WACO GC-4A-operations during World War 2
The WACO GC-4A was used for a wide variety of operations during World
War Two. For the American troops, it became the standard glider. The British
forces however preferred their own Horsa’s, but used the GC-4A,
which was known in the RAF as "Hadrian", for more specific operations,
especially those with clandestine purposes.
The operational carreer for the GC-4A started in June, 1943, and ended
in June 1945. In both air forces, a total of 3650 missions were flown.
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CG-4A's were often adorned with chalk "nose art". Pictures
probably taken during the Normandy or Holland campaign. "Towed Targets",
that's what they were... (via Jean-Louis Roba).
Operation Voodoo – the transatlantic voyage (UK)
On June 23, 1943 , a CG-4A nicknamed "Voodoo" (RAF serial number
FR579) took off from RCAF Dorval and set course to Goose Bay, Labrador,
being towed by an RAF C-47. The purpose of this mission was to fly a glider,
loaded with a 3360 lb freight of medical supplies, engine and radio parts
in three legs from Canada to Scotland. Also on board were flotation bags
tot keep the glider afloat in case of a ditching.
On June 27, the combination headed for Bluie West One. Three days later
(June 30) the glider was towed over the Atlantic, landing in Iceland after
a flight of 7 hours and 15 minutes.
The next day the combination took off for the final leg, they landed in
Prestwick, Scotland.
This was the first time in history a glider was towed over the Atlantic,
it took the Voodoo-combination a total of 28 hrs flying time . The glider
pilots were the Squadron Leaders R.G. Seys and F.M. Gobeil RCAF.
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Operation Ladbrooke, Sicily (UK/US)
Gerbini, Sicily, October 1943, North Western build
CG-4A NW 42-79053 (via Robert Pied)
The British General Montgomery decided to use gliders for the assault
on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. The gliders were to seize the Ponte
Grande bridge. The British Glider Pilot Regiment was equipped with GC-4A’s,
but forty-two American pilots were attached to act as instructors for
the British pilots. Thirty of them volunteered to take part on the operation
as co-pilots – nineteen actually did.
July 9, 1943
136 GC-4A’s took off from airstrips in Tunisia and were towed towards
Sicily. There they met heavy Flak. The gliders were released too far offshore.
At least 69 GC-4A’s landed in the sea, drowning 207 men. Another
7 were simply missing. The actual casualty number was much higher, probably
over 600.
Only three GC-4A’s actually landed in the landing zone.
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Operation Fustian, Sicily (UK)
Target for this combined glider-paratrooper operation was to take the
Prima Sole bridge over the River Semeta, five miles south of Catania.
July 12, 1943
8 GC-4A’s took off from an airstrip near Kairouan, Tunesia, accompanied
by 11 Horsa’s. Two GC-4A’s had to abort the mission. Three
glider towing aircraft (not specified whether these were for GC-4A’s
or Horsa’s) were shot down. Not one single GC-4A made it to the
target – all were lost. Only four Horsa’s landed near the
target.
Both GC-4A-operations in Sicily were a failure.
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Operation Bunghole, Yugoslavia (UK)
February 19, 1944
3 GC-4A’s were towed from Bari (Italy) towards the Yugoslavian
snow covered woods near Petrovac. On board were thirty senior Soviet officers,
led by Marshal Korneyev, who had to make contact with Josip Broz "Tito",
the leader of the Yugoslavian partisans. All three RAF Glider pilots made
a perfect landing in the snow. The men and loads were pulled away by sleigh.
One month later the pilots were picked up by C-47 from the same landing
zone.
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Operatoin Thursday – Burma (US)
Gliders, stationed in India, had to land in several clearings in the
Burmese jungle code-named Piccadily, Broadway, Aberdeen, White City, Blackpool
and Chowringhee.
March 5, 1944
6 GC-4A’s landed with equipment by the River Chindwin to establish
a bridgehead to protect the troops crossing.
37 GC-4A’s landed at night at Broadway, delivering 539 troops, three
mules and almost 30 tons of supplies. Another 8 had landed in friendly
areas and 9 in enemy-held territory. The troops immediately started to
construct a runway on which the following night 63 C-47 planes landed.
March 6, 1944
12 GC-4A’s were dispatched to land at Chowingree. One of these
carried a bulldozer, but the glider carrying it crashed.
March 7, 1944
Another 4 GC-4A’s, one carrying a new bulldozer, landed at Chowingree.
Only four hours later a new landing strip was created on which C-47 could
land. The gliders used for the operation on Chowingree were snatched out.
March 21, 1944
6 GC-4A’s landed at Aberdeen with bulldozers and equipment to create
another dirt strip. The next day, after the C-47’s had landed, all
six GC-4A’s were snatched out.
March 23, 1944
White City LZ came under attack and 5 GC-4A’s with ammo landed
there during the battle.3 gliders were snatched out with wounded soldiers
on board, the other two were destroyed by the Japanese.
1GC-4A landed on a sand bank of the River Irrawaddy with four folding
boats on board, enabling the forces present to cross the river. Later
that day the GC-4A was snatched out.
For several weeks an unknown number of gliders were sent to the jungle
to resupply the troops and to fly out wounded troops.
May 17, 1944
US and Chinese troops captured the airfield of Mykityina. As they were
expecting a Japanese counterattack, 10 GC-4A’s were sent to the
field, which landed under heavy fire. With the help of the native population
the equipment was discharged and the strip was prepared to accept larger
C-47’s. That same day reinforcement troops arrived by C-47’s.
The glider operations in Burma proved that gliders were the superb aircraft
to deliver equipment, including bulldozers, to prepare a runway for transport
aircraft, deep in hostile territory, far behind enemy lines.
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Invasion of France, June 1944
It was scheduled to tow 514 gliders, of which 292 GC-4A’s and 222
Horsa’s in six glider operations on D-Day (June 6) and D+1(June
7) near Hiesville (10 miles inland from the Channel coast) and Saint-Mère-Eglise,
in order to capture vital points for the invasion of Normandy.
Mentioned are the Airborne Division involved (AB), the Troop Carrier Group
(TCG) and the Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR)
June 6, 1944
Operation Chicago
101 AB/434 TCG, 52 GC-4A’s landed at 03.45 hrs. and delivered 155
troops, 16 anti-tank guns, 2 ½ tons of ammunition, 25 vehicles
and 1 bulldozer.
Operation Detroit
82 AB/437 TCG, 52 GC-4A’s landed at 04.10 hrs. and delivered 220
troops, 22Jeeps, 18 anti-tank guns, 10 tons of supplies and 5 trailers.
Operation Elmira
(1st wave) : 82 AB landed in two serials, each consisting of 8 GC-4A’s/18
Horsa’s of 434 TCG and 14GC-4A’s/36 Horsa’s of 438 TCG
respectively at 21.04 and 21.37 hrs. Both serails carrying 437 troops,
64 vehicles, 13 anti-tank guns and 24 ½ tons of supplies.
(2nd wave) : 82 AB landed in two serials to supply artillery. In the 1st
serial 2 GC-4A’s/48 Horsa’s of 436 TCG were down at 22.55
hrs and delivered 418 troops, 31 jeeps, 26 tons of ammunition and 25 tons
of supplies.
2nd serial
12 GC-4A’s/38 Horsa’s of 435 TCG were to land at 23.03 hrs.
to deliver 319 troops, 12 howitzers, 28 jeeps, 33 tons of ammo, 23 tons
of supplies – each GC-4A carried a howitzer.
June 7, 1944
Operation Galveston
82 AB landed in two serials, respectively at 07.01 hrs. (50 GC-4A’s
of 434 TCG and 2 Horsa’s) and 07.55 hrs. (32 GC-4A’s and 18
Horsa’s) of 437 TCG carrying of 717 soldiers of the 325th Glider
Infantry Regiment and its HQ.
Operation Hackensack
Glider soldiers of the 325 GIR and 401 GIR were landed in two serials
; 20 GC-4A’s/30 Horsa’s of 439 TCG landed at 08.51 hrs. with
968 troopers and 50 GC-4A’s of 441 TCG landed at 08.59 hrs. with
363 glidermen. During Operation Hackensack also 17 tons of ammo, 25 vehicles,
10 tons supplies, 18 tons equipment, 5 trailers and 12 mortars were delivered.
June 9, 1944
2 GC-4A’s of 436 TCG landed with a signal’s unit near Saint-Mère-Eglise
June 10, 1944
6 GC-4A’s of 436 TCG landed with two jeeps and six tons supplies
near Saint-Mère-Eglise
June 12, 1944
5 GC-4A’s of 436 TCG landed with two jeeps and 42 troops near Saint-Mère-Eglise
June 13, 1944
11 GC-4A’s of 436 TCG landed with 13 tons supplies near Saint-Mère-Eglise
CG-4A 243666 used on or about D-Day
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Operation Bluebird & Dove : France (US/UK)
The invasion of the South of France
August 15, 1944
436 TCG towed 40 GC-4A’s from the Italian West Coast with half
of the 64th Light Artillery Battalion, Royal Artillery, of which 37 landed
near La Motte at 09.26 hrs. This operation was in combination with Horsa
gliders.
Operation Dove :
332 GC-4A’s were to be towed by the 442, 438, 439, 440, 441, 62
and 64 TCG in seven serials, each with 10 minutes interval. They flew
some 2250 troopers of the 550 GI Battalion, the 596AB Eng. Cy, the 442
Anti-tank Cy, the 834 Chem. Mortar Cy as well as Signals and Medical units.
About 95 % of the force made it to the combat area near La Motte and La
Mitan.
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Operation Dingson – France (UK)
August 5, 1944
10 GC-4A’s, piloted by the RAF Glider Pilot Regiment, took off
from Tarrant Rushton (Dorset), each carrying a jeep and three fully armed
French SAS-men. Their mission was to attack strongpoints held by the Germans.
One of the combinations had to give up and returned to base. The other
9 gliders landed at Saint-Hélène – one of them however
crashed in the trees, injuring both pilots. A few moments later the Vickers-armed
jeeps drove away with all the SAS’ers, accompanied by French maquisards.
All the glider pilots were safely evacuated when the Americans arrived
in the area.
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Operation Market – the Netherlands (US/UK)
During the Market Garden operation the principal aim was to get the
bridges in the area of the Dutch towns Eindhoven, Groesbeek and Arnhem
in Allied hands. Meanwhile, an armoured column should leave th north-Belgian
town of Turnhout in order to meet the troops along the road Eindhoven-Arnhem.
During this operation Market Garden the Allies combined airborne troops
with glider forces. Getting the bridges and area around Eindhoven (and
the villages Best, Son) was a job for the American 101st Airborne Division.
The Eindhoven-force mostly flew the Southern Route, over the Belgian coastal
city Knokke, with the inland turning point over Geel, after which they
headed north, into Dutch occupied territory.
The Nijmegen/Groesbeek area, situated further north, was the target for
the 82 AB.
September 17, 1944
101AB 437 TCG, 70 GC-4A’s landed at 13.48 at LZ-W, unloading 43
jeeps, 18 trailers, 311 troops, Signals unit, Recce platoon, Medical Coy
82 AB 439 TCG, 50 GC-4A’s landed at 13.47 at LZ-N, unloading anti-tank
battery 8 x 57 mm guns, 9 jeeps, 2 trailers
1st Airborne anti tank battery (British forces) : 7 GC-4A’s landed
on LZ-N, three on LZ-Z
September 18, 1944
101 AB 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 442 TCG towing 450 GC-4A’s to LZ-W,
transporting 2656 troopers of 327 GIR, 326 Eng, 326 Medic, including Brg.
Gen McAulliffe
82AB 61, 313, 316, 439, 440, 441 TCG towing 454 GC-4A’s to LZ N
& T, landing at 14.31. 1899 troopers, 206 jereps, 123 trailers, 60
guns of the 319, 320and 456 Fild Artillery, 80th anti-tank batt and HQ
Div. Artillery
September 19, 1944
101 AB (TCG see Sept.18) towing 385 GC-4A’s to LZ-W with 81 Anti
Tank Bn, 321 Glider Fld Art., 327 Glider Field Regt, 377 Para Field Arty,
Div. HQ Arty
September 20, 1944
82 AB 53 TCW 1 GC-4A to LZ-O with 1 ½ tons supplies at Nijmegen
September 23, 1944
101 AB 436 & 438 TCG towing 84 GC-4A’s to LZ-W, with 395 troopers,
1200 tons supplies, 15 guns, 13 trailers, 23 jeeps
82 AB 61, 313, 316, 434 TCG towing 406 GC-4A’s to LZ-O with 325
GIR, 80th AB Anti tank bn, MP platoon, Recce platoon, two companies engineers.
Several CG-4A's landed in Belgium, like "Dorothy",
which came down near Kalken (Marcel Janssens).
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Operation Manna, Greece (UK)
October 15, 1944
20 GC-4A’s of the Glider Pilot Regiment were towed from Bari (Italy)
to Megara, Greece, each carrying either a jeep or gun and six troops,
one carrying a bulldozer. They had to support the airborne troops which
had landed there three days before.
After a seaborne operation the goal of this whole operation in Greece
was obtained : Prime Minister Papandreou’s government was installed.
However, a month later a civil war broke out amongst the Greeks. The 20
gliders were snatched out of the airfield, with their British pilots.
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New Guinea (US)
October 17, 1944
4 GC-4A’s landed in New Guinea carrying US Army Engineers with
their equipment to construct a landing strip.
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Operation Repulse – Belgium (US)
By December 25 the American forces had taken heavy casualties and were
short of medical staff near Bastogne. It was decided to supply Bastogne
by air.
December 26, 1944
1 GC-4A of 96 Sqn, 444 TCG took off from Etain (France) and was towed
to Bastogne with a volunteer team of medics.
10 GC-4A’s with 16 tons of ammo and medic personnel flew to the
same area. During that flight, 7 medics were killed due to enemy fire.
December 27, 1944
50 GC-4A’s of the 439 TCG flew with ammo to Bastogne. 15 gliders
were shot down by the Germans. The other 35 landed and unloaded the fuel
and ammo.
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Operation Varsity – Germany (US)
Gliders transporting all kinds of elements of the 17 AB, were to land
along the Issel Canal (north of Wesel) to secure the bridges. With 798
GC-4A’s participating, this operation was to be the biggest glider
operation in history. All the gliders for this operation started from
airfields in France.
All the gliders to landing zone « S » (north of Wesel)
were flown in double tow – those to landing zone « N »
(S of Hamminkeln) in single tow.
Landing zone S
Serial A8 437 TCG 80 GC-4A’s recce & GIR
Serial 09 437 TCG 80 GC-4A’s GIR
Serial A10 436 TCG 72 GC-4A’s anti-tank
Serial A11 436 TCG 72 GC-4A’s GIR
Serial A12 435 TCG 72 GC-4A’s medic, GIR & AA
Serial A13 435 TCG 72 GC-4A’s AA & field artillery
Serial A14 439 TCG 72 GC-4A’s AA & field artillery
Serial A15 439 TCG 72 GC-4A’s field artillery, transmission, engineers
Landing zone N
Serial A16 440 TCG 45 GC-4A’s recce & engineers
Serial A17 440 TCG 45 GC-4A’s AA
Serial A18 441 TCG 48 GC-4A’s AA
Serial A19 442 TCG 48 GC-4A’s artillery & signal coy
Serial A20 441 TCG 48 GC-4A’s signal coy & medical coy
Serial A21 314 TCG 40 GC-4A’s medical coy, British air support
Serial A22 314 TCG 40 GC-4A’s transmission, supply QM
 
CG-4A's being used for transport of wounded, Remagen, March 1945 (via
Jean-Louis Roba)
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Operation Gypsy – Phillipines (US)
June 23, 1945
Camalaniugan airfield, held by the Japanese on the Philippines, was to
be captured in a combined operation of gliders and paratroopers.
6 CG-4A’s and one CG-13 (the larger brother of the CG-4A, this
was the only combat operation flown by this type) of the 54 TCG landed
at the strip, carrying six jeeps, one trailer, ammo, medical ; supplies
and radio’s.
Later, 3 CG-4A’s were snatched out.
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