Good, Lucky, or Both MTO (id:#66660)

(ASL Starter Kit Expansion Pack #3 ID: S96)   [next]   [previous]

Syracuse, Sicily 1943-07-10 (54 others)

Overview:

Operation HUSKY was on. Fortress Europe was about to be invaded by the Allies and some of the first troops in would be the Red Devils of the British First Airborne Division, as Operation LADBROKE sought to secure the Pointe Grande Bridge and eventually Syracuse itself. Unfortunately, the weather pattern had not held, and tramontana winds blowing at 40mph soon disorientated the inexperienced pilots. Between the weather, night conditions, poor communications, and heavy FlaK, only 54 gliders out of almost 150 landed in Sicily, and only 12 in the vicinity of their targets. Through all this confusion flew Staff Sargent D.P. Galpin in Horsa glider number 133 with Lt. Louis Withers and his platoon. Galpin was either very good, very lucky, or both as he landed only 200 yards south of the Pointe Grande Bridge. the only one of six Horsas to get within 2 miles of the bridge. Withers, realizing time was of the essence, attacked with the troops he had on hand and secured the bridge, disarmed the set demolitions, and waited for either help or a counterattack.

Defender: British (2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment and The Glider Pilot Regiment, 1st Airlanding Brigade, 1st Airborne Division)  

Errata (source)