Operation Varsity
March 24th 1945 – the “last drop” – the largest single airborne operation that the world has ever seen – over 16000 men leaving from multiple airfields in Essex to cross the River Rhine with the air element being coordinated from Marks Hall, the HQ of 38 Group adjacent to the airfield.
With these 16,000 men, there was ONE woman – WAAF Officer Rosemary Britten. Her participation was kept quiet for nearly 50 years!
However, following the Museum’s extensive research this is simply one story not to be missed!
Rosemary Britten was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during World War II, notable for being the only woman to participate in Operation Varsity, the last major British airborne operation of the war. In March 1945, she flew unofficially aboard an RAF Halifax tug aircraft towing a Horsa Glider departing from RAF Earls Colne. Before the Operation, Rosemary had managed to convince a group of Intelligence Officers to include her in a pool that would decide who would take a spare place on one of the planes. Rosemary won the draw despite the Officer making it supposedly being told to rig the outcome against her, she then managed to discreetly to take her place on the plane. Unfortunately, the Halifax bomber that she flew in was actually hit by flack on the return journey and had to make an emergency landing in France, thankfully with no casualties.
Her unique contribution was recently commemorated by the Earls Colne Heritage Museum, which supported the Varsity80 event at RAF Rivenhall by retelling her story.