Four Hours of Fury

by James M. Fenelon

  Homan, Richard W. “Donations Needed for Memorial to Pendleton County WWII Hero.” Pendleton Times, May 24, 1990, no page number.

  Hottelet, Richard C. “Big Jump Into Germany.” Colliers (May 1945): 13+.

  Hutton, Bud. “Airborne Armies Join Invasion of Nazi Heartland.” S&S, Nancy Edition, March 25, 1945, 1.

  ———. “Airborne Yanks, British Swarmed into Nazi Ambush in Rhine Jump.” S&S, Nancy Edition, March 29, 1945, 3.

  “Invisible Oil Afforded Screen.” S&S, Nancy Edition, March 29, 1945, 2.

  Kormann, John. “Little Known Sacrifices.” TFH (March/April 1998): 11.

  Kormas, Ancel. “Rations for Airborne and Other Mobile Troops.” TFH (Summer 2003): 92.

  Larson, George A. “Alliance Army Air Force Base and the Training of Airborne Crews.” AQ (Fall 1998): 20+.

  ———. “European Theater of Operations Post War Review of Airborne Operations.” AQ (Fall 2009): 27+.

  Miley, Jack. “Remarks at Memorial Service—Mt. Airy Resort—September 16, 1998.” TFH (November 1998): 7+.

  Mondt, David E. Untitled VARSITY article. The Yacht Club Association of the 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron (March 1991): 1+.

  Myer, Samuel C. “Varsity’s Organic Artillery.” Field Artillery Journal (November 1945): 673+.

  Nicholas, William H. “Gliders—Silent Weapons of the Sky.” National Geographic (August 1944): 150+.

  O’Rourke, Frank J. “Eyewitness: A Gliderman Across the Rhine.” World War II, April 2004, 42.

  “Parachute Infantry Fighting Men Are Proud of Their Commander.” Charlotte Observer, May 5, 1942, clipping from CMH, CJB, Box 60.

  Ramsey, Winston G. (ed.). “FHQu ‘Alderhorst.’ ” After the Battle 19 (1977): 51.

  Reed, Paul. “Operation Varsity—As I Remember It.” TFH (July 2000): 30+.

  Ridgway, Matthew B. “An Airborne Corps Operations.” Military Review (November 1945): 14.

  Seaman, Michael. “18th Corps Handled Wesel Airborne Job While 17th Division’s 194th Inf. Carried Ball.” S&S, Nancy Edition, April 8, 1945, 5.

  Shiner, Linda. “Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.” World War II in the Air (Collector’s Edition) Air & Space (Summer 2018): 80.

  Smith, Bill. “Heroes.” TFH (Summer 2003): 96.

  Sprenger, Gene. “Who Was Who—German General Officers, 1946.” TFH (Summer 1993): 30.

  Therrien, Mel. “Where Did the Words Thunder from Heaven Come From?” TFH (Spring 1994): 7.

  Tom, Bill. Untitled article. Thunder Mail Call, 17th Airborne Division’s Post-Dissolution Newsletter (Greenwald Edition, June 2008): 8.

  Tommasino, Ed. “Thanks from a Grateful Nephew.” TFH (July/August 1996): 10.

  Velikoff, Ted. “Velikoff Diary” TFH (Spring 1994): 53+.

  Whitman, Hamilton. “Airborne Operation: Mission Completed.” S&S, Nancy Edition, April 1, 1945, 3.

  Wilmer, Doug. “The Battle of Burp Gun Corner.” Static Line (April 2003): 10.

  Winters, Zane. “The Last Glider Mission, Part 1.” Silent Wings Newsletter (Fall 2003): 9.

  ———. “The Last Glider Mission, Part 2.” Silent Wings Newsletter (Winter 2003): 10.

  “World Battlefronts.” TIME, April 2, 1945, 27+.

  Yarborough, William P. “Gen. Yarborough’s Speech at Pinehurst Memorial Banquet.” TFH (Fall 1994): 53+.

  Field Manuals

  AAF Manual No. 50-17. Pilot Training Manual for the CG-4A Glider. Headquarters AAF, Office of Flying Safety, March 1945.

  Air Forces Manual No. 3, Glider Tactics and Technique. January 24, 1944.

  FM 10-10. Quartermaster Service in Theater of Operations. War Department, March 2, 1942.

  FM 23-80. 57-MM Rifle M18. Department of the Army Field Manual, June 1948.

  FM 27-10. Rules of Land Warfare. War Department Field Manual, October 1940.

  FM 31-30. Tactics and Technique of Air-borne Troops. Department of the Army Field Manual, May 20, 1942.

  FM 101-10. Staff Officer’s Field Manual: Organizational, Technical and Logistical Data. War Department, June 15, 1941.

  Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. II, No. 3, Section III (November 1943). War Department, Military Intelligence Division.

  Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model CG-4A Glider. Technical Order (TO) No. 09-40CA-1. June 15, 1944.

  Pocket Guide to Germany. Army Information Branch, United States Army, 1944.

  TM 9-319. 75mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 and Carriage M8. Department of the Army, November 1948.

  TM-E 30-451. Handbook on German Military Forces. War Department Technical Manual, March 15, 1945.

  Reports and Manuscripts

  IX TCC, US Army Air Forces, HQ. “Activities Final Phase—European War” (June 1945). GPM.

  ———. Control Team No. 2. “Activities of Control Team No. 2 on Varsity Mission” (March 30, 1945). GPM.

  ———. “Field Order No. 5 for Operation Varsity” (March 16, 1945). GPM.

  ———. “Ground Training for Glider Pilots” (December 15, 1944). GPM.

  ———. “SOP for Troop Carrier-Airborne Operations” (May 2, 1944). NARA.

  XVIII Corps (ABN). “Operation Varsity, 23 March 1945 to 30 March 1945” (April 25, 1945). 17ADA.

  ———. “Order of Battle Summary for Wesel Bridgehead” (March 7, 1945). Courtesy of Steltermann family.

  ———. “Periodic Reports.” NARA.

  ———. “War Diary.” CMH, MBR.

  XXIX TAC, 366th Fighter Group, 390th Fighter Squadron. “Downed Aircraft Report for P-47, 42-29245” (flown by Charles E. Bennett) (March 27, 1945).

  FAAA. “Airborne Army Operational Reports, 1944–1945, Varsity to Wildgirl.” NARA.

  ———. “History of Headquarters, First Allied Airborne Army. August 2, 1944–May 20, 1945.” Compiled by Historical Division, 9th Information and Historical Service.

  ———. “HQ Operations Reports, 1944–1945.” NARA.

  ———. “Operation Varsity.” NARA.

  ———. “Outgoing Messages, 1 FEB–13MAR45.” NARA.

  ———. “Outgoing Messages, 13–31 MAR45.” NARA.

  ———. “Subject File, 411–45, Personnel and Training—US ABN Action Files.” NARA.

  6th Airborne Division. “Report on Operation Varsity and the Advance from the Rhine to the Baltic, March 24th–May 2nd, 1945.” UKNA.

  17ABN. “After Action Report Narrative, 24–31 March 1945” (April 10, 1945). NARA.

  ———. 17th Airborne Casualty Rate, Daily by Unit.

  ———. “Division Chaplain’s Report, After Action Report for HQ, 17th ABN” (April 2, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Historical Report of Operation Varsity.” 17ADA.

  ———. “Inspector General’s Section,” After Action Report for HQ, 17th ABN (April 2, 1945). NARA.

  ———. Looting Memorandums (March 25, 1945, and March 28, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Operational Diary, Covering January 1, 1945 to April 10, 1945.” 17ADA.

  ———. “Summary of Operations: 3 Jan. 45 to 31 Jan. 45.” 17ADA

  21AG. “Correspondence and Signals (Between C-in-C and CofS).” UKNA.

  ———. “G (Plans), Operation Varsity (Nov. 44–May 45).” UKNA.

  ———. “Operation Plunder, Airborne Operations, conference notes.” UKNA.

  ———. “Orders for the Battle of the Rhine, M559” (March 9, 1945). UKNA.

  51 TCW, HQ. “Standard Operating Procedure for Airborne Operations” (August 2, 1944).

  ———. “Standard Operating Procedure for Gliders” (August 17, 1943). GPM.

  52 TCW, HQ. “Operation Varsity. After Action Report” (April 20, 1945). GPM.

  139 AEB. “139th Airborne Engineer Battalion Monthly After Operations Report” (April 18, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Daily Engineer Situation Report No. 2” (March 25, 1945).

  ———. “Daily Engineer Situation Report No. 3” (March 26, 1945).

  194 GIR. “Division Operat
ion Order (19 March 1945).”

  ———. “2nd Battalion Activities (March 24, 25, 26).” NARA.

  ———. “Field Order No. 1, 194 Glider Infantry” (March 19, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Misc. Varsity Documents.” NARA.

  ———. Morning Reports. NPRC.

  ———. Officer interview, Major Carl A. Peterson, Regt. S-3. GPM.

  ———. “Regimental Journal 2 (4 March 45–26 March 45).” NARA.

  224 AMC. “224th Airborne Medical Co., Accumulated Notes.” 17ADA.

  ———. “224th Airborne Medical Company, Inclosure 24.” NARA.

  313 TCG, 49 TCS. “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots of the 314th TCG, 62nd TCS.” GPM.

  ———. “Missing Aircrew Report for Aircraft: 44-77472” (April 18, 1945).

  406th Fighter Group, 513th Fighter Squadron. “Downed Aircraft Report for P-47 Serial Number: 44-33308” (Major Fowler, Gordon W.) (March 26, 1945).

  ———. “Downed Aircraft Report for P-47, Louise, 42-28672. (Altnoff, Erwin. MIA) (March 26, 1945).

  411 AQQC. “After Action Report, Inclosure (Apr. 3, 1945).” NARA.

  435 TCG. “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots of the 435th TCG, 77th TCS.” GPM.

  441 TCG. “Interrogation Check Sheets. Glider Pilots of the 441st TCG, 99th TCS.” GPM.

  464 PFAB. “After Action Report” (April 1, 1945). NARA.

  466 PFAB. “466th PFA Battalion Supporting Data.” Courtesy of John Chester.

  ———. “History of the 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion.” NARA.

  507 PIR. “Field Order No. 1, Inclosure No. 3A” (March 20, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Historical Report on Operation Varsity.” Courtesy 17ADA.

  ———. Officer interviews, “17th Airborne Division, Crossing Rhine, Operation Varsity, 24–31 March 1945.” GPM.

  ———. “Varsity Narrative.” NARA.

  513 PIR. “After Action Report, 24 to 31 March.” NARA.

  ———. “Field Order No. 16, Inclosure No. 3B” (March 17, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “History of the 513th Parachute Infantry.” War Department, the Adjutant General’s Office. NARA.

  ———. “History of the Regimental Insignia.” NARA.

  ———. “Narrative of Action.” NARA.

  ———. “Narrative of Action. 1st Battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment.” NARA.

  ———. Officer interviews, “17th Airborne Division, Crossing Rhine, Operation Varsity, 24–31 March 1945.” GPM.

  605 TDB. “After Action Report.” (May 4, 1945).

  680 GFAB. “Historical Record of the 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion.” NARA.

  ———. “680th Journal. 0645 20 March–2400 31 March 1945.” NARA.

  681 GFAB. “681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion.” NARA.

  717 AOMC. “After Action Report. Inclosure 20.” NARA.

  British Army on the Rhine. “Report on Operation Varsity.” 17ADA.

  Fiebig, Heinz. “The 84th Infantry Division During the Fight from Reichwald to Wesel.” Manuscript B-843, FMS, CMH.

  Geyer, Rolf. “Army Group H (10 Mar–9 May 45).” Manuscript B-414, FMS, CMH.

  “Interrogation Report from Gen Meindl and Major General Fiebig” (August 6, 1945). CNA.

  Langhaeuser, Rudolf. “6 Paratroop Division (11 Mar–1 Apr 45).” Manuscript B-453, FMS, CMH.

  Lyke, James P. “The Operations of the 17th Airborne Division in the Crossing of the Rhine River, 24 March 1945 (Personal Experience of the Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General).” Advanced Infantry Officers Course, Class No. 2, 1948–1949. Courtesy Frank Dillon.

  OSS. “Cover Report 1–15 FEB 45” (February 19, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Cover Report 1–15 MAR 45” (March 19, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Covering Report for OSS/ETO 16–31 March 45” (April 4, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “Covering Report 1–15 April 45” (April 18, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “HQ Seventh Army G-2, Strategic Services Section” (April 10, 1945). NARA.

  ———. “OSS Report for OSS/ETO, Continental Operations 10–31 MAR 45” (April 5, 1945). NARA.

  ———. Staub, Robert, OSS Personnel File. NARA.

  ———. Steltermann, Helmet, OSS File. NARA.

  ———. “Strategic Services Detachments with the Army in the Field.” NARA.

  ———. Vinciguerra, Stephen P. “Field Report from ETO.” NARA.

  Schlemm, Alfred. “First Paratroop Army (20 Nov 44–21 Mar 45).” Manuscript B-084, FMS, CMH.

  Schorr, David P., Lieutenant Colonel. “Operation Varsity. Airborne Assault Crossing of Rhine River, Vicinity Wesel Germany, 24 March 1945.” School of Combined Arms Regular Course, 1946–1947, Command and Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

  “Special Interrogation Report of General Alfred Schlemm, Commander First Parachute Army.” LAC.

  Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. “A-3 Div. Report of Allied Air Operations in Preparation for Operations Plunder & Varsity. ETO, 1945.” CMH.

  “ULTRA Interceptions” (February 27, 1945; March 19, 1945). UKNA.

  von Luettwitz, Heinrich. “XLVII Panzer Corps (08 Mar–16 Apr 45).” Manuscript B-198, FMS, CMH.

  Warren, John C. “U.S. Airborne Operations in World War II, European Theater. U.S.A.F. Historical Studies: No. 97.” Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Air University U.S.A.F. Historical Division Study, 1956.

  Weapons System Evaluation Group (WSEG). “A Historical Study of Some World War II Airborne Operations” (Staff Study No. 3).

  Papers, Letters, Collections, Personal Narratives, and Diaries

  CMH Papers and collections: Clay and Joan Blair Collection, William B. Breuer Papers, J. W. Coutts Papers, William M. Miley Papers, Floyd Lavinius Parks Papers and Diary, Matthew B. Ridgway Papers.

  Letters to the author: Ancker, Jack P. (680 GFAB); Blanchard, Thad (507 PIR); Chester, John (466 PFAB); Dillon, Frank (194 GIR); Gadd, Curtis A. (513 PIR); Herrmann, Eugene (194 GIR).

  513th PIR, I Co. “World War II: Battle of the Bulge and Rhine Jump.” Collected, unpublished memories and official documents. Courtesy of John Vafides (513 PIR).

  Boe, Richard A. “Unpublished Memoir.” Courtesy of Richard A. Boe.

  Branigan, Edward S. “The 464th PFAB in ‘Operation Varsity’ ” (January 11, 1984). CMH, WBB.

  Casey, Robert. Personal diary. GPM.

  Chester, John. Collection of Personal Memoirs. Courtesy of John Chester.

  Holdren, George. WWII Memoir. Courtesy of George Holdren.

  Jella, Elbert. Documents and notebook. GPM.

  Kessler, Homer K. “My Front Line Experience.” Courtesy of Homer K. Kessler.

  Macchiaverna, Frank. Personal diary. Author’s collection.

  Magill, John. “We Led from the Sky: A Combat Paratroopers Story.” CMH.

  Moscar, Joseph W. “Parts of My Missions.” CMH, WWII Veteran Surveys.

  Nitrowski, Johann J. “Varsity Folder,” pertaining to Battle of Burp Gun Corner. GPM.

  Schorr, David P. Letter to Herrmann, September 26, 1990. Courtesy of Eugene Herrmann.

  Schultz, Howard G. “Account of Glider Pilot in Varsity.” GPM.

  Schumacher, John. “Two Years in the Lift of John J. Schumacher: 1944–1946.” Courtesy of John Schumacher.

  Steltermann, Helmut. Collection of wartime documentation. Courtesy of the Steltermann family.

  Stephens, Howard. “The Operations of Company H, 507th PIR. 24 March 1945 to 5 May 1945. Personal Experience of a Company Commander” (May 13, 1945). Courtesy of the Infantry School, Ft. Benning, GA.

  Streukens, George L. “Personal Manuscript, 194th GIR.” George L. Streukens Papers, CMH.

  Whiting, Quinn A. “Memories of World War II.” 17ADA.

  Wienczak, Edmund A. Personal diary. Found in “224th Airborne Medical Company, Accumulated Notes.” 17ADA.

  Interviews

  Aas
, Lynn (194 GIR); Brooks, Arly (507 PIR); Davis, Al (517 Sig.); Doyle, David (OSS); Gadd, Curt (513 PIR); Kormann, John (17 ABN); LaGattuta, Joe (OSS); Lambrecht, Jack (glider pilot); Lauria, Jim (681 GFAB); McDonald, Lendy (513 PIR); Miley, John (son of William Miley); Muncy, Herbert (glider pilot); Pierce, Ed (513 PIR); Piergiovanni, Peter (155 Anti-Tank Co.); Pinzel, Donald (glider pilot); Powers, Chuck (C-47 pilot); Shafer, Tom (B-24 pilot); Schumacher, John J. (194 GIR); Theis, George (glider pilot); Von der Brugge, John (513 PIR).

  Miscellany

  17ABN Biographies. Collection of documents on CD-ROM provided by the 17ADA.

  “17th Airborne. The Bulge to the Rhine. 681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion—Battery B.” VHS, 1990 Kenwood Productions, Inc.

  514 Squadron, RAF War Diary for March 6, 1945. http://www.514squadron.co.uk/, accessed on January 1, 2017.

  “Airborne Infantryman Awarded Medal of Honor Posthumously.” War Department press release (February 11, 1946). Contains eyewitness accounts of George Peters’ actions.

  Biographical Sketch of Major General (Ret.) William Maynadier Miley, Father of the American Paratrooper. 17ADA.

  Felton, Mark. “Adlerhorst—The Führer’s Secret Castle.” http://markfelton.co.uk/publishedbooks/adlerhorst-hitlers-forgotten-headquarters/, accessed on August 25, 2017.

  Franklin, Oscar B. CMH, WWII Veteran Survey.

  “FLAK.” War Department training film, TF I-3389. Army Signal Corps, 1944.

  Gordon, Charles O. “Burp Gun Corner, 24 March 1945.” Courtesy of Charles Gordon.

  History 139th Airborne Engineers. Printed by Alfred Sleb, Muelheim (Ruhr). No date.

  “Jack’s Story.” http://www.aeroc.dbnetinc.com/artist.html, accessed on July 3, 2009.

  Johnston, Everett C. CMH, WWII Veteran Survey.

  Kappes, Irwin J. “Hitler’s Ultra-Secret Adlerhorst.” http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/adlerhorst.aspx, accessed on August 25, 2017.

  Lonke, Peter. The Liberators Who Never Returned. Self-published study of Operation Varsity’s downed B-24 bombers. Courtesy of Peter Lonke.

  “Major-General Richard Nelson Gale MC.” http://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/richard_gale.htm, accessed on August 4, 2015.