570 Sqn 23/09/44 - a/c and Gliders ?

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
From what I have found on line.

On 23/09/44 some 14 a/c of 570 Squadron were tasked with resupplying troops at Arnhem.
It turned out that four a/c were lost( EF298; LJ883; LJ991 and LK191 ). Two others were to make forced landings ( LJ622 and LJ996 ).

Of the original 14, how many were used to tow Gliders this day ? As nothing seems to be noted as far as I can find.

It would seem that if they did it would be Horsa Gliders they towed.
What if anything is known of these Gliders on that day , serial numbers, fate , etc.

AB's serial number books do not show any losses for this date, only 17,18,19 and 22nd are noted with serial numbers as "lost". Nothing for 23/09/44.

So of the 14 Stirling's, if they were tug a/c then what of their 14(?) Gliders ? Were some lost when the four Stirling's went down - had the gliders already been released ? Or when the other two made forced landings, presumably their two Gliders had already been released.
Or perhaps not all 14 were used as tugs ?

Sorry if I drifted but hope my request is reasonably understandable.
Basically seeking Stirling tug-Glider serial numbers links.

Thanks
Alex

[RSwank]

Alex,

There is a description of the mission on this site:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8415033

if you can read around the "watermarks" click on the "preview" view and go to record 47 of 52.

As I read it is says "Fourteen aircraft were detailed to drop 24 containers and 4 packages each on a D.Z. at ARNHEM. Weather was mainly fair in route but deteriorated over Holland....." It goes on to describe the mission which was done as a low level parachute re-supply drop.

No mention of any gliders.

[MW Giles]

There were three days of glider landings on Arnhem (17-19), everything after that was parachute re-supply

Martin

[Alex Smart]

Thank you both,for confirming what was in my thoughts.
However I will PM you both on this.
I checked the AB RAFSerial number books for Horsa's and found many for 17 & 18th, and 38 for the 19th but only one for the 21st and one for the 22nd, none listed for the 23-27 the.
Thanks
Alex

[Col Bruggy]

Alex,

Consult the following book:

http://pdf.boek-durf.be/downloade/53...to-arnhem.html

For a fuller understanding of the re-supply flights, consult the same author's publication:

"Green On" A Detailed Survey of the British Parachute Re-supply Sorties during Operation 'Market Garden' 18 - 25 September 1944 - From Official Records and Personal Accounts.
Van Hees,Arie-Jan
Eijsden:Author,2004

See: pp.262-97 generally, and pp.284-97 particularly, for a detailed coverage of RAF Harwell's (Nos.295 & 570 Sqns) contribution to the re-supply ops on 23 September, 1944 (D+6).

Van Hees (p.293), summarizes the results of 23 September, 1944, thus:

Results.

Of this day's last re-supply serial, the Harwell serial 'tail-end Charlies's' had successfully dropped 666 containers and 104 panniers, 98% of the load carried! However, this relative success had a drawback; no less than 7 aircraft would soon go down, four of them close to the DZ area:

EF298, F/O Baker and crew, 570 Squadron, crashed north of Renkum.

LJ883, P/O Kirkham and crew, 570 Squadron, crashed north of Oosterbeek.

LJ991, F/O Beck and crew, 570 Squadron, crashed near Heteren.

LK191, S/Ldr Cleaver and crew. 570 Squadron, crash-landed near Randwijk.

Two aircraft force landed in Belgium:

LJ996, P/O Murphy and crew, 570 Squadron, landed at B.61 Ghent airfield

LJ986, F/Lt Byrom and crew, 295 Squadron, also landed at B.61, Ghent airfield.

The seventh aircraft which would not return to base was:

LJ622, F/O Burkby and crew, 570 Squadron, which landed at RAF Manston

Col.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Col,
Anywhere can it be found - serial number details of the Gliders used used during this operation and perhaps importantly the "Chalk" numbers ?
All confirms that they did not tow gliders on the 23rd but did on 17 & 18th.
Thanks for the book link
Alex