Operation Tonga: The Glider Assault, 6 June 1944

by Kevin Shannon, Kevin Shannon

Operation Tonga – The Glider 6 June 1944 is an account of the Glider Pilot Regiment’s role in Operation Tonga, the first stage of the airborne assault in the Normandy landings in June 1944. The story is told through the eyes of those who were there – glider pilots, paratroopers, pathfinders, tug crews and passengers – and covers the operation from training through to evacuations after D-Day. Operation Tonga was vital to the success of D-Day and included the now famous attacks on the Merville Battery and the bridges over the Orne River and Caen Canal. The equally important, though less well known, part of the operation was to provide an antitank screen to protect the southern and eastern flanks of the invasion beaches from German counter attacks. The account includes stories of crew who evaded capture by the Germans and pays tribute to the help they received from local resistance fighters. The contribution of the nine gliders which took part in the ‘Coup de Main’ landings has been well-documented, but of the other eighty-nine gliders which took part, little has been written. Operation Tonga – The Glider 6 June 1944 tells the full story.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 19, 2014

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the glider assault as part of the d-day landings, though does not cover in any depth the ground operations they were supporting, which was perhaps a little disappointing, but this certainly fills a gap in the history of the invasion. Much more than just pilots, they played an important role as fighting troops, unique amongst their kin in the other nations armies. What is perhaps is most amazing is the fragility of the gliders, and yet through skill and determination the majority were landed, cargoes discharged, and within a reasonable distance of the landing zones. Whilst looked down upon by parachute infantry, it is clear this attitude was dramatically, and rightly, changed once they went into battle together.

I would have liked to see more analysis of the success or impact on the invasion, this was covered lightly in the final chapter. Based on personal accounts of many of those who were there, makes the narrative come alive, and the detail on the escape and evasion events, as well as how quickly some returned to active service following capture or injury - a number in time for Market Garden was remarkable.