Theme editor

Scale Model Shop

Steve's 1/72 Italeri Horsa Glider

Really looking good Steve, I wondered if the the glider had chalked messages on the fuselage by the men it carried?
Like your invasion striped kitchen towels.

Cheers,
Wabble
 
Thread owner
I wondered if the the glider had chalked messages on the fuselage by the men it carried?
It did. I remember reading that Wally Parr, who was from that part of London, scrawled something about Lewisham and that another man responded to this on the other side of the glider, so there were at least two 'contributions' and there was something chalked on both sides. I haven't attempted to replicate that here, nor am I sure exactly what was written.
 
Thread owner
I'm calling this one done.

To re-iterate, this is Glider No.1, a Horsa glider and the first to land at the Benouville (now Pegasus) Bridge, shortly after midnight on 6 June 1944. Here we have it, moments before landing at about 00.16 hrs.

PFQ.jpg

PRQ.jpg

SFQ.jpg

SRQ.jpg

Just for fun, imagine being there and seeing this very large glider swooping in to land, passing over your head at close to 100 mph!

R.jpg

And for a bit of history and context, aboard this glider were the following men, unless otherwise noted they were all members of No.25 Platoon - designated No.1 Platoon for the duration of the Coup-de-Main Raid - of "D" Company, the 2nd Battalion the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. They were the first thirty of the hundreds of thousands of men who would land in Normandy on this night and in the following days and they stand here for all of them.

Staff Sergeant Jim Wallwork (Glider Pilot Regiment) who flew this glider in.

Staff Sergeant John Ainsworth (Glider Pilot Regiment) co-pilot.

Lieutenant Den Brotheridge (Platoon Commander) who would be killed in action as he crossed the bridge.

Sergeant Ollis

Corporal Caine

Corporal Webb

Corporal Bailey

Lance-Corporal Packwood

Lance-Corporal Minns

Private Baalam

Private Bates

Private Bourlet

Private Chamberlain

Private Edwards

Private Gardner

Private Gray

Private O'Donnell

Private Parr

Private Tilbury

Private Watson

Private White

Private Windsor

Private Jackson (08)

Major John Howard ("D" Company Headquarters, Commander Coup-de-Main Force)

Corporal Tappenden ("D" Company Headquarters, Wireless Operator)

Corporal Watson (249th Field Company)

Sapper Danson (249th Field Company)

Sapper Ramsey (249th Field Company)

Sapper Wheeler (249th Field Company)

Sapper Yates (249th Field Company)

The men from 249th (Airborne) Field Company were there primarily to defuse and remove any demolition charges that the Germans might have placed on the bridge.
 
Very nice with the barn doors all the way down and just skimming over the trees. I can just hear the order...feet up...brace yourselves.

Cheers,
Wabble
 
Lovely work, captures an important moment in the history of airborne forces
 
That is excellent. A moment in time and a fitting tribute to the brave men in Glider No1.
 
Fabulous result Steve and a fine tribute to the brave men of the Ox and Bucks.
All the best
Paul
 
That's a superb build and a very fitting tribute - very well done :thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:
 
I'm super late to the party once again, Steve! A fantastic build and finish of a classic glider. Also some great info and background too. It must have been really different building something in 1/72, even though the kit is rather large. Hope your eyes are back to normal now...

Prost
Allen
 
Back
Top