Gliders of World War II: 'The Bastards No One Wanted'

Abstract

This study examines the role of combat gliders in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States during World War II (WWII). The thesis compares and contrasts each country with respect to pre-WWII glider experience, glider and airborne doctrine, glider pilot training, and glider production while outlining each country's major glider operations. The author then compares glider operations in the China-Burma-India Theater to the operations in Europe to describe the unique challenges they posed based on terrain and mission. Next, the thesis presents an analysis of the glider's precipitous decline following WWII. The study concludes with recommendations for glider operations in the future based on the experiences of the past.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA493762

Entities

People

  • Michael H. Manion

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Airframes
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Flight Training
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Applications
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • Transport Aircraft
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs