Abandoned gliders after the crossing of the Rhine, March 1945
Photograph by Major Wilfred Herbert James Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), World War Two, North West Europe, 1945.
On 24 March 1945 over 1300 American and British gliders crossed the river in support of 21st Army Group's drive into Northern Germany. The British 6th Airborne Division and the US 17th Airborne Division were dropped by parachute and glider behind German lines near Wesel. Their primary objective was to secure a foothold and disrupt German defences. The Horsa gliders in this picture clearly show the hinged cab and nose section which enabled small vehicles and artillery to be loaded and unloaded into them.
From an album containing 222 photographs compiled by Major W H J Sale, MC, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters).
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1975-03-63-21-197
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Study collection
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1975-03-63-21-197