'Douglas Endacott taking photographs by the emergency escape hatch of a glider', 1944

Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe, 1944.

A member of 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) perches with a camera, on top of the front half of an Airspeed Horsa glider, 1944.

Following the success of German glider-borne attacks in 1940, notably the daring assault on the Belgian fort at Eben-Emael, the Allies developed and produced a variety of gliders. The Airspeed Horsa glider introduced in 1941 was capable of carrying 30 soldiers but could also transport supplies, anti-tank guns and light vehicles such as jeeps.

Largely constructed in wood, the Horsa glider was designed with a detachable tail and a fuselage that could be broken in two, to allow the quick disembarkation of loads on landing.

Towed by a variety of aircraft, the Horsa was used in a variety of theatres during World War Two, most notably in airborne assaults in Europe. On 5 June 1944, at the start of Operation OVERLORD, the invasion of mainland Europe, British airborne troops in Horsas seized a vital road bridge across the River Orne. In September 1944, Horsas were used in Operation MARKET GARDEN, an ambitious plan to seize strategic bridges in German-occupied Holland. In March 1945 they were used again in Operation VARSITY, the successful Allied assault across the River Rhine into Northern Germany.

From an album containing 210 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), 1944.