Commendable navigation/flying, exemplary courage and determination
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Commendable navigation/flying, exemplary courage and determination
I thought this award by the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators to three WWII sergeant-pilots might be of interest.
When you read the citation, you can just imagine the reception the one frail elderly gentleman who was fit enough to attend received from the 700 strong gathering at the Awards Banquet as he made his way slowly forward to be presented with the award by the Duke of York.
What an amazing achievement!
Tudor
.... released some 10-15 miles from their target, over the Channel, at night, ...... flew their un-powered aircraft, without any navigational aids or ground assistance, to find the target .....
Just as well they weren't subject to CAA rules and regs, eh G-KEST.
When you read the citation, you can just imagine the reception the one frail elderly gentleman who was fit enough to attend received from the 700 strong gathering at the Awards Banquet as he made his way slowly forward to be presented with the award by the Duke of York.
SPECIAL COMMEMORATION AWARD
GUILD COMMENDATION
Geoffrey S Barkway DFM
Peter B Boyle
James H Wallwork DFM
Citation:
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the greatest air and sea-borne military invasion ever mounted – ‘Operation Overlord’ (D-Day). In order to commemorate that occasion, the Guild is presenting a Special Award –Guild Commendation –to three of the Glider Pilot Regiment pilots who landed successfully in the early hours of 6th June 1944 at (what became known as) ‘Pegasus Bridge’.
This landing enabled the capture of the bridge and the successful flank protection afforded thereby to the Allied troops landing on the Normandy beaches. The capture of the bridge was critical to the success of the landings and therefore to the whole of ‘Operation Overlord’.
The Horsa gliders flown by Staff Sergeants Geoff Barkway, Peter Boyle and Jim Wallwork were released some 10-15 miles from their target, over the Channel, at night, and the pilots successfully flew their un-powered aircraft, without any navigational aids or ground assistance, to find the target: a small bridge in the middle of northern France.
Not only did they find their target extremely accurately, they landed their heavily laden gliders in an unprepared landing zone (at night) with all the inherent difficulty and danger involved. They, and the paratroops with them, survived to fight a successful battle.
Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory, Commanding Allied Air Forces on D-Day, stated that their display of skill was one of the most remarkable navigational accomplishments of the war.
For their commendable navigation and flying skills, together with exemplary courage, determination and valour in pursuit of their duty, a special Guild Commendation is awarded to Geoffrey Barkway, Peter Boyle and James Wallwork.
GUILD COMMENDATION
Geoffrey S Barkway DFM
Peter B Boyle
James H Wallwork DFM
Citation:
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the greatest air and sea-borne military invasion ever mounted – ‘Operation Overlord’ (D-Day). In order to commemorate that occasion, the Guild is presenting a Special Award –Guild Commendation –to three of the Glider Pilot Regiment pilots who landed successfully in the early hours of 6th June 1944 at (what became known as) ‘Pegasus Bridge’.
This landing enabled the capture of the bridge and the successful flank protection afforded thereby to the Allied troops landing on the Normandy beaches. The capture of the bridge was critical to the success of the landings and therefore to the whole of ‘Operation Overlord’.
The Horsa gliders flown by Staff Sergeants Geoff Barkway, Peter Boyle and Jim Wallwork were released some 10-15 miles from their target, over the Channel, at night, and the pilots successfully flew their un-powered aircraft, without any navigational aids or ground assistance, to find the target: a small bridge in the middle of northern France.
Not only did they find their target extremely accurately, they landed their heavily laden gliders in an unprepared landing zone (at night) with all the inherent difficulty and danger involved. They, and the paratroops with them, survived to fight a successful battle.
Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory, Commanding Allied Air Forces on D-Day, stated that their display of skill was one of the most remarkable navigational accomplishments of the war.
For their commendable navigation and flying skills, together with exemplary courage, determination and valour in pursuit of their duty, a special Guild Commendation is awarded to Geoffrey Barkway, Peter Boyle and James Wallwork.
What an amazing achievement!
Tudor
.... released some 10-15 miles from their target, over the Channel, at night, ...... flew their un-powered aircraft, without any navigational aids or ground assistance, to find the target .....
Just as well they weren't subject to CAA rules and regs, eh G-KEST.
Awesome but Affordable
I salute their intestinal fortitude. What a tremendous feat of piloting and navigation.
So many of their friends and colleagues had lost their lives in the invasion of Sicily when the glider borne troops were cast off over the sea. They were dropped many miles outside gliding range of their objectives due to a variety of factors.
As far as the civilian aviation authorities were concerned I think their involvement was suspended for the duration as presumably was the then ANO. In any case the Horsa's were service gliders and they would merely have to comply with the then equivalent of JSP318.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
PS - Even during the war the practice of courts martial never stopped so the legal profession was still able to earn their proverbial crust.
So many of their friends and colleagues had lost their lives in the invasion of Sicily when the glider borne troops were cast off over the sea. They were dropped many miles outside gliding range of their objectives due to a variety of factors.
As far as the civilian aviation authorities were concerned I think their involvement was suspended for the duration as presumably was the then ANO. In any case the Horsa's were service gliders and they would merely have to comply with the then equivalent of JSP318.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
PS - Even during the war the practice of courts martial never stopped so the legal profession was still able to earn their proverbial crust.
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Thoroughly recommend "Pegasus Bridge" by Stephen Ambrose (Band of Brothers et al) ISBN 0-7434-5068-x as an account of the whole operation, including the glider pilots experiences.
Gentleman Aviator
Must also recommend this site. The open day is this weekend and only 20 minutes off the M54....
