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This photo shows much of the 439th Troop Carrier Group's formation marshaled for take-off. The C-47s and CG-4As, took up slightly more than half of the west runway at the Group's airfield (A-39), in Châteaudun, France. According to one observer, "no one who saw the double-tow take-offs was likely to forget them." Gliders on short tow behind the C-47 towships were on standard towropes, which were 350 ft. long. Gliders on long-tow were on 425 ft. ropes. The ropes were made of nylon, 11/16" in diameter. During takeoff, gliders became airborne first, but then had to stay low to allow the power pilot to rotate after the C-47 had its tail up. Gliders came perilously close to each other and to the ground during takeoffs, but none crashed (on takeoff). Note that the formation is slightly farther down the runway in this photo than in the close-up on the Home page. At Col. Young's instructions, ground personnel moved the entire formation back down the runway to provide additional room for takeoff. Gliders in the later photo have been marked on the top by troopers with an "A" for identification of these two serials. These gliders carried the 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion and HQ personnel of the 681st Glider Field Artillery Bn, both of the 17th Airborne Division. Destination: LZ S, east of the Rhine River, Germany, on 24 March 1945, Operation VARSITY. See photo as the formation crossed the river. In the gliders were field guns, jeeps, trailers, ammunition, supplies and troops. On this mission, the 439th flew 72 C-47s that towed 144 Waco CG-4A gliders. For a first-hand account of this mission, see From the Book. Also see the Sights & Sounds page. |
