British Gliders Make Good

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1943, Page 3

British Gliders Make Good

LONDON, July 23

Speaking at United States headquarters in London, Major-General Swing said that British gliders, which can carry over 15 fully-equipped men, stood up better to landings than the American 15-senter Waco. This was to be expected as larger craft stood a better chance on uneven terrain. Many lessons »had been learned from Sicily and would undoubtedly be ineornorated in future airborne landings. At Syracuse it was thought that the landing" by glider was a complete surprise to the eriemy, who expected paratroops. A full British airborne division is stronger in firepower than the airborne divisions landed bv the Germans in Crete. The Under-Secretary for Air. informing the House of Commons about the progress of the Glider Corps, said that in the last IS months. 64,000 launches had been given to cadets who were potential aircrews. and 14,000 launches to instructors and instructors under training, also 29 elementary gliding' schools and two special schools for instructors were in operation. Over 5000 cadets achieved varying degrees of proficiency, and some 2000 received instruction in two-seater gliders. The scheme had been further speeded up, the aim being to increase elementary gliding schools to 100.