Title:OPERATION VARSITY : Airborne Invasion East of the Rhine, March 24th 1945 (rough assembly and offcuts) [Main Title]
Film Number:APY 140
Other titles:
Summary: Unedited film relating to the British glider-borne contribution to the Rhine crossing operation.
Description: Much of the material is held in duplicate between cans P1, SP1 and SP3, and the shots do not appear in chronological order. Included, however, is film of preparations at British airfields (Horsa and Hamilcar gliders, and their Stirling and Halifax towing aircraft, are lined up, and equipment loaded into them; final briefings are held; the troops board the gliders, after decorating them with slogans "Arnhem Avenger", "Wot No Engines?", "The Cumbacks", "She Dropeth Like a Gentle Rain from Heaven"); the aerial convoy takes off, cheered by ground personnel; in flight scenes include crossing British coast, European countryside, and the moment of cast off; the gliders land (one Horsa crashing badly) and troops disembark, unload equipment (including a 'Locust' tank), receive a supply drop, and prepare for the next stage.
