War Diary: 2 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment

Month and year: November 1944

The November 1944 war diary covers glider training and reorganisation across airfields including Down Ampney, Broadwell, Tarrant Rushton, Sleap, and Blakehill Farm. The period focused on intensive flying exercises such as “BALBO” mass take-offs and landings, squadron movements following the closure of Down Ampney for glider flying, and participation in exercises like “BEAR,” alongside ongoing restructuring and personnel changes.

National Archive Reference: WO 171/1235

Please use the contact us page to report any errors or inaccuracies.

Viewing map locations

Many of the location in this diary have been geocoded, these locations are highlighted Screenshot of highlighted location clicking on them will display them on a map. Many location also have historical maps and aerial photographs of the area available.

Found this useful?

If you've found this resource useful please consider supporting us to digitise more war diaries, documents and maps.

All diaries for this unit

WO 171/1235 2 Wing Glider Pilot Regiment

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Page 1 of 2

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
DOWN AMPNEY	Oct 28 29	"BALBO" 15 crews morning and afternoon. Gliders conveyed men of 6 AIR DIV.
do:	30	Capt. R.C. Robinson took over as 2nd i/c "E" Squadron. Capts. R.W. Roe
		and J.C. Hyson assumed command of 11 and 12 Flights respectively.
SLEAP	Nov 1	"BALBO" 6 Gliders - Horsa.
TARRANT RUSHTON	2	Mass take-off - 12 Gliders - Horsa.
	3
DOWN AMPNEY	4	9 crews proceeded on detachment to RAF Stn., LEICESTER EAST under command of Liett A.W. Wood.
	5
BROADWELL	6 7	Squadron re-organise owing to closing of RAF Stn., DOWN AMPNEY for glider flying.	Appx A
	8
SLEAP	9	762022 S/Sgt. Browne killed on night glider exercise.
BROADWELL		Re-organisation of Squadrons as at Appx B	Appx B
TARRANT RUSHTON	10	Exercise "BEAR" took place. See Operation Order at Appx: C	Appx C
	11
	12
	13
	14
BROADWELL	15	"BALBO" 20 Gliders - morning and afternoon.	Appx D
BLAKEHILL FARM	16	"BALBO" 11 crews
DOWN AMPNEY	17	"E" Squadron mover to BLAKEHILL FARM
	18
	19
	20
	21
TARRANT RUSHTON	22	Staff Sergeant ENGLAND E. awarded DFM for "D" Day.
	23
	24

Page 2 of 2

Place	Date	Summary of Events and Information	References to Appendices
	25 26
BROADWELL	27	India Draft moved to Transit Camp	Appx E
	28
do:	29	20 Gliders - morning and afternoon - BALBO	Appx F