OPERATION VARSITY: AIRBORNE ASSAULT OVER THE RHINE RIVER

In special recognition to Lt. Roland B. Minot of the 74th TCS, 434th TCG, Ninth Air Force, and to all Glider Pilots of World War II.

This presentation (the pictures displayed in sequential order) begins with Lt. Minot's early glider training at Twentynine Palms in the Mojave Desert of Southern California.

As a former glider instructor at South Plains Army Air Field in Lubbock, Texas, Minot received his combat training at Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base in North Carolina. In December of 1944, Minot was assigned to the Ninth Air Force in England with the 434th TCG stationed out of Aldermaston RAF Base. In March of 1945, many of the 434th troop carrier glider pilots were transferred to A-48, France (an airfield south of Paris), to fly glider infantry troopers of the 17th Airborne Division into Germany during Operation Varsity, the last and greatest glider and paratrooper airborne operation in the European Theater of Operations during World War II.

Attached to the 435th TCG, Minot's combat trained unit (the 435th Combat Team) earned the distinction as the only company of Air Corps pilot officers to hold part of the 17th Airborne Division's defensive roadblock position against German forces. Glider Pilot Lt. Roland Minot armed with an M-1 rifle and bazooka participated in the action near the crossroads at, "The Battle Of Burp Gun Corner." It was at this location that elements of the 435th Combat Team (reinforced with an airborne manned 75mm howitzer flown in by CG-4A glider) decisively repulsed a company of well-armed German troops who were attempting a breakout from the ancient German town of Wesel.

This is Roland B. Minot's World War II story as shot through the lens of his camera.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Operation
• Varsity
• WWII
• Glider
• Pilot

[talon17th]

May have carried my father across the Rhine the dreadful day 24Mar45. God bless those fine young men...

[95predator]

Im sorry. Im german. I live at the lake of constanz, near to the rhine.

I wouldnt be happy if Hitler still governed, you can understand...

[32120Dns]

hmmm 3000 allie for kill 300 german...oh + 2000 russe

[Johanneshage]

@talon17th

And my grandpa saw -as a German Soldier- the killing of hundreds of your fathers comrads by machine gun and antiaircraftguns. After this he saw the killing of hundreds of his comrads by the allied survivors -like your father-.

So what is god to bless....!!?

[Johanneshage]

@tcarson509

 My grandpa was part of it as a "Volkssturmmann". In March `45 he knew that the war was lost and he wasn`t proud to fight for his country but he killed several british soldiers in action and dreamed of it 40 years later. After this he hated all kinds of banners you can die (or fight) for and 2 days after "varsity", he protected not his country, but my 10week old mother from an allied airraid.

He thought that God had to bless the 6.000 dead men (British, German, US, Canadian)

[tcarson509]

Very nice. My grandfather was part of this as a glider pilot in the 680th GFAB. He was 1st generation German-American and was proud to fight for his country. I remember growing up he always had the Stars and Stripes flying at his house and made sure I knew the Star Spangled Banner. God Bless you grandpa and all veterens for your sacrifices to protect our country.

[Olinka101]

Whats that song? Its beautiful.

[MissMe316]

Thank you so much for posting this. I believe my grandfather, Elbert Jella, shot the tank with a bazooka, thus earning the Silver Star.

Can't thank you enough!!!

[bongojohn22]

@95predator You dont have to be sorry, its not ´´YOUR´´ fault.

[bongojohn22]

@air17borne ..your not serious!?...Im living in Rees, which is where you will be jumping,...thats mad!...

Pity i could not be over hamminkeln, but its really got alot of high power cabels and posts in the area.

Are you staying around long?...Have you time for a drink in our bar, the ´´Rheinterrassen-collins/tillm­ann´´ in Rees?...

Good luck!...