CG-4A, 45-6097, 85th Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group

Date: 24 March 1945

Departure: Coulommiers, France

Target: Wesel, Germany

MACR: 13357

Crew from the 85th Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group

FO Miller, Warren R – T-121366 – Pilot
2LT Paul, Francis J – O-674330 – Co-Pilot

Troops from Company A, 194th Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division

TSGT Naro, Anthony M – 33603035
SSGT Martin, John H Jr – 35058577
SGT Wonderly, Chester – 37521563
PFC Asbridge, Don E – 35248665
PFC Bowman, Leroy N – 33757356
PFC De Coff, John H – 32332706
PFC Dunne, Kieran P – 39215930
PFC Jacquart, Francis L – 36957861
PFC Lewis, Billy G – 37520947
PFC Sutton, John C – 32849311
PVT Johnson, Albert W – 37344288
PVT Priddy, Alfred E – 37521049
PVT Scirto, Joseph J – 32831853

On 24 March 1945, Operation Varsity was initiated to drop two airborne divisions deep into German territory. 540 transport aircraft and 1,050 troop carriers towing 1,350 gliders were used to deploy the troops. CG-4A glider 45-6097 took off from Coulommiers, France in a tandem tow. FO Warren R. Miller was the pilot with 2LT Francis J. Paul as co-pilot. Thirteen members of Company A, 194th Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division were passengers on the aircraft.

From the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR), “On 24 March 1945 I was in Glider No. 43-43004 (Position 100) on long tow behind the same tow ship as Glider No. 45-6097 (Position 99) flown by F/O Warren R. Miller, who was on short tow. Due to ground haze and the smoke screen, both gliders overshot the LZ. During the tow nothing unusual was observed concerning Glider No. 45-6097. As soon as he cut we cut and followed him in on a 180 degree approach. The last time I saw the glider it seemed to be under good control. I began knocking out our side windows and never observed Glider No. 45-6097 again. There was a good deal of enemy opposition after we got on the ground and since we were some distance from our LZ, it is possible that Glider No. 45-6097 also met enemy opposition and was captured.” - 2LT Robert G. Miller O-778218

All fifteen people aboard 45-6097 perished near Wesel, Germany in or soon after the incident.

References

"OPERATION VARSITY". The Army Historical Foundation. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
"Missing Air Crew Report". Fold3. Retrieved November 4, 2023.

Albert W Johnson