I just ordered Airfix's 1:72 Handley Page Halifax and Airspeed Horsa and will build them as a pair.

But I'm having trouble finding the definitive minutia of which variant of which aircraft would have been used in Operation Market Garden.

The Airfix Halifax is is B III and the Horsa can be either I or II.
Would they have used a B III in Sept. 1944? Wikipedia tells me they were manufactured starting in 1943 so I think that's OK but confirmation is always good.

Does anyone have written or photo resources so I can make a fair attempt at unit markings? I could watch "A Bridge Too Far" for the hundreth time I suppose.

You need to look into 644 squadron and aircraft as they were the main glider towing squadron using HP Halfaxes. They used both Mk.V and Mk.IIIa at the time of Operation Market Garden.

Found pics of 644 squadron aircraft here though they're Mk.Vs as used on D-Day -

http://www.military-art.com/mall/more.php?ProdID=16193

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/b/560/9/1/16

Lots of written references found for 644 squadron on google plus theres some some old WWII photos and a restored Halifax in 644 squadron markings here

http://www.644squadron.com/gallery/gallery.htm

http://www.644squadron.com/gallery/halifax/index.htm

Thanks for the info and sending me in the right direction... digging up more on 644 squadron on Wikipedia shows that they used Mk IIIa from Aug '44 to March '45.

I'm on my way!

nuts.
I'm seeing conflicting articles over whether a Mk V or Mk III would have been flown in Market Garden.
It appears only the 644 would have flown Halifax's in that operation. I saw an order of battle that had 198 squadron listed with 644 as flying Halifax's , but every other thing Iooked at shows that 198 flying fighters (typhoons).
http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark618-695.htm shows 644 used the Mk III from Oct '44
other sites show them going to the Mk III in August.

August would be more convienient for my kits.

Maybe I should look into the Rhine Crossing...