There are some great resources that now exist for those wanting to do more research or
locate more information on a particular glider pilot or the glider pilot program and
missions in general. The National World War II Glider Pilot Association is a wealth of
resources with knowledgeable researchers available. It was started in an effort of glider
pilots wanting to connect with other glider pilots about 15 years after WWII ended.
Starting in 1966 their true grassroots effort began. Without internet and social media, it
was a huge endeavor to reach out and through contacts try and locate their war buddy's
whereabouts. The first meeting only had about nine glider pilots attend and annually, as
word got out contacts were made, and attendance grew.
In 1971 the first reunion was held at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas and the Association’s
charter was established and officers appointed. In 1972 more positions were
established as needed and in 1973 an emblem designed by Dale Oliver was adopted as
the official emblem of the National WWII Glider Pilots Association. In 1975 the
Association Seal or Coat of Arms was created by the U.S. Army of Heraldry for the
Association.
In 1973 more than 223 glider pilots and spouses attended reunions and a more formal
organization was started. In 1975 the membership expanded to over 1000 members
and both British and German glider pilots attended in the following years. It was now an
international organization. The following year a restored CG-4A cockpit was on display
for the reunion in San Francisco and collections of all things connected to the glider pilot
missions for the War Room began in earnest. in 1980 the formation of the Military Glider
Pilots Association was begun for the sole purpose of raising money for the museum in
Terrell, Texas. In 2012 membership was open to all troop carrier veterans to become
associate members as Troop Carrier Group Associations were dissolving. When the
museum at Terrell out grew its location with the CG-4A glider a search for a new
museum began. In October 2002 the old terminal at the air field in Lubbock Texas
became the new “Silent Wings Museum” and is owned by the City of Lubbock. This is
the only museum in the world dedicated to the American Glider Pilot.
Today the NWWII Combat Glider Pilots Association accepts new members which are
comprised of family and friends of WWII glider pilots, researchers, prior military, and
people with interest in the story of the glider pilots. They have a formal research team
with its own database compiled by members of the Glider Pilot Association. This was
accomplished through multiple visits to the National Archives at College Park, Maxwell
AFB, Carlisle barracks, Presidential Libraries and Colleges. The result is an extensive
collection of data that allows them to find information such as when a military member
entered a Unit, their position and duty within the Unit, as well as casualties and more.
They encourage families of veterans and those that knew them to partner with them to
help continue the story of these remarkable men alive for future generations and share
letters, journals, orders and photos. This will help fill gaps in data due destruction of
records due to fires etc. after WWII.
In addition, members of the research team such as Mark Vlahos USAF, Ret., and Hans
den Brok, the International Director. As a side note others with an affiliation with or
interest in glider pilots or Troop Carrier Groups also have books soon to be published.
They include Scott McGaugh, William Wright and myself. This is a great help to
researchers now versus those of us in the 1990s which could only access what the
archivists could discover in WWII boxes and had no idea of the contents when we
opened them although I must admit there was satisfaction in the hunt.
If you have a chance to read back issues from the Association from its beginning, I
believe the first formalized newsletters were called "On Tow or The Angle of the
Dangle" which has now evolved into "The Briefing" which is produced quarterly by the
Association it gives some fascinating accounts. This is one of the best places to begin
your research or make contacts in this field.
You can find them at this link: https://www.ww2gp.org/
As a side note others with an affiliation with or interest in glider pilots or Troop Carrier
Groups also have books soon to be published. In addition to mine Scott McGaugh and
William Wright also have books which are being released this year so there is plenty to
immerse yourself in!
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