Hi Everyone, I did search the IWM for photos east of Orne River and found a couple from No 5 AFPU shot on 6th June and on 8th June. Photographer were Sgt Christie and Sgt Laws. Source of photos IWM. Inv No B5050 Sgt Laws 6th of June 44 Inv No B5051 Sgt Laws 6th June 44 I do believe both pictures from Sgt Laws do show the same glider #5. A small piece of #5 can be seen above the stone wall. Inv No B5235 Sgt Christie 8th June 44 I think its the same glider #5, removed from the wall. I have been looking for the location and (hopefully can add something new here!) I think it is the gilder here marked with the arrow in frame 3041 from sortie RCAF 400_0240 flown on 15th June1944. Source is NCAP. The bottom arrow points to a separated tail from a glider which is visible left hand side in Inv No B 5051. I made a zoom-in from sortie USAAF US7 1750 frame 3072 which has better resolution. Source in NCAP. I think the stone wall is also good visible. And the orchard matches as well. Here is a Google Maps view from my assumed location today. The front part of the house in Inv No B5050 is still visible today.
Hi Hans, The guys on this WW2Talk thread appear to have solved the mystery...everything except the pilots of the glider if I am reading the thread correctly. Chalk #5 (PW773) carried No. 18 Platoon, Royal Ulster Rifles to Normandy on the evening glider lift (Operation Mallard). The tow aircraft was Dakota KG.314 C1 crewed by: S/Ldr. Southgate (Pilot) F/Lt. Saunders (Co-Pilot) F/Lt. Bryant (Navigator) F/O. Parry (Wireless Operator) The aircraft was from No. 512 Squadron, 46 Group, RAF out of RAF Broadwell. Credit: WW2Talk Forum Now we only need the glider's two pilots from F Squadron, 2 Wing, GPR I have just downloaded the Appendices to the ORB for No. 512 Squadron for the month of June, but can see no tow/glider listing therein. Perhaps its in the ORB itself. Regards, Pat
Hi All, There are some great photos on the Australian War Memorial site relating to Normandy, including this one which might be chalk #7 of the same serial as 'Churchill's Reply'. Several other aerial photos, mostly new to me, of the Falaise area in August during the German retreat to the Seine. Regards, Pat