Donald William Duke

The enthusiasm to discover my fathers war history was inspired following a visit to the Museum of Army Flying in August 2014.  Information provided by Peter Capon an Archivist at the Museum triggered a search of mothers loft and the result is set out here.  

Dad was only 15 when war broke out in 1939 so was not called up until half way through the war and by the time he had trained as an RAF pilot there was an over supply.  However, the Glider Pilot Regiment (GPR) sustained losses in Operation Market Garden and in September 1944 RAF pilots were "Volunteered" to join the GPR.  Eventually this lead to action in Operation Varsity, The Rhine Crossing.  The following tells the story before during and after that event in words and pictures. (Click on the images and photos to enlarge)

Receiving Wings 11 February 1944

Key Dates

On Tuesday 19th August 2014 Tony and Pam Withers (Mum's cousin) Mum and I visited the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop.  I met up with the archivist Peter Capon and paid a contribution for him to look into the flying record of father whilst attached to the Glider Pilot Regiment (GPR)

on 17 September I received the response which is set out in full in the letter below. 

https://sites.google.com/site/fodwduke/home