Maxwell 'Jeep'Lieutenant12915627Glider Pilot Army Air CorpsGlider Pilot RegimentBoth Wings (7 Squadrons), D Squadron1944-09-18Horsa Chalk Number 457At SeaOperation MARKET GARDENAirborne operation to capture the Rhine bridge at Arnhem 17-26 Sep 44Lt N V M Adams (Co-pilot Sgt K. Waterman)Section Commander, D Squadron. Originally reported missing. Killed when he was thrown through perspex windscreen of Horsa Glider Chalk number 457 as it ditched in the sea off Felixstowe, at high speed, following the shift in the load of a jeep and trailer belonging to a Royal Artillery Forward Observation Unit. The glider broke up. Co-pilot Sgt K. Waterman and six passengers hung onto debris until they were rescued by Air Sea Rescue HSL 2687 from Felixstowe.Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland Lanarkshire ScotlandSon of Dr. Daniel Vere Maxwell Adams and Edith Anne Maxwell Adams; husband of Hilda Mary Maxwell Adams, of Hunstanton, Norfolk. Hilda Adams had gone into a maternity home two days before here husband's death. His younger brother, Gerald, was 17 at the tome of his deathGroesbeek Memorial, Gelderland, Netherlands. Panel 8
2 AdamsRichard AllenSergeant1442613519Glider Pilot Army Air CorpsGlider Pilot Regiment Both Wings (7 Squadrons), E Squadron 1944-09-18Horsa Western Europe Campaign 1944-45 Operation MARKET GARDEN Airborne operation to capture the Rhine bridge at Arnhem 17-26 Sep 44 Sgt R A Adams (Sgt Richard Ennis) Horsa Glider carrying a jeep and two trailers of artillery ammunition, left Down Ampney. When almost over Landing Zone, in free flight, a flak burst close to their right wing rocked the glider; Sgt Adams was hit by shrapnel and slumped in his seat. Sgt Rochard Ennis could not recover flying control, they overshot the Landing Zone and hit some trees, Sgt Ennis, still strapped into his seat, was catapulted through the perspex windscreen and Sgt Adams was crushed by load shifting. First buried in a garden behind psychiatric home at Wolfheze by co-pilot Sgt Richard Ennis and two passengers from glider London SE England London SE England Son of Richard James Adams and Pyarea Victoria Adams, of Herne Hill, London First Buried Behind The Mental Hospital At Wolfheze. Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands. Plot 6 Row D Grave 12

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