War Diary: 2 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment

Month and year: December 1944

The 2 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment's December 1944 war diary covers reorganisation, training, and personnel movements of the Regiment across stations including Broadwell, Blakehill Farm, and Tarrant Rushton. Activity centred on exercises, cross-country flights, and Exercise “BUZZ,” alongside conversion training for 2nd Pilots. Command changes, RAF crew attachments, and draft movements continued, while memorials and casualty reports reflected the impact of earlier operations, particularly Arnhem and Operation MARKET.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1235

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WO 171/1235 2 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment

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Page 1 of 3

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
BLAKEHILL FM	Nov 28	10 RAF crews attached to "E" Son commanded by F/O EDDY. 5 crews to No:
		12 Flight and 5 crews to No: 25 Flight
	29
TARRANT RUSHTON.	30	S/Sgt. TAYLOR J.H. flying a HAMILCAR hit a three-ton lorry on landing. Driver and passenger of lorry injured and taken to hospital.
BLAKEHILL FM		BALBO. Capt. J.C. Hyson and 15 crews . Time 1 hour 5 mins.
	Dec 1 2
	3
BROADWELL	4	Personnel of Draft RXQJF proceeded to MUSHROMM FARM.	Appx A.
	5
do:	0	Personnel of No: 2 Wing with Capt. R.E. SPENCE in charge, attended the ARNHEM Parade and Investiture by H.M. THE KING in London.	Appx B.
	7
BLAKEHILL FMBROADWELL	8 9	2nd ITALY Party departed for MUSHROOM DARM. Major S.C. GRIFFITH assumes command of No: 2 Wing, THE GLIDER PILOT REGT	Appx C.
		from Lieut Col J.W. PLACE and is promoted Lieut. Col.
DOWN AMPNEY	10	A memorial service was held at the Church, DOWN AMPNEY attended by the
		whole of "E" Squadron in memory of those R.A.F. and Glider Pilots who died at ARNHEM.
	11
BROADWELL	12	The following personnel of the 1st India Draft from No: 2 Wing are
		reported as casualties: due to an aircraft accident on the 5th Dec :- Killed - 2984523 S/Sgt. Anderson, 3654684 Sgt. Wakefield, 3322683 Sgt.
		Dawkins G. Injured - 81376 S/Sgt. Ainsworth J (MM) Survivors - 94149 Major J.F.B. Blatch. 1445109 S/Sgt. Baker AW.
		Flying Exercise 1 hour 45 mins Cross Country Flight terminating in a highly successful mass landing,	Appx D

Page 2 of 3

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
TARRANT RUSHTON	Dec 12	Major J.A. DALE D.F.C. proceeded to an Investiture at BUCKINGHAM PALACE to receive Bar to D.F.C.
	13
LEICESTER EAST	14	Lieut. P. Wood promoted to Captain in command of No: 22 Flight.
TARRANT RUSHTON	15	Advance parties of 6 Flight proceeded to Earls Colne. CAPT. F.C. ASTON in charge. Advance parties of 3 Flight arrived from "B" Squadron. F/O Watkins in charge.	Appx E
		This move is for the purpose of training another Squadron in HAMILCAR flying.
	16
do:	17	Exercise "BUZZ" - 29 Halifax - Horsa combinations and 1 Halifax - Hadrian combination. Take-off took 31 mins due to 2 Tugs u/s and the Hadrian's nose
		digging in to the mud. 25 Gliders landed at LZ. 2 combinations returned to base due to Tugs u/s and 2 combinations returned due to glider faults.
		1 glider forced landed due to tow rope breaking near Bradford on Avon. No injuries to passenger or crew. The exercise lasted until midday the
		19 Dec. Crews provided 12 Crews "C" Squadron. 9 Crews "E" Squadron and 9 crews "F" Squadron.
		Main party of 6 Flight proceeded to Earls Colne and the main party of 3 Flight arrived from Earls Colne.
BROADWELL		Capt. A.M.D. Carr took command of "F" Squadron from Major FAS Murray M.C. who proceeded on draft leave.	Appx E
do:	18	Conversion Courses started at "E" and "F" Squadrons for the purpose of
	19 20	training 2nd Pilots with a view to their becoming 1st Pilots.
	21 22
	23 24
	25 26

Page 3 of 3

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
BROADWELL	Dec 27	Lieut. STURROCK and Lieut. FORD assumed command of Nos. 16 and 19 Flights respectively.
SLEAP		Dets at SLEAP and TILSTOCK handed over to No: 1 Wing.
TILSTOCK. BLAKEHILL FM		Personnel returned to "E" Squadron. 15 R.A.F. crews reported for duty with "E" Squadron.
ASHBOURNEBROADWELL	28	Dets handed over to No: 1 Wing, and personnel returned to "F" Squadron. India draft proceeded to Transit Camp. LONDON. Major FAS Murray in	Appx F
		charge. Nine Offrs and 25 ORs R.A.F. Personnel posted to "F" Squadron.