RESIDENTS are invited to learn about the first large scale British use of gliders in action.

To coincide with the anniversary of Operation Ladbroke on Saturday, July 9 residents can join Mike Peters in the Army Flying Museum, in Middle Wallop, and online has he tells the tale.

Flying in large numbers of troops by night and over sea against a well-trained enemy, would be a challenge at any time. But, as Mike reveals in this fascinating lecture, the newly formed airlanding forces and the pilots of the Glider Pilot Regiment woefully lacked the necessary training and experience.

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The result was little short of a total disaster with over 250 men drowned and few troops landing successfully enough to carry out their missions.

Mistakes were made, the losses were terrible, but the heroism of the airborne forces shone through and thanks to shining examples of collective and individual heroism by survivors, a total catastrophe was averted. Listening to the successes and failures of this overly ambitious venture in the atmospheric surroundings of the museum, will make for a fascinating insight of classic military history.

The museum launched their successful series of Lockdown Lectures during the pandemic and this special event will also be live streamed on the Museum’s website, as well as available to a limited audience at the Museum itself.

Mike left the Army Air Corps in December 2013, since then he has established himself as a historian, an author and a battlefield guide. Mike has maintained a lifelong interest in the Second World War glider operations and in particular, the exploits of the Glider Pilot Regiment. Over the years he has met and interviewed many GPR veterans, much of this valuable research has been captured in Mike’s two books, Glider Pilots at Arnhem, and Glider Pilots in Sicily.

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A live Q&A session will take place following the talk, with both live and online audience members able to participate.

Tickets to attend the event in the museum on Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm are just £10, with online pay-per-view £6.

A curry supper is also available at the Apache Café at 6pm for £7.50 (advance orders only through the museum website) armyflying.com/what-s-on/lockdown-lectures/sicily-a-catastrophic-victory-online.

The talk will also be recorded for catch up viewing after the event through the museum website.

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