The bastards nobody wanted - gliders in war

[rreis]

Hi all

I've been reading this 2008 thesis by MICHAEL H. MANION (US Air Force). It's about the birth and death of the glider in the military and some considerations of it's use today.

ABSTRACT
This study examines the role of combat gliders in Germany, the United
Kingdom, and the United States during World War II (WWII). This thesis
compares and contrasts each country with respect to pre-WWII glider
experience, glider and airborne doctrine, glider pilot training, and glider
production while outlining each country’s major glider operations. The
author then compares the glider operations in the China-Burma-India
Theater to the operations in Europe to describe the unique challenges
based on the terrain and mission. Next, this thesis presents an analysis
of the glider’s precipitous decline following WWII. The study concludes
with recommendations for glider operations in the future based on the
experiences of the past.


If you want to read it also check the link: www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA493762

[StangStung]

Very cool, thanks for posting.

[cco23i]

I always liked the "recruiting" poster that some glider guys came up with, it had crashed gliders all over it and said: Glider troops, NO flight pay, No jump pay, BUT NEVER A DULL MOMENT"

Scott

[gliderman1]

Nice thesis but, with due respect, there are several incorrect facts or assumptions. The original requests for designs went to 11 companies and only 4 responded. WACO won the design almost by default because none of the other completed flight test models passed requirements and/or stress testing. The CG-4A production contracts went to 16 companies. Five of those companies produced more CG-4A gliders than did WACO. The CG-15A design in conjunction with WACO was done more by Glider Branch engineers and glider pilots at Wright Field than by WACO, with flight testing at Clinton County Army Air Field. BGn Pratt's name was Don not Donald and he was not sitting in the co-pilot seat of the replacement Fighting Falcon when it crashed into the hedgerow. He was sitting in his Jeep wearing his helmet strapped under his chin and died of broken neck/whiplash. The net weight of the CG-4A generally was closer to 3,500 yo 3,750 depending on the variations, modifications and attached add-ons. Glider pilot training was in progress more than six months before the mentioned 18 contract training schools were started (these lasted only 6 months being replaced by Army run training schools). Glider pilots received overseas pay from the beginning. The thesis seems to confuse the pay of glider riders (A/B troopers) with that of glider pilots. Glider riders did not receive Haz Duty pay until after June 6, 1944 invasion. Glider drivers were paid overseas pay form the beginning. Actually, if a glider driver went overseas as a F/O and was promoted to 2Lt., his total overseas pay was then higher than a "regular" 2Lt. serving overseas.