Surviving WWII Gliders?
Kevin Anderson -7325
specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
and other light materials. Any around to look at?
Kevin
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kevin L. Anderson, Geography Dept., Augustana College
Rock Island, Illinois 61201 USA phone: (309) 794-7325
e-mail: ggand...@augustana.edu or k...@helios.augustana.edu
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Charles K. Scott
ggand...@augustana.edu (Kevin Anderson -7325) writes:
> Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
> specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
> surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
> that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
> ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
> and other light materials. Any around to look at?
Several years ago at the Oshkosh Fly-in, part of the theme for that
year was WWII glider pilots and their mounts. One partially restored
Waco was on display and I gather it was supposed to go through full
restoration.
Corky Scott
Brad F. Bass
> ...I began to wonder again whether there are any surviving examples
> of the two types of gliders used for that invasion and others ... Any
> around to look at?
Yes. You can see one, a Waco model, completely restored, at the Silent
Wings Museum at the Terrell Municiple airport in Terrell, Texas, just
east of Dallas. They also have lots of photographs and memoriabilea
associated with the glider pilot training program, and WWII in general.
--
Brad Bass (ba...@convex.com) For a successful technology, reality must
Senior CAD Wrangler take precedence over public relations,
Convex Computer Corporation for nature cannot be fooled.
Dallas, Texas -- Dr. Richard P. Feynman
Robert J. Granvin
|> Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
|> specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
|> surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
|> that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
|> ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
|> and other light materials. Any around to look at?
Some, but not a lot.
The Silent Wings Museum (Texas?) has a CG-4, completely restored and on
display. CAF Headquarters in Midland will have a partial CG-4 on display
this fall.
We are currently negotiating with a Twin Cities company that made many of
them to help restore a CG-13 or CG-15.
Several _hulks_ exist, in various forms, but in almost every case, you will
need to rebuild the wing from scratch.
So basically, there are a few around, but most were never preserved since
there was no desire to. They were built for a one-way one-use trip, so
why keep it around?
I'm sure someone has a reasonbly current list of glider locations...
--
\\ Robert J. Granvin User Services Specialist
// School of Statistics - University of Minnesota r...@stat.umn.edu
Dan Rossini
had a glider in its display
Dan Rossini
Steve Bridges
>In article <gganders...@augustana.edu>, ggand...@augustana.edu (Kevin Anderson -7325) writes:
>|> Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
>|> specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
>|> surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
>|> that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
>|> ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
>|> and other light materials. Any around to look at?
>Some, but not a lot.
>I'm sure someone has a reasonbly current list of glider locations...
Add the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio to the list. They have a CG-4 (A model
I think) up on pylons above and behind a Martin B-26. Don't know if the
CG-4 is an original or not, but the Waco Company (when it existed) was here
in Ohio.
Steve
--
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st...@law7.daytonoh.ncr.com | WorldWide Information Systems
Phone: 513-445-4486 VP 622-4486 | Campus Lan Administration
Fax: 513-445-1933 622-1933 (VP)__| PP-ASEL,AMEL "I want a P-38 type rating"
mgri...@pimacc.pima.edu
> Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
> specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
> surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
> that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
> ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
> and other light materials. Any around to look at?
>
> Kevin
Sure are Kevin....
Pima Air Museum in Tucson, AZ just dedicated a display with both types of
gliders. In addition to the gliders, there are a few pilots still left around
here in Tucson.
Pima Air is a great museum with hundreds of aircraft that are carefully
restored by the plane buffs here.
I wouldn't recommend coming to Tucson right now if your not used to being
warm... :)
-Mike Griffith
lhar...@delphi.com
Ariz., in the lat 60s or early 70s.... It had crashed not that far from a
road, but wasnt visible. Eventually trees had grown up thru the fuselage
but there was an effort to reclaim it as I recall. Unfortunately
I dont remember more about it except that they were calling t a
it a
``bamboo bomber.'' Perhaps that's one of the ones at the Pima Air
Museum.......
Cheers,
Larry Harnisch
Bill Shatzer
In a previous article, ggand...@augustana.edu (Kevin Anderson -7325) says:
>Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
>specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
>surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
>that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
>ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
>and other light materials. Any around to look at?
>
>Kevin
Actually, I think (but could be wrong) there were *3* types of gliders
at Normandy-.the US "Waco" and the British "Hadrian" and "Hamilcar"
Oh, well, my ignorance is now on public display.
--
Bill Shatzer - bsha...@ednet1.osl.or.gov "Don't honk as you pass
or bsh...@aol.com me on the information super-
highway - I'm pedaling as
fast as I can!"
MR KR COMAN
>
>In a previous article, ggand...@augustana.edu (Kevin Anderson -7325) says:
>
>>Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
>>specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
>>surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
>>that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
>>ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
>>and other light materials. Any around to look at?
>>
>>Kevin
>
>
>Actually, I think (but could be wrong) there were *3* types of gliders
>at Normandy-.the US "Waco" and the British "Hadrian" and "Hamilcar"
Other Brit ones: "Hengist" and "Horsa" <--- Pre-Norman Danish kings!
Keith Coman
(Who'd rather deploy by 'chute than be part of a night glider assault with
1.5 tons of jeep and trailer itchin' to tear loose as we smack down!)
Dave Peat
>From: ba...@giraffe.ru.ac.za (MR KR COMAN)
>Subject: Re: Surviving WWII Gliders?
>Date: Thu, 9 Jun 1994 10:16:53 GMT
>In article <2t6fvp$7...@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> ek...@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Bill
>Shatzer) writes:
>>
>>Actually, I think (but could be wrong) there were *3* types of gliders
>>at Normandy-.the US "Waco" and the British "Hadrian" and "Hamilcar"
> Other Brit ones: "Hengist" and "Horsa" <--- Pre-Norman Danish kings!
>Keith Coman
I think the gliders used in Normandy were Waco, Horsa and Hamilcar. The
Hadrian was the British name for the Waco, and the Hengist, along with the
Hotspur, were British training gliders.
Back to the original question, there's a restored front fuselage of a Horsa in
the Airbourne Forces Museum in Aldershot, England.
Dave
mc killop,john e
Kevin Anderson -7325 <ggand...@augustana.edu> wrote:
>Watching in fascination all the D-Day documentaries and
>specials, I began to wonder again whether there are any
>surviving examples of the two types of gliders used for
>that invasion and others? I seem to recall reading years
>ago that none survived the war, being made of only wood
>and other light materials. Any around to look at?
>
>Kevin
There is a CG-4 at the USAF Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
--
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| Jack McKillop | Those who have long enjoyed such |
| Bellcore | privileges as we enjoy forget in |
| Piscataway, NJ USA | time that men have died to win |
| je...@donuts0.bellcore.com | them. FDR |
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Willoughby
>
>Actually, I think (but could be wrong) there were *3* types of gliders
>at Normandy-.the US "Waco" and the British "Hadrian" and "Hamilcar"
>
>Oh, well, my ignorance is now on public display.
>
>--
>Bill Shatzer - bsha...@ednet1.osl.or.gov "Don't honk as you pass
>or bsh...@aol.com me on the information super-
> highway - I'm pedaling as
> fast as I can!"
My ignorance is a matter of public record, so I feel the need to contribute.
The Hamilcar was the big glider, capable of transporting the Tetracht light tank.
It had a higed nose section which opened from the side.
I think that the main glider used by the british paras was the horsa, which was
a longish cylinder, with quite a blunt nose, large thin wings, and struts from
the wings to the feusilage. Six of these gliders were towed by Lancasters from
RAF Harwell, on the night of 5th June. The building I'm in now was built on the
end of Harwell's main runway, which is why I mention it.
The Hadrian I am less familiar with, only having seen the Italeri kit, but in size
it looks somewhere between a horsa and a hadrian.
Perhaps the waco, which I've never heard of, was known by another name to
in British service.
Another glider type used was the Hotspur, which was a training glider, with
a single underside rail, presumeably these were designed to be reuseable.
For the film "A Bridge Too Far", several horsas were built, although how
accurate they were, and their fate remains a mystery.
Cheers
Mark
Orval R. Fairbairn
: I seem to recall a glider being found south of Tucson, possibly in Douglas
The "Bamboo Bomber" was NOT a glider! It was the Cessna UC-78 alias T-50,
a twin-engined (pair of "shaky Jakes" 220-300 hp radials), used as a twin
trainer/liason aircraft. Bomber pilots went from primary training to Bamboo
Bombers, instead of to AT-6's. Sacds of them were built in WW-II; sadly most
have rotted away, due to the wooden wings and paucity of efforts to make them
last while building them.
--
Orval R. Fairbairn Mtn View, CA (415) 969-4351 (h) (408) 756-1473 (ofc)
| .___. . . 1946 Johnson Rocket 185 NC 90204
| . |___||> . . : EAA 25947 (life), AOPA 205925
<: . . --- Board of Directors:
| . . .. CA Pilots' Assn, CRAMP
|
Matt Melchert
In article <bakc.944....@giraffe.ru.ac.za>, ba...@giraffe.ru.ac.za (MR KR COMAN) writes:
[snip]
>>
>>Actually, I think (but could be wrong) there were *3* types of gliders
>>at Normandy-.the US "Waco" and the British "Hadrian" and "Hamilcar"
There were Horsas at Normandy. At least I have seen numerous pictures of
them lying in pieces in fields, presumably after landing as part of the
Invasion.
>
> Other Brit ones: "Hengist" and "Horsa" <--- Pre-Norman Danish kings!
>
So THAT'S what "Horsa" means! Hadrian I know; but who or what was "Hamilcar"?
Was there a formal tradition that all British gliders would be named
after kings etc. beginning with "H"?
Matt
fbl...@unicomp.net
there is a WWII glider musuem in Terrell Texas with a cg4a
combat glider as well as many displays and info of the time.
it is called SILENT WINGS and is staffed by ex-glider pilots.
Fred Blair
MR KR COMAN
>From: ma...@waikato.ac.nz (Matt Melchert)
>Subject: Re: Surviving WWII Gliders?
>>>at Normandy-.the US "Waco" and the British "Hadrian" and "Hamilcar"
>
>
>There were Horsas at Normandy. At least I have seen numerous pictures of
>them lying in pieces in fields, presumably after landing as part of the
>Invasion.
>> Other Brit ones: "Hengist" and "Horsa" <--- Pre-Norman Danish kings!
>So THAT'S what "Horsa" means! Hadrian I know; but who or what was "Hamilcar"?
>Was there a formal tradition that all British gliders would be named
>after kings etc. beginning with "H"?
I *think* Hamilcar was Hannibal's (he who crossed the Alps with wi'
the jumbos) sortta 2-i-c. Yes, it sure does seem as tho Brit gliders were
delibrately given the "Kings with Hhh-aches" treatment!!
("Hannibal" probably didn't get the honours 'cos Handley-Page nabbed
that name for a series of airliner for Imperial Airways back in the '30's!)
Cheers,
Keith Coman
Sylvain Louboutin
since reading this thread about these big gliders, there is a question
I wanted to ask (surprised nobody else asked it yet...):
where can I *fly* one of those?
seriously, could be fun to take a party of friends up there....
additional question: would my Silver-C enough to fly it? (or glider
licence)?
--
%%Sylvain R.Y. Louboutin, phone:(+353-1)7021539, e-mail:slou...@dsg.cs.tcd.ie
%%Distributed System Group, O'Reilly Institute, room F.35, fax:(+353-1)6772204
%%Department of Computer Science, Trinity College, Dublin 2, -Ireland- ASK-18
%% http://www.dsg.cs.tcd.ie:/dsg_people/sloubtin/sloubtin.html
Robert J. Granvin
|>
|> since reading this thread about these big gliders, there is a question
|> I wanted to ask (surprised nobody else asked it yet...):
|>
|> where can I *fly* one of those?
|>
|> seriously, could be fun to take a party of friends up there....
|> additional question: would my Silver-C enough to fly it? (or glider
|> licence)?
Hmmm... That snowball still doesn't have a chance. :-)
There ain't no WWII vintage glider that will ever fly again. To do so
would essentially be a one-way trip. These things were not really designed
to fly more than once and most just sorta created new egress opportunities
when they ... well ... landed.
Very, very few remain today and those that are around are highly prized.
Even if they could be assured of safe and non-damaging landings, there's
just no one who'll risk anyways.
Anyways, these things don't behave like today's glider. They were more like
a very large parachute that you rode in. Controlled crash and all of that.
Mike Campbell
Mike Campbell
> The Hadrian I am less familiar with, only having seen the Italeri
kit, but in size it looks somewhere between a horsa and a
hadrian.
To answer one of the questions I asked here a couple of hours ago:
Hadrian was the WACO CG-4A in British service (Jane's)
> Perhaps the waco, which I've never heard of, was known by another name to
> in British service.
Yup! :-)
There were 4 WACO gliders - CG-3A (6 seat - few built, training only)
CG-4A (13 troops, = Hadrian), CG-13A (42 troops), CG-15A (16 troops,
but able to be towed @ 180 mph, hence suitable for tow by fighters!!!).
According to Janes the CG-4A/Hadrian saw service, but it doesn't
specifically state that the other two did not. Anyone got details of
the service history of the -13A or -15A?
Kenneth L Fowler
Robert J. Granvin <r...@umnstat.stat.umn.edu> wrote:
>In article <1994Jun10....@cs.tcd.ie>, slou...@cs.tcd.ie (Sylvain Louboutin) writes:
>|>
>|> since reading this thread about these big gliders, there is a question
>|> I wanted to ask (surprised nobody else asked it yet...):
>|>
>|> where can I *fly* one of those?
>|>
>|> seriously, could be fun to take a party of friends up there....
>|> additional question: would my Silver-C enough to fly it? (or glider
>|> licence)?
>
>Hmmm... That snowball still doesn't have a chance. :-)
>
>There ain't no WWII vintage glider that will ever fly again. To do so
>would essentially be a one-way trip. These things were not really designed
>to fly more than once and most just sorta created new egress opportunities
>when they ... well ... landed.
>
>Very, very few remain today and those that are around are highly prized.
>Even if they could be assured of safe and non-damaging landings, there's
>just no one who'll risk anyways.
>
>Anyways, these things don't behave like today's glider. They were more like
>a very large parachute that you rode in. Controlled crash and all of that.
>
Hmm, now if we got a whole lot of L-19's and a whole bunch of 3/8"
poly rope...
--
Ken Fowler, wa5bru | Rational, reasonable conversation
klfo...@metronet.com | is wasted on rabid pit-bulls and
| liberals with internet accounts.
David Lesher
--
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close...........(v)301 56 LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close)....kibo# 777............pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead..............vr....................20915-1433
steve hix
:
:
:So THAT'S what "Horsa" means! Hadrian I know; but who or what was "Hamilcar"?
A Carthagenian general contemporary with Hannibal. I beleive that they may have
been brothers.
Roger Gomoll
In a previous article, r...@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin) says:
>There ain't no WWII vintage glider that will ever fly again. To do so
and...
>
>Very, very few remain today and those that are around are highly prized.
Actually there are a number of flying WWII vintage gliders still about. I
think that in limiting yourself to the troop carrying variety you are
forgetting about the dozens and dozens of training gliders still active.
The TG series has many examples- there are a number of Schweizer TG2s and
TG3s about- and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Frankfort TG1
(built in Michigan) on the register. Piper, Taylorcraft, and Aeronca
supplied glider versions of their popular two place tandem trainers- and
surely one or two of those have been returned to powered status-
Also, am I misinformed in my belief that the Fairchild C123 was once the
Chance (?) troop glider? If that is indeed true, one could get one of
those and just shut off the engines and experience the thrill of vintage
cargo gliding.
Here's the obligatory plug for the Vintage Sailplane Association- they
print a great newsletter- the membership info is in SOARING magazine
--
Roger Gomoll Schweizer 1-20
au...@freenet.carleton.ca Schweizer 1-26A
rgo...@mpr.org Taylorcraft BC12D
Kenneth L Fowler
Roger Gomoll <au...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote:
>
[snip]
>
>Also, am I misinformed in my belief that the Fairchild C123 was once the
>Chance (?) troop glider? If that is indeed true, one could get one of
>those and just shut off the engines and experience the thrill of vintage
>cargo gliding.
>
Press, Inc., NY, NY, 1977):
"Chase Aircraft received the contract to manufacture the all-metal
XCG-20 on 2 December 1946."
"...the XCG-20's sister ship with reciprocating engines was the XC-123.
Surprisingly in 1951 the glider was equipped with two twin J-47 jet pods
'borrowed' from a B-47. It was flown in and out of short fields and
had a maximum speed of over 500 miles per hour and became America's
first jet transport."
The book also lists glider/power twins:
XCG-17 - C-47 with props & engines removed and nacelles covered
with spun-aluminum caps.
XCG-18A - Chase Aircraft added a pair of Wright R-1850 engines
to create the XC-122. The XC-122 could be rigged as
a towplane for XCG-18's.
Neat book. Probably long out of print.
--
Ken Fowler, wa5bru | The main difference between
klfo...@metronet.com | Handgun Control, Inc and
| The Flat Earth Society is
| media exposure.
Günther Seemann
>>|>
>>|> where can I *fly* one of those?
>>|>
I also thought about while seeing the DFS 230 in a museum.
>>|> seriously, could be fun to take a party of friends up there....
An older club member was a glider pilot in WWII in Germany. He told me that
once on a training flight with some soldiers in a DFS 230 he found a thermal.
He managed to stay up about 30 minutes when he had to land because the
soldiers became air-sick. The next 3 days he was arrested.
>>
>>Anyways, these things don't behave like today's glider. They were more like
>>a very large parachute that you rode in. Controlled crash and all of that.
>>
What altitude : distance ratio is typical for those gliders?
I've flown Grunau Baby II with a 1:18 ratio. A great difference to new
glass-fiber-gliders but an impressive experience.
>And anyway, where would you find a C-47 with a tow hook to launch it?
The guy who had flown the DFS 230 told me they used Ju-87 (Stuka) as tugs. For
today a Pilatus Turbo-Porter should be good?
- Guenther
Orval R. Fairbairn
Kenneth L Fowler
Günther Seemann <S...@WZL-MTQ1.WZL.RWTH-AACHEN.DE> wrote:
[snip]>
>The guy who had flown the DFS 230 told me they used Ju-87 (Stuka) as tugs. For
>today a Pilatus Turbo-Porter should be good?
>
had a max gross of 4600 pounds (1800lb empty, 2800lb cargo) and could be / was
towed by He 111, He 126, Ju 52/53, Ju 87, or Bf 110.
The American CG-4A grossed out at 7500 pounds (3440lb empty, 4060lb cargo)
and could be / was towed by C-47, C-46, C54, A-25, B-25, and P-38(!).
Green air... Ken
Sylvain Louboutin
>had a max gross of 4600 pounds (1800lb empty, 2800lb cargo) and could be / was
>towed by He 111, He 126, Ju 52/53, Ju 87, or Bf 110.
>The American CG-4A grossed out at 7500 pounds (3440lb empty, 4060lb cargo)
>and could be / was towed by C-47, C-46, C54, A-25, B-25, and P-38(!).
ok, these tugs might be a wee bit more expensive to rent than our
usual Piper Cub, but then, you can devide the cost of the tow among
your thirty or so passengers :-)
Panu Kolju
>In article <1994Jun10....@cs.tcd.ie>, slou...@cs.tcd.ie (Sylvain
Louboutin) writes:
>|>
>|> since reading this thread about these big gliders, there is a question
>|> I wanted to ask (surprised nobody else asked it yet...):
>|>
>|> where can I *fly* one of those?
>|>
>|> seriously, could be fun to take a party of friends up there....
>|> additional question: would my Silver-C enough to fly it? (or glider
>|> licence)?
>Hmmm... That snowball still doesn't have a chance. :-)
>There ain't no WWII vintage glider that will ever fly again. To do so
>would essentially be a one-way trip. These things were not really designed
>to fly more than once and most just sorta created new egress opportunities
>when they ... well ... landed.
Well, not so I think. Few years ago I read a book by one of these pilots who
took part to D-Day and to a operation before that in some commando task, sorry
don't remember the name of that book now :(. Pilots, atleast the American
ones, were trained in USA, but can't remember where exctly. These planes were
towed up with some bomber there too if I recall right. They also seemed to
have ability to get higher or maintain their altitude just like these present
day gliders do (well ofcourse not even close as well but still), so I guess
the training happened in some Southern State in USA.
To make the training happen, these gliders were build strong enough to stand
the trainings. There was not mentioned if there was much or any differense
between the training glides and in these real operations, but I got the
impression that same planes/glides were used also in training as in combat.
If you have seen pictures of those "gross landings" in Normandy and in other
operations, you know that many of these planes made some very rough landings,
and many lots their winds and even the frames shatered pretty easily.
Germans also knew that these glides would be used in D-Day operation and
placed high wooden "sticks" to open fields in strategic places like to
farming lands. Accidents happened also in some extend, mostly it was because
the pilots didn't necessarily see what they were landing on because of
darkness until very close to ground and also because some folks got to wrong
areas etc.
(This all from hasy memory :) ).
>Very, very few remain today and those that are around are highly prized.
>Even if they could be assured of safe and non-damaging landings, there's
>just no one who'll risk anyways.
I think pretty many were stored even after the war, atlest in England, but I
think they were destroyed later on. Many kind of companies made these planes,
like some furniture firms in England.
>Anyways, these things don't behave like today's glider. They were more like
>a very large parachute that you rode in. Controlled crash and all of that.
Yes, pretty much like that. They were also used in some commando operations
before D-Day. Germans BTW started using these gliders in commando operations
before alied forces, but didn't use them as much as alied did later on.
BTW, I think the US version had this "open up" frame which could be loosed
after landing to get the troops out faster.
>--
>\\ Robert J. Granvin User Services Specialist
>// School of Statistics - University of Minnesota r...@stat.umn.edu
Panu--
**************** University of Lappeenranta, Finland = Suomi
* Panu Kolju * "Hard Will makes Cold Facts!"
* ko...@lut.fi * If EU can't guarantee our constitutional rights
**************** we are loosing them now! Hell with the "green" Eco-Facists!!
E Dale Thompson
contact, e-mail me. I one time (1955-56) worked for an ex-glider pilot.
His stories of D-Day didn't sound like fun.
Dale Thompson Schweizer 1-35 (so far no bullet holes!) :-)
C. Emory Tate
ago at the Soaring Museum in Harris Hill, NY, and there's what
appears to be a CG-4A in the background of one photo... Anyone
know if there's one at this museum?
C. E. Tate
______________________________________________________________
A loaf of bread, a jug of Gatorade, and a 600ft/min thermal...
______________________________________________________________
Bill Robie
C. Emory Tate <et...@mcl.bdm.com> wrote:
>I happened to be looking at some photos I took several years
>ago at the Soaring Museum in Harris Hill, NY, and there's what
>appears to be a CG-4A in the background of one photo... Anyone
>know if there's one at this museum?
If my memory is correct, there is one (part of one, anyway) at Harris Hill.
When they went looking for a WWII glider to put on display, they were
amazed to find the remains of one almost in their back yards. Someone
had picked up one from surplus and was using it as a chicken coop. This
is the one now at the museum. I don't recall whether the wings were off
it because they were not with it when it was acquired, or if they simply
would have taken up too much room in the already-crowded museum. People
have a tendency to donate planes to them that have long wingspans. ;-)
In response to another part of this thread: Elmira was one WWII pilot
training base, and Laurinburg, NC (relatively close to Ft. Bragg) was
another. There were others, I'm sure, but I don't know where they
were.
On a related note: The little town of Dunn, N.C. has a local museum
dedicated to General Bill Lee, an early proponent of glider and parachute
troop deployment. It is a nice little museum (housed in the General's
former home) and very convenient to I-95 -- about 20 miles north of
Fayetteville, NC. Not many folks know about this one, but it makes a
great "leg stretch" break on a North/South trip on I-95. The town's
only McDonald's is nearby. ;-)
Bill Robie
WSchaefer
writes:
In Hempstead, Long Island, New York is the Cradle of Aviation Museum and
they are restoring a WWII WACO glider. When I saw it last (in 1992) they
had the fuselage complete less the outer fabric. The wings were not
attached yet. The museum features aircraft manufactured on LI on in the
NY metropolitian area. It also maintains an excellent space section that
includes a complete Grumman
Lunar Module.