The Australian War Memorial (Museum), Canberra, has recently placed some vintage WWII
film footage on their web site which at least this author has never seen
before (except bits and pieces). The film chronicles Stirling and Halifax glider tugs towing both Horsa
and Hamilcar gliders carrying the men of the 1st Airlanding Brigade, British 1st Airborne
Division to Holland during Operation Market-Garden; the Battle of Arnhem, commencing 17 September 1944. Troop embarkation, takeoff, and flight are shown for both types
of gliders.
Short Stirling Specifications
Heavy Bomber
Focus Model: Short Stirling
Mk III
Country of Origin: United
Kingdom
Manufacturer: Short Brothers
/ Belfast Austin Motor Company - UK
Initial Year of Service: 1941
Production Total: 2,383
Crew: 7
Length: 86.94 ft (26.5 m)
Width: 99.08 ft (30.20 m)
Height: 22.74ft (6.93 m)
Weight (Empty): 43,202 lb
(19,596 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 70,085 lb
(31,790 kg)
Powerplant: 4 x Bristol
Hercules XVI radial piston engines developing 1,650 horsepower each.
Maximum Speed: 270 mph (435
kmh; 235 kts)
Maximum Range: 590 miles (949
km)
Service Ceiling: 16,995 ft
(5,180 m; 3.2 miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0
feet-per-minute (0 m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
STANDARD:
2 x 7.7mm machine guns in
powered nose turret
2 x 7.7mm machine guns in
powered dorsal turret
4 x 7.7mm machine guns in
powered tail turret
OPTIONAL:
Maximum internal bombload of
14,000lbs.
MAXIMUM TOWED WEIGHT (Glider and payload):
Hamilcar: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg) (7 tons of cargo)
Horsa: 15,500 lb (7,045 kg)
MAXIMUM TOWED WEIGHT (Glider and payload):
Hamilcar: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg) (7 tons of cargo)
Horsa: 15,500 lb (7,045 kg)
Unique photographic evidence shows a wide variety of the infantry weapons and equipment of the division's air landing brigade. The Short Stirling aircraft are identified as from 295 Squadron, Which with Horsas in tow took off from RAF Harwell. The Hadley Page Halifax tugs however, which towed the Hamilcars, were from 901 and 903 Squadrons, and took off from RAF Tarrant Rushton.
To the best of the author's available references the Stirlings only towed Horsa gliders. The employed RAF Squadrons included; 190, 196, 295, 299, 570, and 620 Squadrons. The Halifax towed both the Hamilcar and Horsa gliders. The RAF Squadrons included; 298 and 644 Squadrons.
Handley Page Halifax Specifications
Heavy Night Bomber
Focus Model: Handley Page
Halifax B.Mk VI
Country of Origin: United
Kingdom
Manufacturer: Handley Page -
UK
Initial Year of Service: 1940
Production Total: 6,177
Crew: 7
Length: 71.59 ft (21.82 m)
Width: 104.17 ft (31.75 m)
Height: 20.73ft (6.32 m)
Weight (Empty): 39,000 lb
(17,690 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 68,002 lb
(30,845 kg)
Powerplant: 4 x Bristol
Hercules 100 radial piston engines developing 1,800 horsepower each.
Maximum Speed: 312 mph (502
kmh; 271 kts)
Maximum Range: 1,260 miles
(2,028 km)
Service Ceiling: 23,999 ft
(7,315 m; 4.5 miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 400
feet-per-minute (122 m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
STANDARD:
1 x 7.7mm machine gun in nose
4 x 7.7mm machine guns in
dorsal turret
4 x 7.7mm machine guns in
tail turret
OPTIONAL:
Internal bomb load of up to
13,000 lb (5,897 kg).
MAXIMUM TOWED WEIGHT (Glider and payload):
Hamilcar: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg) (7 tons of cargo)
Horsa: 15,500 lb (7,045 kg)
MAXIMUM TOWED WEIGHT (Glider and payload):
Hamilcar: 36,000 lb (16,329 kg) (7 tons of cargo)
Horsa: 15,500 lb (7,045 kg)
It is 11 minutes of some rather remarkable historical footage; and can be seen at; https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F02614/. The very first increment of film shows troops embarking through the side door of a Hamilcar glider. Historians of the Battle of Arnhem, are certainly indebted to the museum's staff for the discovery and publication of these archival films.
The following drawing specifically shows Short S.29 Stirling 'V8 -F ' of 570 Squadron. The squadron performed both glider-tow and subsequent resupply missions during the duration of Operation Market-Garden.
Hello
ReplyDeleteI have been researching resupply problems with Arnhem. My father was W/Op Sydney Wheatley Squadron 570 (LJ991 shot down 23/09 during resupply op.) The Operations Record Book entries for 19th, 21st and 23rd all report that resupplies were either landing outside DZV or within, but not accessible to Airborne troops.
1. 19th: "Not a very satisfactory trip all round, as it is also doubtful whether our troops were on the DZ."
2. 21st: "A fairly successful trip but it is feared that as the DZ was so small, a lot of containers may have overshot."
3. 23rd: "This was rather an expensive effort especially in view of the fact that the troops were not getting a great percentage of the supplies."
It puzzles me why 38 Group could do nothing to improve resupply success rates despite squadrons' awareness as early as the 19th of failure. Also given that the drops were made at around 800ft where visibility was good, why crews did not respond to visual pleas from troops on the ground to adjust drop zones.
Hello Unknown,
ReplyDeleteCould not agree with you more. Am not certain whether you may have come across one of my other blog posts. You may be interested in; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/05/critical-resupply-shortfall-during.html . To the best of my knowledge one of several elements of planning which were overlooked was resupply, including contingency signals/communications for alternate resupply drop points. Coordination of Airborne and RAF operations was sorely lacking. Tank you very much for your interest in the blog.
Best regards,
Arnhem Jim