 The third component of the 17th Airborne Division to take part in the operation was the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment , under the command of Colonel James Pierce . Troopers of the 194th GIR landed accurately in landing zone S , but their gliders and tow aircraft took heavy casualties ; 12 C @-@ 47 transports were lost due to anti @-@ aircraft fire , and a further 140 were damaged by the same fire . The regiment landed in the midst of a number of German artillery batteries that were engaging Allied ground forces crossing the Rhine , and as such many of the gliders were engaged by German artillery pieces that had their barrels lowered for direct @-@ fire . However , these artillery batteries and their crews were defeated by the glider @-@ borne troops , and the 194th Glider Infantry was soon able to report that its objectives had been secured , having destroyed 42 artillery pieces , 10 tanks , 2 self @-@ propelled anti @-@ aircraft vehicles and 5 self @-@ propelled guns . 
