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George volunteered for the RAF on 26th May 1941. As he was a practicing optician at the time, his papers stipulated 'Not to be employed other than as pilot or observer without reference to the Air Ministry.'

He was one of the many who navigated the Albemarle aircraft towing the gliders into Arnhem in daylight. The objective was to secure the railway bridge west of the city on September 17th 1944.
The 1st Airbourne Division as part of the Operation Market Garden took the bridge head after fierce combat but it was cut off from General Montgomery's infantry relieving force. On 25th September the division was withdrawn with the loss of seven thousand men, wounded and missing. Unbeknown to the British, a crack panzer Nazi division was resting nearby in a wooded area so when supplies were dropped a great deal of casualties were sustained in retrieving them.

Sir Brian Horrocks who commanded the 30th Corps under General Montgomery described Arnhem as "the blackest moment of my life"; a sentiment George shared with many of the glider tug crews.

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Helena Noifeld of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Kent and has been added to the website on behalf of George Charles Shepherd with his wife Margot Shepherd's permission. She fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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