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Hey grogs - school me about gliders...


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So, I'm reading Ambrose's D-Day book, and have reached the part covering the initial glider missions. However, I'm not getting a good picture of what these things were all about. How did they come into being? How many people fit in them (it mentions them carrying jeeps sometimes)? How big of a landing strip did they need?

If someone could offer a summary, I'd be grateful...

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The CG-4A was the most widely used U.S. glider of

World War Two. More that 14,000 CG-4A's were built

by twenty companies including two on Long Island,

Dade Brothers of Mineola and General Aircraft in

Queens. The CG-4A was constructed of steel tubing

fuselage and wooden wing, both fabric covered. It was

flown by a pilot and co-pilot and it could carry 13

troops or a jeep or cannon. A typical function of the

glider was to transport its heavily armed troops behind

enemy lines where they could disrupt the advance of

the enemy's reserve troops by destroying railroads,

bridges and other communications. When the gliders

reached their destination, they were released to

complete their one-way mission. A large percentage

ended in crashes due to the congestion and small

landing zones.

waco1.jpg

eto-4.jpg

for full info go here:

http://www.pointvista.com/WW2GliderPilots/wacocg4a.htm

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Another good site on glider usage, primarily the British Glider Regiments: Glider Pilot Regiment: 1942-45

Quick Link:Loads

6pdr.jpg

6 pounder AT gun in a Horsa

And regardless of what you think of Ambrose, "Pegasus Bridge" has some great information on glider training and the famed "Ham & Jam" mission.

[ May 02, 2002, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: Fairbairn-Sykes Trench Knife ]

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