A Bridge Too Far..................

[NoncomRetired]

I read the History of the Glider Pilot Regt and the USAAF Glider Pilots and both countries had a shortage of Glider Pilots. The USA's shortage was do to the amount who volunteered which is why as soon as the glider hit the ground he found his way back to get in another glider and the british shortage was due to something similar, once their glider hit the ground the glider pilots became part of the same landing forces and in Arnheim, very few made it out alive or captured.

Here is something who is interested, right after the hostilities ended and prisoners released, those that were captured after Operation Market-Garden (brits) they had to participate is a documentary film about the battle. They were sent back to Arnhem and Oosterbeek and actually had to re-fight the battle on the same ground. Using captured german armor and in some cases, german soldiers, they re-fought the battle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theirs_Is_the_Glory

Ed Tinker can agree since he toured the ground, the places used in the movie "The Bridge Too Far" was pretty much identical to the actual places where the battles occurred, Especially Arnhem Bridge, now named the 'John Frost Bridge'.

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

My Father-in-Law took part in Operation Market Garden. He flew one of the C-47 Glider Tugs.