The US Army glider corps was formed in the tumultuous period of rapid
build-up of American military might prior to the nation's December 1941 entry
into World War II. It then had to mature rapidly, under the persistent pressure
of wartime conditions, to be ready for action when American airborne troops
first deployed. This meant haste and misconceptions that fostered inefficiencies
in all aspects of the effort. The program produced a cadre of pilots and fleet
of wood and fabric gliders that executed challenging combat missions unlike
anything done before or since. Despite the numbers and combat record, the glider
is almost never mentioned in accounts of World War II combat aircraft. Many
other gliders were developed, partially or completely, to enhance airborne
operational capabilities. Most of these have been little reported until now. The
US Army and Britain shared aircraft and
knowledge, both employing the other's gliders in combat. The US Navy also spent
time developing amphibious transport gliders for Marine Corps landings. All are
covered in this book. The American experience with military gliders during World
War II remains a fascinating story of innovation under wartime conditions of a
weapon with no historical antecedents.
