Find My Past is currently offering FREE access to their newspaper archives (30 May – 6 June). If you have ancestors in the UK, this is an incredible opportunity.
Myself, I have been really lucky and have been able to find some amazing articles relating to my family’s history (I’ll be sharing more over the coming weeks). For now, however I am posting this one that is from the Illustrated London News, dated June 24th, 1944. It describes what a Glider Pilot’s view may have looked like while coming in for landing on D-Day.
With this week marking the 78th anniversary, I thought this would be perfect for this week’s challenge, the topic being CONFLICT. My paternal Grandfather, Walter Edmund APPS was a glider pilot and among the first to land his Horsa Glider in the early morning hours of D-Day on June 6th 1944.
I’ll include a couple of links down below to other posts where I’ve previously written about his involvement in the Glider Pilot Regiment.
Illustrated London News 24 June 1944
A GLIDER PILOT’S VIEW OF THE ALLIED AIRBORNE ATTACK NEAR THE RIVER ORNE ON THE EVENING OF D-DAY
AN AIRBORNE DIVISION SWOOPS DOWN ON THE LEFT FLANK OF OUR INVANSION BEACH HEAD, WHERE HEAVY FIGHTING HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS ALL DAY BETWEEN EARLIER AIRBORNE TROOPS AND THE ENEMY
Finding My Ancestors 
Wow, a glider pilot! I had not previously heard of gliders being integral to D-day. Thanks for sharing.
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I learnt a lot more about glider pilots when I researched the WWII story of a relative. He was a flight engineer for 196 Squadron and one of their tasks was to tow the gliders. Very dangerous work! The story is here if you are interested: https://genealogyjude.com/2022/02/20/operation-market-garden-from-sky-to-earth-for-liberty-i-fell-i-fought-i-won-my-wings-again-farewell/
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Wow, what a sacrifice. Thanks for sharing and for all your time researching him. Incredible story.
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Thank you!
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