"A significant visual record highlighting the extent to which the ground and air wars brought the Air Forces and Armies together in the lead up to D-Day. In front of the Horsa glider is assembled a group of Australian and British servicemen. Sitting in the door at left is Henry Hoysted. Kneeling at right is Ron Minchin. The three troops wearing red berets are members of the Army’s Glider Pilot Regiment. Unlike their American counterparts, British Airborne Forces glider pilots were expected to take an active part in operations after reaching the landing zone. Chalked on the fuselage is the politest form of a crude expression. This is as heavily armed as RAF aircrew got during the war. Those not obviously wearing sidearms nevertheless evidence their presence by the thick lanyards. This is just before D-Day 1944."

Michael Enright. 'Flyers Far Away: Australian Aircrews Over Europe In World War II'