The History of RAF Blakehill
OPERATION MARKET
4th September 1944 – 233 Squadron RAF, The Glider Pilot Regiment were joined at RAF Blakehill by a new flying unit – Husky Squadron No.437 – Royal Canadian Air force. Both No. 437 RCAF and No. 233 RAF were then prepared for operation ‘Market Garden’ – the fateful attack on the Arnhem bridges......
Wing Commander Jack Sproule DFC and Squadron Leader Charles 'Mac' McVeigh pose on the port wing of a C47 Dakota with the squadron mascot, 'Brevet' who's likeness is captured in the squadron insignia.
17th September 1944
RAF BLAKEHILL FARM - OPERATION 'MARKET'
"A BRIDGE TOO FAR"
"On Sunday 17th September 1944, two thousand and twenty three transport aircraft and four hundred and seventy eight gliders lifted off from airfields across southern and eastern England carrying troops from the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the British 1st Airborne Division. This was the first lift of the largest airborne operation in history."
(source William F Buckingham "ARNHEM" ISBN 978-1-3981-0156-2)
Blakehill Farm played it's role in this historic moment.
17th September 1944
THE FIRST ARNHEM LIFT
First Arnhem Lift - 233 Squadron RAF
22 Dakota aircraft of 233 Squadron RAF with 22 Horsa Gliders in tow of the Glider Pilot Regiment 'F' Squadron took off at 0956hrs loaded with equipment and carrying troops from the 7th Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
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Dakota III KG427 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O C D Hamilton (Captain)
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F/O Wheeler W G (2nd Pilot)
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W/O F B Knight (Navigator)
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F/Sgt L J Firth (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ685 - GLIDER TUG
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S/L R Daniel (APC) (Captain
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F/Sgt Walker P (2nd Pilot)
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P/O P J Nixon (Navigator)
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W/O Bennet E (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG399 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O K Dober (Captain)
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F/Sgt Barlow R (2nd Pilot)
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F/Sgt T V Bartlett (Navigator)
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W/O Tyrell A A (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG410 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L P I Burden (Captain)
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F/S Gaic C R (2nd Pilot)
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F/C Fitzpatrick (Navigator)
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F/C O D Moore (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG403 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O R Hyne (Captain)
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W/O Evered R (2nd Pilot)
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F/O G B Fotheringham (Navigator)
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F/O J Knapp (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG561 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O G Clarkson (Captain)
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F/O J P Williams (2nd Pilot)
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F/S Rains (Navigator)
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F/O C Williams (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG341 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O G Bailey (Captain)
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P/O E G Warrington (2nd Pilot)
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F/O L H Williams (Navigator)
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F/Sgt Fitt R C (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG430 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L A C Mackie (Captain)
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F/O M Hunter (2nd Pilot)
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F/O J Proctor (Navigator)
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F/L D Goodwin (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG455 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Wright G S (Captain)
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F/O Cooper L (2nd Pilot)
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W/O Wright P S (Navigator)
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F/Sgt Lewis F B (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG433 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Sunders R E (Captain)
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F/S Lock O F (2nd Pilot)
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W/O Cousins C H F (Navigator)
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F/Sgt Hatwyard C A (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ665 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O R McGowan (Captain)
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F/Sgt Hopkins R W (2nd Pilot)
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F/Sgt Harmer G (Navigator)
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W/O Swann C (?) (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG400 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Taylor J W (Captain)
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F/S Edmends L A (2nd Pilot)
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F/O H Eagles (Navigator)
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W/O Want W C A (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG585 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O McRae J P R (Captain)
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F/S Delamere S (2nd Pilot)
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W/O Milne W (Navigator)
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W/O Davidson S C (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG351 - GLIDER TUG
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S/L C J Mackenzie (Captain)
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F/O D G Harou(d?) (2nd Pilot)
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W/O Whitehouse L V (Navigator)
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P/O J L Dodds (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG437 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J Stewart (Captain)
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F/O D A Todd (2nd Pilot)
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F/O R S Phillips (Navigator)
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F/O W C Bradley J (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ678 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L H J Barley (Captain)
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F/O W L Greenwood (2nd Pilot)
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F/O G N Taylor (Navigator)
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F/L C Ingelby (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG586 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Russel F R (Captain)
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F/Sgt Jones F H (2nd Pilot)
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W/O Schofield C (Navigator)
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P/O J Welch (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ690 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L O L Broadley (Captain)
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F/S Farquharson W F (2nd Pilot)
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F/S Bishop A G (Navigator)
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P/O H C Plank (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ681 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Cranefield K G (Captain)
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F/S Stapleford B A (2nd Pilot)
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F/S Holmes T (Navigator)
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F/Sgt Hastings D M T (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG448 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O F W Vines (Captain)
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F/O G B Wood W G (2nd Pilot)
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F/O J K Eadie J (Navigator)
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P/O F Henry (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG313 - GLIDER TUG
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W/C W E Coles (DFC AFC) (Captain)
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F/L G R Frew (2nd Pilot)
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F/L A Johnstone (Navigator)
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F/O E J Sharpe (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG412 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J H Fram (Captain)
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F/O N C Trigg (2nd Pilot)
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P/O J C Pinder (Navigator)
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P/O R G Johnstone (Wireless Operator)
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First Arnhem Lift - 437 Squadron RCAF
12 Dakota aircraft of 437 Squadron RCAF took off at 1003 hrs towing 12 Horsa gliders of the Glider Pilot Regiment 'F' Squadron carrying 1st Battalion Border Regiment troops and equipment.
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Dakota III FZ697 - GLIDER TUG
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F/Lt R S Down (Captain)
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F/Sgt W R Neal (2nd Pilot)
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W/O N S Beckett (Navigator)
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W/O N M Elliston (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG447 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J M Byrnes (Captain)
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F/O W E Simpson (2nd Pilot)
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F/O K E Hunt (Navigator)
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F/S J R Chambers (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG415 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J F Haldimand (Captain)
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F/S Summerfield (2nd Pilot)
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F/S B H Wallington (Navigator)
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F/O J Rechenne (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ669 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O C N Roy (Captain)
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F/O B M Clarke (2nd Pilot)
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F/O D R Goodwin (Navigator)
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W/O G A Sproule (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ666 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O W F Chambers (Captain)
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Sgt J Pope (2nd Pilot)
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P/O F H Hill (Navigator)
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F/S J Stott (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG441 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O E Q Semple (Captain)
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F/S J A Daldorph (2nd Pilot)
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W/O F A R Macaky (Navigator)
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W/O M H F Conrad (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG489 - GLIDER TUG
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W/C J Sproule (Captain)
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F/O R S Purkis (2nd Pilot)
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P/O E K Walker (Navigator)
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F/S D B Fennel (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG389 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O W E McLean (Captain)
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F/O D A Cox (2nd Pilot)
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F/S P A Turner (Navigator)
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W/O R Mercer (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ626 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O F E Fitzgibbon (Captain)
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W/O E H Parsons (2nd Pilot)
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W/O R W Fox (Navigator)
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W/O S E Thayer (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG422 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J A Delahunt (Captain)
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F/S D S Cooper (2nd Pilot)
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P/O G L Breckon (Navigator)
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F/O L D Hornsby (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG577 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O O A Simmons (Captain)
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NO RECORD ON SQUADRON LOG OF (2nd Pilot) ???
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P/O W Taylor (Navigator)
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W/O G A A Murdock (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG452 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O R L Pearson (Captain)
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F/O W H Wetherilt (2nd Pilot)
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P/O L E Rooke (Navigator)
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P/O J C Smith (Wireless Operator)
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First Arnhem Lift - The Glider Pilot Regiment
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Glider Pilot Regiment - Horsa Glider Pilots/2nd Pilots under tow from tug C47
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From either 233 Squadron RAF or 437 Squadron RCAF
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S/Sgt. A. E. Ayton
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S/Sgt. R.F. Banks - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. J.E. Boucher
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Sgt. S. Bralee - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. A.H. Brayley - TAKEN POW
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W.O.I. (R.S.M.) M.J. Briody
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Lt. (Sec. CO) P.R. Clark
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S/Sgt. D.W.B. Creevy
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S/Sgt. P.J. Dalzell
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Sgt. D.N. Davidson
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Sgt. ? Davies
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S/Sgt. P.O Davies
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Sgt. V. Davison
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Sgt. W.V. Dean
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S/Sgt. W.B. Denholm
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S/Sgt. S.T. Dodd - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. D. Dowse
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S/Sgt. B. Drurey - KILLED IN ACTION
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Sgt. T. Ferguson
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Sgt. P.J.F. Gammon
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Sgt. W.M. Garbutt - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. J.F. Graham - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. J.M. Hall
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Sgt. ? Hart
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Sgt. N. Hartford
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Sgt. J.R Heap - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. B. Hebblethwaite - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. J.F.R Herron - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. G.H. Hogg - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. W. Holcroft
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Sgt. L.H. Howes- KILLED IN ACTION
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Sgt. A.S.L. Jenner - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. E.E. Johnson
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Sgt. M. Johnson
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S/Sgt. R.W. Jones
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Sgt. C Lewis
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Sgt. J.E. Lewis
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Sgt. M. Lister
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S/Sgt. D.B. Lowe - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. C.H.C. Lyons - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. H.T. Maddison - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. C. Marriott - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. B? Marshall
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S/Sgt. S.F.T. Mathews - KILLED IN ACTION
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Sgt. A. McKimm
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S/Sgt. W.C. McLaren - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. D.E. Moorcock - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. T.R. Moore
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S/Sgt. W.B. Naismith
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Sgt. S.H Neil - TAKEN POW [Mr Francis Neil (son) is in contact with website author]
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S/Sgt. S. Neill
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Sgt. (Towmaster) C. Palfreeman - STOWAWAY- Jumped in one of the last gliders. and attached himself to F sqdn, 14 flight.
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Sgt. H. Parkinson - TAKEN POW
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Lt. (OC) A.E. Pickwoad
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S/Sgt. E.G. Prince
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Sgt. F.G. Redding - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. H.T. Rice
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Sgt. J.K. Robertson - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. W.T. Sherry - TAKEN POW
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Lt. (Sec. CO) R.V.C. Steevenson - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. E. Stubley
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Sgt. D.P.R. Thorndale - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. M. Tobin - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. J. Walters - KILLED IN ACTION/DROWNING
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S/Sgt. R.J. Ward - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. M.N. Watts - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. E.C. Wedgbury
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S/Sgt. L.L. Weeden
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Sgt. B.G. Whitfield - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. L.D. Young
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18th September 1944
THE SECOND ARNHEM LIFT
Second Arnhem Lift - 233 Squadron RAF
17 Dakota aircraft of 233 Squadron RAF with 17 Horsa Gliders in tow of the Glider Pilot Regiment 'No. 5 Flight 'D' Squadron took off at 1043hrs loaded with equipment and carrying 84 troops of the 2nd Air Landing Anti Tank Battery.
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Dakota III KG599 - GLIDER TUG
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W/C W E Coles DFC AFC (Captain)
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F/L G R Frew (2nd Pilot)
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F/L A Johnstone (Navigator)
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F/O E J Sharpe (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG415 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J Framm (Captain)
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F/O N C Trigg (2nd Pilot)
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P/O J C Pinder (Navigator)
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P/O R Johnstone (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG586 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O F R Russell(Captain)
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F/S F H Jones (2nd Pilot)
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W/O D C Schofield (Navigator)
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W/O R Burgess (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG410 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O White A L (Captain)
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Sgt J M Crossman (2nd Pilot)
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P/O A Edwards (Navigator)
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W/O O E K Tink (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG399 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O M T Ades (Captain)
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F/S J H Dorville (2nd Pilot)
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P/O F S W Dyer (Navigator)
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F/S K Hickey (AFM) (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG403 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Green A J (Captain)
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F/S G C A Jeffery (2nd Pilot)
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F/L A S Burks (Navigator)
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W/O H Josland (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG441 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Curtis H (Captain)
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F/S L E Butcher (2nd Pilot)
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W/O B N Caplan (Navigator)
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W/O Birchnell H G (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG400 - GLIDER TUG
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P/O R Chessney (Captain)
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F/O N C Cummings (2nd Pilot)
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F/O G A Coppel (Navigator)
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F/S R E Simmonds (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG440 - GLIDER TUG
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S/L G Lane AFC (Captain)
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NO PERSONNEL LISTED (2nd Pilot)
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F/O Proctor (Navigator)
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F/O J Sweeney DFM (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ686 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O Holliday R F (Captain)
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F/S E J James (2nd Pilot)
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W/O G A Cozens (Navigator)
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W/O H F Richardson (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG589 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L W A Jenkins (Captain)
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F/S J Turner (2nd Pilot)
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F/S Lovatt H Cozens (Navigator)
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F/S W A Lee (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG420 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L R McIlraith (Captain)
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F/S C R Meade (2nd Pilot)
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W/O A J Phillips (Navigator)
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F/S G Smee (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ678 - GLIDER TUG
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F/L H J Barley (Captain)
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F/O W Greenwood (2nd Pilot)
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F/O G N Taylor (Navigator)
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F/L C Ingelby (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG412 - GLIDER TUG
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W/O N Mills (Captain)
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F/S R Woodgate (2nd Pilot)
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F/L J Buckton (Navigator)
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F/S C G Sparkes (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG313 - GLIDER TUG
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S/L B A Miller (Captain)
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F/O F Priestley (2nd Pilot)
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F/L R Taylor (Navigator)
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Sgt D G Morris (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG427 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O D Hamilton (Captain)
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F/S W G Wheeler (2nd Pilot)
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P/O F B Knight (Navigator)
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F/S L J Firth (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG448 - GLIDER TUG ABORTED - GLIDER CHALK 773 - TOW ROPE BROKEN
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F/L A Cody (Captain)
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F/O F J Colman (2nd Pilot)
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F/O A C Hollingsworth (Navigator)
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F/S O R Goodfellow (Wireless Operator)
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Second Arnhem Lift - 437 Squadron RCAF
6 Dakota aircraft of 437 Squadron RCAF took off at 1003 hrs towing 6 Horsa gliders of the Glider Pilot Regiment No. 5 Flight 'D' Squadron
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Dakota III KG566 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O N W Gustafson (Captain)
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F/O G R Tozer (2nd Pilot)
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F/O S Allen (Navigator)
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W/O L E Cox (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG489 - GLIDER TUG
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F/Lt R W Alexander (Captain)
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F/O W J McLintock (2nd Pilot)
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F/S A McHugh (Navigator)
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F/O J Rechenuc (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III FZ639 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O G P Hagerman (Captain)
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F/Sgt J C Hackett (2nd Pilot)
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P/O M S R Mahon (Navigator)
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W/O J P DeChamplain (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG568 - GLIDER TUG
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P/O K E Rasmussen (Captain)
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F/O C BePol (2nd Pilot)
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F/S R E Griffith (Navigator)
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F/S F B Steele (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG422 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O J A Delahunt (Captain)
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F/S D S Cooper (2nd Pilot)
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F/O G L Breckon (Navigator)
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F/O L D Hornsby (Wireless Operator)
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Dakota III KG452 - GLIDER TUG
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F/O O A Simmons (Captain)
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NO PERSONNEL LISTED (2nd Pilot)
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P/O W Taylor (Navigator)
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W/O G A A Murdock (Wireless Operator)
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Second Arnhem Lift - The Glider Pilot Regiment
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Glider Pilot Regiment - Horsa Glider Pilots/2nd Pilots under tow from tug C47
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From either 233 Squadron RAF or 437 Squadron RCAF
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Sgt.S. Auty - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. E.S Bevan
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S/Sgt. S.G. Bonter - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. R.S. Browne
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S/Sgt. K. Chappell - TAKEN POW
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Lt. (Sec. CO) K.T. Chittleburgh - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. D. Donaldson - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. C. Fisher - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. L.J. Frater
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S/Sgt. L.N. Gibbons
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Sgt. J. Green
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Sgt. E.H. Hockley - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. J.A. Howe - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. J.A. Knapman
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S/Sgt. R.A. Long - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. R. Lund - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. J. Merryfield
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S/Sgt. W.D. Morgan
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Capt. (OC) J.A.Morrison - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. R.F. Nettell - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. D.S.Parker - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. T.W. Pearce
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Sgt. F.G. Powell - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt.C.D. Richardson - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. R.D Rose - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. F.E.J. Sampson
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Lt. (Sec. CO) H.R. Sykes - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. R.K. Taylor
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Sgt. J. Tonks - TAKEN POW
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Sgt. P.J. Tyler - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. A.A. Clark - KILLED IN ACTION
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Sgt. J. Evans - KILLED IN ACTION
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Sgt. C. Gell - KILLED IN ACTION
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S/Sgt. D.R. Pragnell - TAKEN POW
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S/Sgt. L.F. Watson - KILLED IN ACTION
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Sgt. A.E. Watt - TAKEN POW?
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