Rope Dropping areas

Each airfield that housed gliders and towing units had a rope dropping area to drop the tow line after the glider had been released. How were these marked, as the area would need to be on the airfield but clear of people walking in the area? Dropping the heavy tow rope at over 100 mph might hurt a bit if it hit you, so much so that 297 Squadron contemplated dropping theirs on enemy troops after releasing their gliders during operation Market.

I assume there must have been temporary rope drop areas during exercises which must have been near the LZ. Would these have been similar markings to airfield rope drop area?

Never thought about that previously. A bit about dropping (and recovering) ropes in here.

Tactical and non-tactical operations during the final phase of the use in Europe including Operation Varsity.

Although that is a USAAF document I suspect the RAF would also have used Yellow smoke and white panels on combat drops too. They probably used this on practice drops but so far I have not come across a more detailed summary in ORBs.

The main reason fro asking is that I was wondering if some of the strange markings on the 1946 aerial photos of the Salisbury Plain training areas were airborne related? I assumed they must be for some air related activity as they couldn't be seen from the ground. They could be AOP/Arty related though but that is another subject.

I noticed there is a comment that not long over enemy territory so there was a need to set up a dropping area. Seems to confirm the suggestion they often dropped over enemy territory deliberately.

In most cases I believe the aim was to collect the tow ropes if at all possible, and if on a mission the rope drop zone would either be close to the front on the friendly side or near the glider LZ so that , in theory, the ropes could be retrieved and taken home, probably in a glider. The USAAF document suggest that a jeep with a trailer was sent out collectingthe ropes.

I haven't yet come across a reference to the deliberate dropping of ropes on the enemy, but then again I doubt it would be recorded if it did occur. I think this was just bar room talk.

There is a parallel with drogue dropping areas but the difference is that drogues and their cables did have a designated dropping area, which was sometimes the ELG for the range, and these were often marked on range plans if they were in the area covered by the plan.

It was the wording

In view of the comparatively short time spent over enemy territory during Operation VARSITY, a rope drop area had been designated for the return trip.

That suggests to me they would usually (or often) drop over enemy territory.

For heavily laden Horsas and Hamilcars I think the rope was about 300ft, and about an inch thick. Not something you want hanging around to snag on power cables. I suspect the smaller and lighter Hadrian would have used a smaller rope or even nylon. Also the ropes were bifurcated at the glider end so probably worth salvaging if at all possible.

As far as I can make out the ropes were always dropped soon after releasing the glider and I suspect the rope would fly low behind the aircraft making it more difficult to control. Given the havoc a trailing aerial can cause I suspect they would only land with a rope still attached in an emergency. Anyone got a copy of the RAF airborne manual?

I gather the modern symbol for a tow rope dropping area is a yellow cross.