yankee-yankee

Immagini - Volo a vela - Alianti - Storia del volo

ACG-10°, the second largest glider built by America during World War II. It was constructed entirely of wood, had a wingspan of 105 feet, and could carry 40 soldiers. America planned to build 1.000 of these for the invasion of Japan. U.S. Air Force

The MC-1, also known as XCG-16, had a wingspan of 91 feet 8 inches and could transport 40 troops in two compartments on either side of the elevated cockpit. Richard C. DuPont and three other men were killed during a demonstration flight of this glider. U.S. Air Force

June 1943, Saybrook, Connecticut. This is the only know photograph of the experimental nose section developed by the Ludington-Griswold Company for the U.S. Army's CG-4A gliders. Though this proposed new nose section would have vastly improved the flying characteristics of the CG-4A, American military authorities refused to accept it. They did, however, use this streamlined nose idea on the new and larger CG-13 gliders that began rolling off assembly lines in January 1944. Roger W. Griswold II, president and chief engineer of Ludington-Griswold, can be seen standing inside the fuselage of this CG-4A. Roger W. Griswold II

The two trucks parked under its wing illustrate the immense size of this 30-passenger CG-13A glider. Despite its size and weight, a parked CG-13A could easily be picked up by a flying tow-plane using the glider snatch technique developed by Richard C. DuPont. A total of 132 CG-13As were manufactured during World War II. George Aspinwall.

This is a staged publicity training photo, the purpose of which was to instil pride in the armed forces and to demonstrate modern fighting techniques. The scene shows a C-47 airplane towing two CG-4A gliders about to land in a field that has been secured by the paratroopers who can be seen attacking in the foreground. For dramatic effect a white phosphorous grenade was exploded in the background just as the photo was snapped. U.S. Army

India, December 1943. American and British soldiers examine a 1st Air Commando glider that has just been damaged during a training exercise. The diagonal white stripes on the tail of this CG-4A were the distinctive markings of the 1st Air Commando and British air units operating in India and Burma, painted on all combat aircraft to make them easily identifiable to Allied ground gunners. Just prior to Operation Thursday, the stripes were extended around the entire fuselage. Allied Air Force officers in Europe copied this stripe identification idea during the giant invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Thomas Hight

Assam, India, February, 1944. Glider pilots and mechanics of the 1st Air Commando Group pose during a training break at Hailakandi Airfield. Standing (left to right) F.O. Bruce Williams (Holding submachine gun), F.O. Robert Wagner, Lt. James Bartlett, Sgt William O'Brien, Sgt. Kinner, Sgt. Donald Johnson, F.O. Leo Zuk, Lt James Siever, and Lt. Steve Uhmanski. Kneeling: F.O. Samuel Steinmaker, Lt. H.J. Delaney, Lt. Richard Kuenstler, Capt. Vincent Rose, Lt. Neal J. Blush, Maj. William Taylor, Lt. J.J. Shinkle, F.O. Patrick Hadsell, and F.O Jackie Cooper. U.S. Air Force