World famous became the Horsa when it was used in the motion picture 'The Longest Day' when a couple lands besides the bridge across the Caen canal. The bridge was later called 'Pegasus' after the insignia of the British 6th Airborne Division.

After three initial actions, 68 Horsa's and 4 Hamilcars arrived around 03.30 hours in the morning of June 6th with reinforcements of the 6th Airborne Division. Because of the strong side wind only 47 Horsa's and 2 Hamilcars reach their designated 'landingzone' (LZ), the others land widely spread in the area around the Orne and Dives river. Later that day another 250 gliders, mostly Horsa's, swooped in and brought an additional 7.500 men into the British sector. Not only the British operated the Horsa, the American 82nd and 101st made also good use of the Airspeed Horsa.

In the night around 04.00 hours some 52 gliders land in the American sector. Many of them crash in the earth walls and in the so-called 'Rommel-asparagus' (long poles in the fields, especially against gliders). At the LZ 'E', near Vierville and St-Marie-du-Monde crashes the glider with Brigadier-General Donald F. Pratt. He becomes the first high officer to be killed on D-Day. Later that day another 32 gliders arrives around 21.00 hours. Because of the high casualties during the landings it is decided not to bring any more troops by the gliders. The remaining men of the 101st Airborne Division is brought over sea by landingcraft. Just as with the 101st, the 82nd Airborne brings in reinforcements by gliders. The first badge lands around 04.00 hours in 52 gliders in the north-east from St-Mere-Eglise, and in the evening at 21.00 hours another 76 gliders arrive, and around 23.00 hours a badge of 100 gliders. Unfortunately, just as with the 101st, the casualties are extreme high. 300 men, pilots and crew, got killed because of the crashes and the German Flak. Of the both divisions, 82nd and 101st, 1200 men are lost in the first 24 hours.

The work horse under the gliders used by the United States in the Second World War, is the Waco CG-4A (C = Combat, G = Glider, 4A = Model). The Waco Aircraft Company in Troy, Ohio builds a craft with a wooden floor, a welded steel frame covered with fabric. A hinged cockpit, that swings upwards, gives way to 13 men or a jeep with a 75mm cannon. It is far from a beauty, but the glider is used for one mission only and after landing it is destroyed or abandoned. Test flights are started in 1942. Fifteen company's take on the production of the CG-4A. When the CG-4A arrives in Great Britain it is given the nickname 'Hadrian'.

The first action for the CG-4A is during the invasion of Sicily. During D-Day, the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Division use the CG-4A in huge numbers. Around Carentan lands alone 53 Hadrians and 32 Horsa's.

17 September 1944, 588 Horsa's, 58 Hamilcars with tanks and 4 CG-4A Hadrians take off to bring the 1st Airborne Division near Arnhem. It was a lost battle. After four days against a tough German resistant the Allies realise that all their efforts were going awash. Of the Glider Pilot Regiment, 23 officers and 124 NCO's got killed, 31 officers and 438 NCO's are made prisoner by the Germans. This group of men was responsible for bringing in, with 660 gliders, 4500 men, 95 heavy guns and 544 jeeps or other heavy equipment. Without any doubt an enormous achievement.

Between October 1944 and January 1945, some gliders were rescued by C-47's in a spectacular manner. These saved gliders were used again for crossing the Rhine river in March 1945.