- Contributed by听
- bobharget
- People in story:听
- Bert Harget
- Location of story:听
- England
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A1954596
- Contributed on:听
- 03 November 2003
S/SGT H G. HARGET
GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Date:- MAY 26th 1943 Place:- H.G.C.U. BRIZE NORTON.
Sgt. Brian Vincent had to do a "Cross Country " ( called exercise 12 ) and I, as his friend, went as second pilot.
We took off and flew east at about 3000 ft. After about 45 minutes, over Cambridgeshire, the tugs engines developed a fault and we were told we had to part company. A hasty look around revealed three aerodromes within gliding distance, so Brian chose one and we made an approach.
It was only when we were nearly on the runway that we noticed a line of large aircraft around one side of the perimeter track. When we stopped, about a dozen jeeps and a crowd of figures ran towards us. On opening the doors we were amazed to see they were YANKS - we had landed at Bassingbourne, an American operational base and the line of aircraft were B17 " Flying Fortresses ".
The Yanks had never seen a glider before and a lot of exited conversations developed until their C.O. arrived. He was very impressed and then said that King George Vl was due to arrive at any moment for an inspection and could he put our glider at the end of line of " Forts ". We agreed and so we found ourselves standing to attention in front of our glider as the King and his entourage approached, talking to each American crew as they progressed up the line. When they reached us there was some discussion between the C.O. and the King and then he came over to us. He wanted to know the whole story and then walked off in what appeared to be a very good mood.
When it was all over we were taken to the mess, where the hospitality was overwhelming. We 'phoned Brize Norton with explanations but had to stay at Bassingbourne, still being entertained and treated as V.l.Ps, until a tug arrived in the evening to pick us up.
Truly a DAY TO REMEMBER.
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The above account was written some time ago by my father who sent it to the editor of the "Eagle" (the magazine of the Glider Pilot Regimental Association). Soon after it was published he was contacted by another ex pilot who on reading the article had solved something that had puzzled him for a long time. In the original wartime film The "Memphis Belle" there is a scene where King George is shown inspecting the American airmen after their tour of duty. At the start of the sequence the King is shown arriving in his car and for a few frames it is shown passing a Horsa glider. If you look closely you can see the Horsa and two figures in British Army flying overalls are clearly visible. - Bob Harget
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