Operation Varsity 8th Battn Parachute Regt

[Mary]

Do you know which squadron dropped the 8th battn Parachute regt please?
Also from where did they take off? which aircraft?

Otherwise where do I look in the archives please?

[PAFG]

Hi Mary, a great question and not my area of knowledge, but could you specify which operation and the dates? I assume D-Day or Arnhem, but if you can let us know it will be easier. The route to the answer would be through the Unit Operational Record Book for 8th Battalion, in the National Archives, or through the current Regimental Secretary of the Parachute Regiment Association - a useful link in the following web page:

http://www.army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/5905.aspx

Cheers,

Richard

[Mary]

Thanks for the suggestions.
I hoped to postpone a visit to archives!

Operation Varsity or Rhine Crossing was on 24th March 1945.

[PAFG]

Ah yes! The clue was in the title
Sorry, missed that first time round! I'd follow the 'e-mail us' link on the Parachute Regimental Association page - they will find an answer for you, I'm sure.
Richard

[PAFG]

Just found the 8th Battalion ORB on-line on the Pegasus website (http://www.pegasusarchive.org/varsity/frames.htm). Unfortunately no mention of who dropped/landed them:

24th March 1945

Place: Epping, Chipping-Ongar

0200 - Reveille. Move to airfd.

0445 - Clear bright morning. Emplaned and took off at 0710 hrs. Bn in leading flight of a/c. Flew DOVER - CALAIS - WAVRE - D.Z. Crossed RHINE at approx 0955 hrs. No sign of inf. Slight flak. Drop somewhat deferred. Considerable flak further on. B.Coy's R.V. giving trouble. Maj D.J. KIPPIN killed. Lt. A.H. COX killed. By 1100 hrs most coys present, with majority of weapons. Gliders came in, 9 HORSAS, 1 landed into wood, killing IO (Lt. J.K. ENGLAND). and injuring the C.O. (Lt.Col. G. HEWETSON). No sign of HAMILCARS. Began unloading gliders. 2 Bn gliders missing. About 40 prisoners taken by A.B. Coys. and A./Tk. Pl. Bde ordered moved to Phase III. leaving C. Coy to clear D.Z. Held up by SP on track. Considerable delay. Lt. S. PARKES wounded. By-passed opposition, and arrived Phase III approx 1530 hrs. Dug in. 165472. Sea forces joined up at 1730 hrs. Ordered to move to task III. Moved 1830 hrs. Met slight mobile opposition most of the way. Bn position at approx 2300 hrs A. Coy 184475. B. Coy 185472. C. Coy 183471. Bn HQ 184471. Patrolling to American 17th on right by B. Coy, and Div HQ in front by A. Coy. Casualties: Killed 4 Offrs and 12 O.Rs. Wounded 3 Offrs and 43 O.Rs. Missing 50 O.Rs. Lt. PC ROBERTS & Rev. WT OGLIVY killed whilst attending German prisoners of war.

25th March 1945

Quiet day, consolidating in woods.

26th March 1945

1500 - Ordered to move to area River ISSEL, preparatory to further move. Arrived 1800 hrs. Moved again at 1900 hrs. to area S.W. of BRUNEN. took up defensive posn for night. 6 miles.

27th March 1945

0830 - Mounted tanks with the ROYAL SCOTS to move on to indefinite objective due EAST. No enemy encountered. Took up defensive posn in Upper ISSEL. 4 miles.

28th March 1945

0830 - Move forward to ERLE. Fwd posn and 5 Para Bde (6 miles). Moved again to LENBECK. Met enemy in woods on 41 grid line, and outside RHADE. C Coy met opposition from 88 and 20 mm.s. Considerable casualties. Held on ridge, put B. Coy round at flank. Shelling LENBECK. B. Coy met opposition in woods about 2 Coys. Cleared 1 Coy and held firm. A. Coy had been sent to join B. Coy under 2 i/c, to form composite force. Went further, flanking and by-passed opposition. Arrived in LEMBECK about 2200 hrs. Meanwhile C. Coy was withdrawn and together with Bn HQ moved to join B. Coy. Bn HQ had no idea of whereabouts of A. Coy. Objective now on high ground to S of L. Moved on from B. Coy posn about 300 yds when C. Coy ran into opposition about 2200 hrs another Coy posn with Panzer faust and A.Tk gun. Some casualties. Withdrew to B. Coy original posn for night. Total mileage approx 10 miles. Prisoners of War 300. Casualties: 2 Offrs (Lt. A.J.K. HACKER and Lt. A. FREANE killed). 5 O.Rs. killed. 3 Offrs. and 25 O.Rs. wounded.

29th March 1945

0930 - Moved into LIMBECK. Day spent re-arranging and resting. Orders for move at 1700 hrs cancelled.

30th March 1945

Moved 0800 hrs in vehs to COESFIELD. Bn in reserve, Canadian Bn leading on tanks. Bn not used all day. Covered about 25 miles to area GREVEN.

31st March 1945

0600 - Bn moved off to GREVEN and took up defensive posn on right of village. Considerable shelling by Regt of S.Ps. 88 mm. Lt. P. DOLLEYMORE seriously wounded (later died of wounds).

1200 - Moved forward to DORTMUND EMS canal. Considerable fire from 20 mm flak guns and 88 mm S.Ps. Mortars engaged these guns. A. Coy crossed canal being first British troops across, and took up posn on canal bank.

[PAFG]

...and another thing

Here's RAF Down Ampney and mention of dropping 8th Battalion Para Regt - unfortunately, this is on d-Day but it may give a clue as to where to start looking for the Varsity info:

http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/broadwell/40thanv.htm

Richard

[Bruno]

Hi Mary,

I'll look in my 38 Group files as soon as I come back home next Tuesday. It should be a 38 or 46 Group Squadron.
Kind regards.

Bruno

[halifax1]

I am pretty sure that the Paras would not have known who dropped them - other than it was the RAF. There was no ned for this information to have been passed on. Hence the "clue" may be in the ORBs for likely squadrons. I will dwell on this however and if any penny drops will let you know. I certainly don't recall and intelligence like - "By the the nice chaps from No 26 Squadron will be flying us to the DZ tonight". It was simply "Going out of a C130" or whatever so you had an idea of the procedure. And the chaps dropping in WWII had a lot to think about apart from socialising with the driver.

[Mary]

Searching for Chipping Ongar and Operation Varsity suggests the American 61st Troop Carrier group and C-47s

[Bruno]

Hello Mary,

I confirm:
Forty C47 of 15th, 53rd and 59th Squadrons of 61st Troop Carrier Group, USAAF, took off from Chipping Ongar to drop the 8th Battalion to Varsity.
Kind regards.

Bruno