The Wings of Pegasus by George Chatterton

Returning to my own troubles, even as the flak burst around the gliders caught in the

searchlights, I was confident that some of them at least would get through, that the

glider pilot regiment was making history, despite disaster in more ways than one, and proving

themselves to be the men I had envisaged.

This indeed they did, for while iron my companions were lying helpless on the coast, men of the

regiment were carrying out the tasks they had been set as the accounts which follow

Amply Testify.

But by way of introduction, I must explain what they had been briefed to do.

One of the major objectives of the operation was the bridge, Ponte Grande, which was of

the utmost importance to both the British Army and the Italians who were defending Syracusa.

It had been planned that six horses should be released at 4,000 feet to land in the fields

on either side of the bridge, and thus to capture the bridge from either end.

It seems incredible that such a demand should have been made, for it required the pilots

to fly four or five miles from 4,000 feet in pitch darkness and to find two fields a

couple of acres in extent.

Only a pilot can appreciate the immensity of such an order.

It is not surprising that only two out of the six reached the target.

One of these, piloted by Captain Denham, forced to land downwind, hit the bank of the

canal at speed and part of his load, a Bangalore torpedo, exploded and killed him, his crew,

and his passengers.

Three more were forced to land two miles away.

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