Operation Varsity

Operation Varsity was the largest single-lift airborne operation of the Second World War. It helped open the way to Germany’s industrial heartland and hastened the end of the Third Reich.

Many Australian airmen were in the skies above Germany on 24 March 1945, playing a small but significant part in the success of this airborne crossing of the Rhine – and Michael Kelly explores their roles in the latest issue of Wartime.

This film footage from the Memorial’s collection shows details of the operation: the flight path being plotted on maps in the operations room; RAF Horsa gliders being towed to take-off positions; the formation as it crosses the Rhine; explosions and fire from crashed aircraft; and successful glider landings and the capture of German infantry.

To read more about Operation Varsity, purchase a copy of Issue 87 here.