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- The Story of Glider 88 – the Battle for LZ 2
- Operation Dragoon – British Glider Chaos in Riviera Invasion
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- The Story of Glider 110 – Glider Pilots Fight for the Ponte Grande
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- Surgical Strike – the Bombing of Syracuse in Operation Ladbroke
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- Wilf Oldham – Ordeal by Water.
- SAS Special Raiding Squadron (SRS) – The Cliffs of Cape Murro di Porco
- The Story of Glider 57 – The Cliffs of Cape Murro di Porco
- Lt J S D Hardy, RSO of 1 Border Regiment in Operation Ladbroke
- Operation Ladbroke, Fustian, Glutton, Bigot, Husky – or not?
- The Story of Glider Y – Bayonets & Threats of Execution
- Operation Ladbroke Sites – the Coup-de-Main Objectives
- Italian Cavalry Attack British Glider Troops on the Ponte Grande Bridge?
- The Story of Glider 52 & Gozo in Operation Ladbroke
- A US glider trooper in Operation Varsity – John Kormann’s legacy
- Chatterton vs Hopkinson – the Facts
- Glider Pilots to Blame for Operation Ladbroke Disaster? Part 3
- The Battle for Augusta – Jim Fern and the 6 Seaforths
- The Story of Glider 70 – Disaster for Medics in Operation Ladbroke
- Glider Pilots to Blame for Operation Ladbroke Disaster? Part 2
- SAS Rogue Heroes – Book Review
- The Story of Glider 26 – Combat Medics in Operation Ladbroke
- Glider Pilots to Blame for Operation Ladbroke Disaster?
- Unseen US document reveals impact of glider battle at Maleme
- South Staffords near Syracuse – rare photograph
- The Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment – Book Review
- Unpublished shot of a tank on the Ponte Grande
- Ray Atkinson, Halifax Tug Pilot in Operation Varsity
- The Story of Glider 126 – A Rare Good Landing
- The Lost Photos of Operation Ladbroke
- Nothing Is Impossible by glider pilot Victor Miller – Book Review
- PARAS Voices of the British Airborne – Book Review
- The SAS Pocket Manual – Book Review
- Battle plans for Staffords glider troops in Operation Ladbroke in Sicily
- Tullio Marcon – the story of his story of Augusta 1943
- Tullio Marcon: the Allied invasion of Sicily in the memories of a Balilla
- Terror off Terrauzza – Operation Ladbroke gliders in the sea
- Galpin’s Glider – New photo of Operation Ladbroke’s star landing
- Italian Artillery of WWII – Book Review
- Seizing Bridges, Building Bridges – Battlefield Tour Guide Roberto Piccione, Syracuse, Sicily
- Admiral Leonardi takes on the Royal Navy and the SAS
- Peter Davis of the SAS – a precious first-hand account
- Eben-Emael: The Glider Assault Myth is Born
- Operation Ladbroke, Sicily: Tugs to blame for releasing gliders?
- The Longest Weekend: D-Day Normandy 2004
- German predictions for Operation Ladbroke & airborne landings in Sicily
- Greatest Feats, Feats Forlorn: Jim Wallwork, Pegasus Bridge & Operation Ladbroke
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Do you have an aerial photo showing the ground S of the Ponte Grande as far S [4 miles or so] as the Sta Teresa railway station please?
Sorry, Jeremy, I can’t help with aerial photos, but I’ve posted an article here which I hope will be the next best thing. It links to satellite maps of Operation Ladbroke coup-de-main objectives.
I have a written account given me many years ago by Reg Brown of A Coy of the Staffords. He told me a copy was deposited with the IWM along with other accounts. The account basics were written on a Woodbine packet as he sat on the Horsa floating off Sicily (Reg couldn’t swim). I actually saw the Woodbine packet which he had in a small case along with other mementos. I have two photos of Reg. Is this of any use to you?
Steve
Thanks very much Steve. I’m always pleased, and always feel privileged, to receive photos of the men who took part in Operation Ladbroke and the battle for Syracuse. I have seen a long account by Reg Brown – I assume it is the same one. The story of the Woodbine packet is a fascinating detail.
I’ve really enjoyed reading all the articles here on the website, and know most of the places that you describe. I live not far from Santa Teresa Longarini (in fact, the farm next to Ristorante Mottava). Perhaps you know it ? Pop in next time you’re in the area.
Calum – thanks for the kind comments. Yes, I’ve eaten a few times in the Agriturismo Fattoria Mottava. And thanks for the invitation – I’d love to drop by the next time I get the chance.
The man in de Grineau’s drawing removing the charges was Pvte I Curnock of 181 A/L Fd Amb RAMC. (please see page 47, Red Berrets and Red Crosses, Niall Cherry). This man’s actions stopped the bridge from being blown when it was retaken and he should be credited with saving the bridge I believe.
Thanks Chris. Niall got the story from ‘On Wings of Healing’ p41. For more about the medics, see [here]. You make a very good point about Curnock. However, as so often, the story is a little murky. The charges were disabled in two stages, some hours apart. It seems first the wires were cut, and then later the charges were removed (although accounts differ). The men who are chiefly mentioned as dealing with the explosives are Lt Withers, who led the platoon which stormed the bridge, and Maj Beasley RE and his engineers. This doesn’t mean Curnock did not help, just that he needs to share the credit a bit!