JS(AC)68a RAF cover daul numbered AF9 as part of the Airborne Forces Series. The cover artwork by Tony Theobald shows a Horsa glider having just been released by a Halifax and inset the Norsk Hydro-Hevay water plant in Norway which was the aim of the attack. Operation Freshman was an attempt to delay the German development of an atomic bomb. Both Gliders crash landed with injuries and casualities, worst still they missed their Norwegian agents and were caught by the Germans and executed, those injured were injected with poison while in hospital. Only one Halifax returned the other crashed killing the crew.

Cover bears 24p christmas stamp and is cancelled with BFPS 2341 postmark for the anniversary of Operation Freshman and bears the Airborne Forces Pegasus Insignia. Cover has been flown in a Hercules C-130 of 30 Sqn from RAF Lyneham to Bergen in Noway overflying the area where the Operation Freshman disaster occurred.

OPERATION FRESHMAN

1942 German research into 'heavy water' was taking place at the Norsk Hydro plant in Norway. The hydro plant was situated  in an isolated and deep valley and the plant was built on a rock shelf. The soliders were all volunteers parachutists from the 9th Field Company (Airborne) Royal Engineers and the 261st Field Park Company (Airborne) Royal Engineers. Operating independently the two parties (halifax & Horsa gliders) took off. Only one aircraft returned. The 1st party made an accurate landfall only to discover that the radio location device (Rebecca) was unserviceable and had to navigate through the mountains by map reading. They ran into a cloud and ice formed on the tow rope which broke. The glider crashed into the mountainside. The second party made a successful landfall but the glider crashlanded in the mountains, the aircraft crashed nearby with the loss of the crew. Under general order all the survivers were killed. Operation Freshman failed but as the first British Glider Operation it did show the potential, range and flexibility of the airborne forces.

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