70th anniversary of Operation Varsity
Seventy years ago yesterday saw the largest single-day, single drop airborne operation of the Second World War. Divisions of the American (17th Airborne Division), British (6th Airborne Division) and Canadian paratroopers assaulted across the Rheine River to assist in the invasion of Germany. About 17,000 troops dropped during the daylight jump on top of German defenders. Almost 3,000 Allied paratroopers were casualties, 3500 Germans were captured.
Operation Varsity was considered the most successful airborne operation of the war, mostly because it incorporated the lessons learned on D-Day and Operation Market Garden to secure the area behind the bridgeheads while the ground forces secured the actual bridgehead.
Many of the casualties occurred among the glider infantry units (including the US 194th Glider Infantry Regiment). Three years later, the Army abandoned the glider concept for delivering troops and equipment into combat. 12 gliders were totally lost to anti-aircraft fire while 140 were damaged. West Virginian Technical Sergeant Clinton M. Hedrick of the glider regiment earned the Medal of Honor posthumously a few days later.
21 of the aircraft carrying paratroopers were lost before they could deliver their load. 59 others were damaged.
70 years ago today on 24th March 1945, Operation VARSITY was launched. The largest airborne operation ever carried out, it saw some 17,000 troops from the British 6th Airborne Division and American 17th Airborne Division land by parachute and glider to capture crossings over the River Rhine.The mission achieved its aims, with the paratroopers securing bridgeheads and the first tanks crossing the Rhine in the early hours of 25 March to take the advance into Germany.Video: Copyright: Airborne Assault Museum, Duxford
Posted by 16 Air Assault Brigade on Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Category: Historical
Medal of Honor Citation for Tech Sgt Clinton M Hedrick
He displayed extraordinary heroism and gallantry in action on 2728 March 1945, in Germany. Following an airborne landing near Wesel, his unit was assigned as the assault platoon for the assault on Lembeck. Three times the landing elements were pinned down by intense automatic weapons fire from strongly defended positions. Each time, T/Sgt. Hedrick fearlessly charged through heavy fire, shooting his automatic rifle from his hip. His courageous action so inspired his men that they reduced the enemy positions in rapid succession. When 6 of the enemy attempted a surprise, flanking movement, he quickly turned and killed the entire party with a burst of fire. Later, the enemy withdrew across a moat into Lembeck Castle. T/Sgt. Hedrick, with utter disregard for his own safety, plunged across the drawbridge alone in pursuit. When a German soldier, with hands upraised, declared the garrison wished to surrender, he entered the castle yard with 4 of his men to accept the capitulation. The group moved through a sally port, and was met by fire from a German self-propelled gun. Although mortally wounded, T/Sgt. Hedrick fired at the enemy gun and covered the withdrawal of his comrades. He died while being evacuated after the castle was taken. His great personal courage and heroic leadership contributed in large measure to the speedy capture of Lembeck and provided an inspiring example to his comrades.
Thanks RB. Good to know yet another that is truly deserving of the MOH and not some poser on the street…
We see so many of them here, it makes me sick…
Thank you for this reminder Jonn. They are never forgotten.
Where do we find such men?
America.
I have never understood how anyone managed to live through that, never mind engage in combat.
I was in both the 82nd and 101st in the ’90s. One of the bragging rights for paratroopers is the number of combat jumps. Of course, the 82nd had four in WWII (n Africa, Italy, Normandy, and Market Garden), and most Screaming Eagles had two (Normandy and Market-Garden).
However, many don’t know that one, CPT Lewis Nixon of ‘Band of Brothers’ fame, had three: He was assigned to advise and observe the 17th Airborne during Varsity. He earned a third Bronze Combat Star for his jump wings and was one of only three paratroopers To exit his aircraft alive when it was shot down.
AATW!