 The casualties taken by both airborne formations were quite heavy , although lighter than had been expected . By nightfall of 24 March , the 6th Airborne Division had suffered around 1 @,@ 400 personnel killed , wounded or missing in action out of the 7 @,@ 220 personnel who were landed in the operation . The division also claimed to have secured around 1 @,@ 500 prisoners of war . The 17th Airborne Division suffered a similar casualty rate , reporting around 1 @,@ 300 casualties out of 9 @,@ 650 personnel who took part in the operation , while the division claimed to have taken 2 @,@ 000 POWs , a number similar to those taken by 6th Airborne . This made a total of around 3 @,@ 500 POWs taken by both airborne formations during the operation . Between 24 March and 29 March , the 17th Airborne had taken a total of 1 @,@ 346 casualties . The air forces involved in the operation also suffered casualties ; 56 aircraft in total were lost during the 24th , 21 out of the 144 transport aircraft transporting the 17th Airborne were shot down and 59 were damaged by antiaircraft fire , and 16 bombers from the Eighth Air Force were also shot down during supply drops . 
