24 March 1945 Operation Varsity "The Last Drop"
On this day 80 years ago the Allies forces in Western Europe launched Operation Varsity the largest single airborne operation in history.
On a single day, over 16,000 men , were inserted by glider and parachute into western Germany. Around 8000 of those came from the British 6th Airborne Division, flying aboard 243 C47 aircraft and 440 gliders. The Brits' major objectives were the village of Hamminkeln, the Diersfordt wood and the river Issel. With the nearby ground troops already advancing in amphibious vehicles, Varsity proved to be a complete success. It was the final airborne operation of the war in Europe, with the Germans suing for peace just over a month later.
Though as was the case with all such operations in WW2 casualties were high with one in 5 of the British division killed or wounded !