21 Heavy Glider Conversion Unit RAF.
I believe this unit was formed at Brize Norton as the HGCU (later redesignated 21 HGCU) and was based there from July 1942 to Dec 1945 when it departed for RAF Elsham Wolds. It seems to have been quite active during its stay at Elsham Wolds and certainly had a lot of aircraft. In Nov 1946 21 HGCU departed Elsham Wolds possibly for North Luffenham. 21 HGCU was disbanded in Dec 1947. Aircraft operated by this unit were Airspeed Horsa assault gliders, Armstrong Whitworth Albemarles and Handley Page Halifaxes.
![Airspeed Horsa Airspeed Horsa](../assets/images/autogen/Airspeed-Horsa.jpg)
Above - Airspeed Horsa
![Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle](../assets/images/autogen/Armstrong-Whitworth-Albemarle.jpg)
Above - Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle
![Handley Page Halifax BIII Handley Page Halifax BIII](../assets/images/autogen/Handley-Page-Halifax-BIII.jpg)
Above - Handley Page Halifax BIII. The glider tug versions were modified but very similar.
![Albermarle and Horsa Albermarle and Horsa](../assets/images/autogen/Albermarle-and-Horsa.jpg)
Above - Albemarle taking off towing a Horsa glider.
![Elsham Horsa Elsham Horsa](../assets/images/autogen/Elsham-Horsa.jpg)
Above - Elsham Horsa.
![Elsham Horsa Crash Elsham Horsa Crash](../assets/images/autogen/Elsham-Horsa-Crash.jpg)
Above - Elsham Horsa after a hard landing
![Horsa night Horsa night](../assets/images/autogen/Horsa-night.jpg)
Above - Airspeed Horsa of 21 HGCU
Photos from my Archive
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