Pegasus Bridge landings

[Marcel]

The Horsa glider could throw off it's landing gear after becoming airborn and land on skids. The skids are obvoupsly better suited to handle rough landing terrain and helps to get to a halt in a short time.

Why then, with such a small landing place near the bridge, did the horsas land on wheels at Pegasus Bridge? Was there any reason why the skids of the Horsa was never used in real operations?

 

[Airframes]

As far as I know, the original design included the provision to jettison the main wheels, but I haven't actually heard of this being done 'in action'. It may be that this system was changed (along with the original explosive method of removing the tail section), or perhaps it wasn't very reliable.
The central skid was more of a 'back up' system, and there were many incidents of Horsas losing the main gear after a heavy landing, and ending up on the skid.
The LZ at Pegasus bridge, although relatively rough, was adequate enough and, with the ground being soft but level, the main wheels would have created more drag, allowing a landing in the space available, whereas using just the skid might have entailed a longer landing run.
Note that one of the Horsas stopped when it hit a fence and barbed wire line, only a few yards from the objective !

 

[pbehn]

If I had to fight within seconds of landing I think I would take the wheels option.

 

[Airframes]

Me too !
Note that one of the landing drills for the troops, was to link arms, and raise the legs, just in case the landing gear did collapse, and the glider ended up on its belly skid.

 

[Barrett]

The Pegasus landings have been called "the best piece of flying in WW II," fetching up c. 50 yards from the objective. A longtime flying friend (A-4s, RA-5s, etc etc) and glider instructor says it's not as hard as it might appear, though he concedes he's never landed a combat-loaded Horsa!

 

[Marcel]

Me too !
Note that one of the landing drills for the troops, was to link arms, and raise the legs, just in case the landing gear did collapse, and the glider ended up on its belly skid.

So what you are saying, the skid-landing was never meant to be a standard operational procedure, but only meant as backup.

BTW. I found out that the skid was deliberately used when Horsa's were transported through the air to North Africa. The only time they were used AFAIK.