The Glider Pilot Regiment Cap Badge

WW2 Glider Pilot Regiment Badge

In 1940 the German military were pioneers in Glider and Parachute operations. The Allies, impressed by this decided to form there own  airbourne formations. Of these the Central Landing Establishment was formed 1n 1941 tasked primarily with training parachute troops, it was also directed to investigate the possibilities of using gliders to transport troops into battle. It had been decided that the the RAF and the army would work together on forming the new airbourne establishment.
Volunteers were sought from the army and had to pass RAF selection precedure. The first part of training lasted 12 weeks and this qualified them as pilots on light aircraft. After this they then went on to do their glider pilot training which lasted a further 12 weeks. The troops also went under more military training as they would be expected to fight alone side their fellows.
By 1942 the Glider Pilot Regiment come under the arm of the Army Air Corps along with the Parachute Regiment and the wartime Special Air Service (SAS).
Well known operations were:
Operation Freshman
Operation Turkey Buzzard
Operation Ladbroke
Operation Fustian
Operation Deadstick
Operation Tonga
Operation Market Garden
Operation Varsity
Operation Dragoon
The Glider Pilot Regiment Badge is shown above. It stamped out of white metal and has two lugs to the rear.