80th Anniversary of Operation VARSITY
Schedule
Sun, 23 Mar, 2025 at 11:00 am
UTC+00:00Location
RAF Rivenhall | Witham, EN
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80th ANNIVERSARY OPERATION VARSITY
22/23/24 MARCH 2025
INDAVER are kindly hosting an 80th anniversary event to remember those that flew from RAF Rivenhall on Operation Varsity – 24th March 1945.
60 gliders flown by the Glider Pilot Regiment, towed by 2 RAF Squadrons, carried elements of 6th Airborne Division to land
directly on top of the German defences. Nearly 80 from Rivenhall died within minutes of arriving; WW2 ended just 6 weeks later.
AIM – To remember and commemorate all of those that took part in the operation. This will be open to the public.
The History of RAF Rivenhall is vast & it would be nice to visualise this as much as possible on the day.
In early 1944 USAF P51 Mustangs & B26 Marauders flew missions Into occupied Europe from the base.
From Oct ’44 onwards, RAF Stirling’s based at Rivenhall dropped Agents and supplies to SOE and the SAS in the Netherlands, Norway & Denmark.
A Squadron, Glider Pilot Regiment were based there after Operation Market Garden. After their losses on this operation,
many RAF VR pilots joined their ranks to train on the Horsa glider and fly on Operation Varsity.
Follow its story on Facebook @ RAF Rivenhall History
IF YOU ARE A RELEVANT WW2 RE-ENACTOR OR OWN A
WW2 MILITARY VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AS A
CONTRIBUTOR, PLEASE CONTACT
[email protected]
OTHER HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTORS ARE ALSO WELCOME.
Overnight pitches & facilities will be provided by INDAVER
Location: Near Silver End, Witham CM8
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Where is it happening?
RAF Rivenhall, Witham, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
