I found this .... looking for something else ... and thought I hadn't seen it before - though you guys probably have ! CLARKE, ERNEST ERIC Rank - Staff Serjeant Regiment/Service - Glider Pilot Regiment, A.A.C. Unit Text - 1st Wing Age - 26 Date of Death -22/09/1944 Service No - 951404 Casualty Type - Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference - 24. B. 2. Cemetery - ARNHEM OOSTERBEEK WAR CEMETERY
Unusual Regiment Hi Annie, The Glider Pilot Regiment, was an of-shoot of the Army Air Corps. They had a very high mortality rate because they used the large Horsa Gliders which carried troops into combat areas to support the Paratroop Regiment, in most cases. The glider was towed behind large transport aircraft from which they were released when the drop zone was reached. They then had to land safely, a near impossibe job in such a large cummbersome aircraft, if they survived the landing they then had to fight hostile ground troops. They were very brave men. I am sure their history will be recorded on the net, in my badge collection I did have their cap badges. Cheers Keith
