IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 42 

Honoring the heroic service and sacrifice of the 6,500 glider pilots of the 

United States Army Air Forces during World War II. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 23, 2007 

Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York submitted the following concurrent resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Honoring the heroic service and sacrifice of the 6,500 glider 

pilots of the United States Army Air Forces during 

World War II. 

Whereas the use of gliders during World War II provided an 

innovative method of transporting troops and equipment 

behind enemy lines; 

Whereas the United States Army Air Forces began training 

glider pilots in 1942, eventually training approximately 

6,500 men; 

Whereas glider pilots exhibited exceptional valor by landing 

behind enemy lines in unarmed gliders; 

Whereas glider pilots participated in 8 successful missions; 

Whereas in Operation Husky, which took place in Sicily on 

July 9, 1943, glider pilots carried British airborne 


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•HCON 42 IH 

troops, completing their mission despite heavy casualties 

resulting from landings at sea; 

Whereas in Operation Broadway, which took place in Burma 

on March 5, 1944, glider pilots took the Japanese completely by surprise; carried troops, airborne engineers, 

and equipment by night; seized and prepared landing 

strips for forthcoming transport planes; and evacuated 

the wounded, accomplishing in 2 hours what would have 

taken 2 months by ambulance; 

Whereas in Operation Overlord, on June 6, 1944, glider pilots took part in the Battle of Normandy, the largest 

combined airborne and seaborne invasion in history, carrying troopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions 

and their equipment to landing areas behind enemy lines; 

Whereas in Operation Dragoon, which took place in the 

coastal area of southern France on August 15, 1944, 

glider pilots delivered troops and cargo despite wooden 

poles erected in open fields to impede their landing; 

Whereas in Operation Market-Garden, the largest glider operation of World War II, which took place in Holland on 

September 17, 1944, glider pilots carried their usual 

cargo of troops and heavy equipment, thereby providing 

cover for an attempt to clear a road to Berlin; 

Whereas in Operation Repulse, which took place in Bastogne 

on December 27, 1944, as part of the Battle of the 

Bulge, glider pilots, although flying directly through 

enemy fire, were able to land every glider, delivering the 

badly needed ammunition, gasoline, and medical supplies 

that enabled defenders against the German offensive to 

persevere and secure the ultimate victory; 


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Whereas in Operation Varsity, which took place at the Rhine 

crossing in Wesel, Germany, on March 24, 1945, more 

than 1,300 glider pilots took part in their final European 

mission, delivering a fatal blow to Axis forces; 

Whereas in Operation Gypsy Task Force-Appari Mission, 

which took place in the Philippine island of Luzon on 

June 23, 1945, glider pilots took part in their final, and 

only Pacific, mission, carrying members of the 11th Airborne Division; and 

Whereas many glider pilots sacrificed their lives during the 

course of these missions: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) honors the heroic service and sacrifice of 

4 the 6,500 glider pilots of the United States Army 

5 Air Forces during World War II; and 

6 (2) urges the people of the Nation to remember 

7 and teach future generations about the contributions 

8 and sacrifices that glider pilots, and all veterans, 

9 have made to and for the Nation. 

Æ 


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