Just gone on sale on Ebay, is a photo of the wreckage of a Horsa glider in Normandy with Chalk #31. From the style to which the 31 has been applied, I think it's a 436th TCG glider making it Serial 32 of Mission Elmira. The same kind of style to the Chalk numbers have appeared on Horsa's at La Londe. We know Chalk #22 which has a similar style and has been identified to being flown by the 436th. On page 113 of Phillipe Esvelin's 'D-Day Gliders' there is another unidentified Horsa with the same style Chalk markings. Edited on 2-16-2018 to re-add photo Next is to pinpoint its location. Neil.
Hi Neil, Is that the port side wing tip on the ground? The hedgerow seems to be one of those low, 'second generation' types used to sub-divide larger fields, probably only a century old in 1944! Pine trees don't like wet ground either, so that narrows things down a small bit BTW, don't buy this photo; its been published before. Regards, Pat
I would say that is the wingtip. I won't be buying it. Saving it off EBay was good enough. I'm collecting as many photographs of the chalk markings. I'm attempting to match them to each Group.
Hi Pat and Neil, I do have a good candidate for the location. US30/4108 frame 1009 Just north and outside of SME ! I am sending you both a photo to see what you think. Pat, maybe you can post it please? John p.s. frame 1010 is even clearer
Hi John, Looks a very good match! Image Credit: RCAHMS/www.ncap.org.uk Looks like the photographer was standing in the corner of the field, having walked in through the gap from the laneway. Below is a down sized version of NCAP_ACIU_US30_4108_1009 flown on the 8th June, showing the location of the above extract outlined in red: Image Credit: RCAHMS/www.ncap.org.uk The finder chart below shows the location just north of Sainte Mere Eglise: Well spotted John Regards, Pat
Nicely found chaps. Well, unfortunately the 82nd AB statistical table for the 436th TCG glider mission doesn't have the tail number or chalk numbers annotated. The 31st glider is listed as being 4 1/2 miles from LZ W and according to Google Earth, Les Forges is 3 miles as the crow flies from the crash site of this particular Horsa.
Hi Pat, You say this photo has been published before... can you tell me where to find it? I've never seen it and I'd like to find it. John
Hi John, When I say 'published', what I mean is that its loose on the web and I think it may be in the Fold3 collection as well. IIRC, its also published in one of the Normandy glider books, but I would need to check my collection. Regards, Pat