The Wings of Pegasus by George Chatterton

Chapter 7

The Eve of D-Day

During the period of flying training, the Commander of the Six Airborne Division, Major

General R.N. Gail, DSO, OBE, MC, was gradually preparing his military plan.

In a small shed not far from R.F. Netheraven, he had a large scale model of the Normandy

Beachhead and upon this excellent model the plan developed.

In the main, the task of the Six Airborne Division was to land on the night proceeding

D-Day and capture certain positions on the left flank of the main invasion forces

to protect the first British Corps from flank counterattack. As part of this task, the

division would have to capture and hold the bridges crossing the river on and the Con Canal

and to attack and delay any counterattack made by the German Army. The whole operation

was to be carried out by the 5th Parachute Brigade Group, the 3rd Parachute Brigade Group

and the Air Landing Brigade, which was to be glider-borne.

It is not the purpose of this book to discuss the military plan, but it is my purpose to

show how the Glider-Pilot Regiment carried out the flying and military tasks allotted

to it. General Gail sent for me and outlined these tasks. The first two were indeed formidable

for they required, in the first instance, the landing of six gliders in two separate fields

alongside the bridges crossing the river on and the Con Canal respectively. In order that

the bridges could be captured intact. To be successful, the gliders would have to be released

at a great height and land in the darkness as near as possible to the bridges. I immediately

ordered concentrated training for this task and asked the Air Vice-Marshall if flight

...