vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
"Silent Wings at War - Combat Gliders in World War II"
by John L Lowden
Smithsonian Institution Press - 1992
ISBN: 1-58834-034-1
I came across this book when it was on sale, and having never read any serious book on Allied use of combat gliders I went ahead and purchased it. After having read it I can only say one thing, Combat Glider pilots without a doubt have the biggest set of <bleep> of any pilot in WW2 period (and I include suicide pilots in this).
The forward is written by Walter Cronkite whom had actually flown on such a mission during Operation Market-Garden. The book itself is well written and consists of about 40 stories from the Allies and only briefly touches upon the German use of them. It covers the early use of them through the blunders made by upper command to the end of the war in the ETO, MTO and CBI/PTO areas.
I had no idea they had been used as often as this book illustrates or exactly how dangerous they really were. It talks about operations where the gliders were released over the ocean with a number of them not making it to land. Gliders being towed above 150 mph that shed their wings in flight, air to air collisions and of course the landings which the pilots had to intentionally wreck them in order to stop when they ran out of landing space. Missions with 70% casualty rates, gliders equipped with axes so you can hack your way out of it – truly amazing reading.
There were a few humorous stories, such as when gliders were being used to bring supplies into Bastogne during the 2nd resupply run. A glider carrying artillery shells cut loose and landed as soon as he could which turned out to be downhill on a snowy hill. He locks his brakes and keeps going as a sled. He soon soars off of a 15ft drop lands and keeps sliding, eventually stopping 10 yards away from one of the guns the shells were intended for. Within 5 minutes these shells were being used.
IMO Gliders Pilots have not gotten the recognition they so deservedly deserve. This book is a great way to learn about them.
by John L Lowden
Smithsonian Institution Press - 1992
ISBN: 1-58834-034-1
I came across this book when it was on sale, and having never read any serious book on Allied use of combat gliders I went ahead and purchased it. After having read it I can only say one thing, Combat Glider pilots without a doubt have the biggest set of <bleep> of any pilot in WW2 period (and I include suicide pilots in this).
The forward is written by Walter Cronkite whom had actually flown on such a mission during Operation Market-Garden. The book itself is well written and consists of about 40 stories from the Allies and only briefly touches upon the German use of them. It covers the early use of them through the blunders made by upper command to the end of the war in the ETO, MTO and CBI/PTO areas.
I had no idea they had been used as often as this book illustrates or exactly how dangerous they really were. It talks about operations where the gliders were released over the ocean with a number of them not making it to land. Gliders being towed above 150 mph that shed their wings in flight, air to air collisions and of course the landings which the pilots had to intentionally wreck them in order to stop when they ran out of landing space. Missions with 70% casualty rates, gliders equipped with axes so you can hack your way out of it – truly amazing reading.
There were a few humorous stories, such as when gliders were being used to bring supplies into Bastogne during the 2nd resupply run. A glider carrying artillery shells cut loose and landed as soon as he could which turned out to be downhill on a snowy hill. He locks his brakes and keeps going as a sled. He soon soars off of a 15ft drop lands and keeps sliding, eventually stopping 10 yards away from one of the guns the shells were intended for. Within 5 minutes these shells were being used.
IMO Gliders Pilots have not gotten the recognition they so deservedly deserve. This book is a great way to learn about them.
and just finished it.
