IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 283 
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 
OCTOBER 27, 2005 
Mrs. MCCARTHY (for herself and Mr. TURNER) 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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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 com-
pletely 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 pi-
lots took part in the Battle of Normandy, the largest 
combined airborne and seaborne invasion in history, car-
rying 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 oper-
ation 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 Air-
borne Division; and 
Whereas many glider pilots sacrificed their lives during the 
course of these missions: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) honors the heroic service and sacrifice of 
the 6,500 glider pilots of the United States Army 
Air Forces during World War II; and 
(2) urges the people of the Nation to remember 
and teach future generations about the contributions 
and sacrifices that glider pilots, and all veterans, 
have made to and for the Nation. 
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