" OPERATION VARSITY - CROSSING THE RHINE " Signed by Harry Hardy, Angus Scott, Ted Smith, Typhoons attack during Operation Varsity to aid in crossing the Rhine river.The Hawker Typhoon fighter/bomber was a replacement for the Hurricane which had been surpassed in performance by the Focke Wulf and other advanced German fighters. It was designed to be very strong and carry a powerful punch. Canadian Typhoons carried bombs and British Typhoons carried rockets. The Typhoon could carry 2, 1000 pound bombs (compared to very small 250 pound bombs carried by the Spitfire) and was also the fastest piston engine fighter at the time at low level. It had an amazing 24 cylinder Napier Sabre engine that produced 2,200 horsepower, had a maximum speed of 412mph and carried 4 huge 20mm canon! The Typhoon was a truly powerful fighter! The Typhoon did experience some technical difficulties because of its complexity and high speed but the tremendous performance at low level was well appreciated by the pilots that flew those perilous missions at low altitude. Because of its close support role, losses were high and Typhoon pilots faced scary odds. Over 151 brave men were lost in the battle of Normandy alone. In all 666 pilots and 21 ground crew lost their lives in WWII. The Horsa and Hamilcar gliders were a key part of this mission. Gliders carried troops or armored vehicles and were towed into the air by Halifax bombers. Horsa gliders could carry 25 troops and Hamilcar gliders could carry a tank. When within range of their objective they were released on a one way mission. It was then up to the incredible skill of the pilot and fighting strength of the airborne troops within to capture their objective and remain alive until the advancing front line arrived at their position. A scary prospect indeed!
- Operation Varsity - Crossing the Rhine- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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