Theodore (Ted) Wilson. 681 Glider FA Bn. Operation Varsity

[Eric Queen]

I think I posted this several years ago on the forum but can no longer find the thread so, with the anniversary of Operation Varsity (over the Rhine river) coming this month I thought I would post it again. 

 

Theodore (Ted) Wilson was born in Montana, raised in California and was an Army officer in WW2. He served with the 40th Division and later ended up in the 17th Airborne Division (681st Glider Field Artillery Bn.)

 

My dad met Ted in the late 1990's when the both volunteered at the Hospice Second Hand Shop in Paradise, CA. They became friends and knowing my dad's interest in military artifacts Ted gave my dad his M42 jump jacket. 

[Eric Queen]

Some time after Ted passed away in 2006, my dad eventually passed along Ted's jump jacket to a forum member. 

 

 

[Eric Queen]

Ted's daughter moved into his house and lived there for several years. When she decided to move she came across a trunk full of Ted's things from the war and called my dad to see if he would be interested. There was field gear, manuals, two dog tags, several overseas caps, a few German items, several shoulder patches, etc. 

 

My dad bought it all and asked me to offer it to the collector who had Ted's jacket which I did. Pat posted some of it in this post from 2016.

 

 

[Eric Queen]

I did keep a special piece for myself though.................

 

This is a star from the actual glider that Ted was in during the invasion over the Rhine (landed at Wesel). This was folded up in the trunk and on the back (in period fountain pen is written)

 

Tail No. 340360

Chalk No. 138

1118 Wesel, Germany

 

When I had it professionally framed I had the frame cut out a window in the back and cover with clear plexiglass so you can see the writing but I obviously was not smart enough to take a photo of it before hanging it on the wall. The map of Wesel displayed with it did come from the trunk also. 

 

[Eric Queen]

There were a number of glider which were aborted during the mission but Ted's was not per below. 

[Eric Queen]

The LZ where 138 landed 

[Eric Queen]

I saved this riker mount of items from Ted to keep with the Glider panel. I have no idea what the skull patch is (may not even be military) but thought it was cool and kept it. 

 

Anyway, thought I would show this again as the panel is a neat piece of history which was actually there and something you don't see all the time. 

[Waffentag]

 Very cool!  His Jump Jacket is still right next to my Dad’s.

 

Pat 

[dhcoleterracina]

Great group, registers off the chart on my "cool-o-meter".

[TFH]

It is just a beautiful grouping like I love them 😍

Congrat

[BILL THE PATCH]

The star from the glider is right up there with the us flags from ships that were at D Day in my opinion. Awesome piece of history

Sent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk

[manayunkman]

Cool patch indeed.

 

What does it say? Ski ?

 

The rest of the group is not too shabby either.

[dmar836]

Wow. Awesome!

[sundance]

Great group. Love that framed glider fabric.

[Waffentag]

I was sorry to hear that Eric passed,  I just got focused again on collecting and was going to contact him about parts of the grouping that he kept.  

[Titanfan]

I wonder who got Mr Queens collection?

[manayunkman]

I was just talking to somebody about that an hour ago.

 

We both wondered where his collection went.