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PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
GLIDER PILOTS AND OTHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE GLIDER PROGRAM
Many visitors to this site are family
and friends of WWII Glider Pilots who are interested in establishing contact
with others interested in the Glider Program. Most would like to find
Glider Pilots who may have known a deceased Glider Pilot relative. If you
would like to post a message requesting contact, please email
me at this link and I will post your message. Please understand that
this site may be accessed by anyone, anywhere in the world, with access to the
internet. Below are messages asking for information:
My name is Darlene Alessi and my grandfather Col. Edgar R. Todd
was the C.O. at Stuttgart Air Base, Arkansas one of the sights for Glider Pilot
Training. He died October 1943. If anyone knew him and has further information
or I can contact anyone that graduated from one of his classes, please feel free
to contact me at alessix5@hotmail.com.
Thank you.
My
Brother Albert Adams was a 2nd Lt as a Glider Pilot during the 2nd World
War. He had attended a few of the annual meetings in the U.S. but he is now in a
rest home and is age 87 and is not very well. His first love was flying. He had
his first pilots license at age 17 out of Los Angeles Airport in the mid 1930's.
By the time World War Two came around he had more air time than his instructors.
I have no idea what division he was in but from what he has told me in the
past there weren't very many men. If anyone knew my brother or has any idea
what division he might have been in please e-mail me at joanneshields1@juno.com
Thanks so much. Here is his picture:
Click
on the picture above to enlarge it.
My name is Jonathan Sayers (fencer_js@yahoo.com)
and I run a website dedicated to the
history on RAF Greenham Common in the UK. In WW2, it was one of the main
glider bases with Wacos and C-47s. It was from Greenham that General
Eisenhower saw off the troops on June 5th 1944. I have a page on
RAF Welford which was also a glider base. Recently, I was passed some
VERY rare WW2 pictures of the glider assembly works at Greenham in about 1944.
I can email on some pictures if you like? Please
visit my site at: www.megspace.com/politics/greenham/index.htm
Webmaster's Note: Jonathan's
pictures have been posted on the site. One is a rare picture of
"The Fighting Falcon," which can be seen on the page of Waco Drawings by David Eckert .
Thank you Jonathan.
Sir,
I would like to be on the list of people networked for the
Glider Association. My grandfather, Henry Wakefield Brown (deceased) was
a member. I'm researching his life. I'm very interested in
learning more about his WW2 experiences.
Thanks,
Brent
I would like to post a message. I am the daughter of
Lt. Kenneth V. Halverson. My father died in France 7 Nov. 1944 when his
plane crashed into the Alps in fog. He was also a glider pilot and I
would like to know if anyone remembers him. At the time of his death he
was with the 311th Ferrying Squadron, 27th Air Transport Group temporarily
stationed at Grove, England. His unit was moving to Marseilles, France
the day his plane crashed. Would you have any information about him in
your archives? My name is Barbara Halverson Henry punkin@inter-linc.net
P.O. Box 446 Reeds Spring, MO 65737 - Thank you.
I am in search of any information pertaining to my great-uncle
Anthony Santoro, from Bridgeport CT, whose military grave plaque reads Col H
194th Glider Infantry Reg. He passed away in 1956, and was drafted at a
relatively old age of 37. I know he trained at Fort Benning, served in
North Africa, Italy and Germany. He may have started out with the 82nd
Airborne before being attached to the 194th in the 17th Airborne. He contracted
malaria probably in North Africa and according to oral history was awarded a
battlefield commission. Please vets and historians alike, if you have
any unit history, stories or info in general could you help me. Send
info to me at jmaggi@sikorsky.com or
maggijohn@msn.com
I am Troy Wynne, grandson of D. D. Martin. I have read some of the
"Silent Wings" articles that D.D. Martin wrote about his experiences
in the Glider Corps., but I know that he only wrote about a small portion of his
experiences there. He never spoke of those times to his family when he was
alive. I would be glad to hear any stories of him, or of his friends:
McClin, McDuffie, Moore, and of the others whose photos were part of his
collection. Knowledge not shared is lost forever. Please e-mail me
at: troywynne@yahoo.com
Being
the son of a G.P. of WW2 I love your website. Very well done. My
dad was in the 88th squad of the 438th TCG. Unfortunately he passed away
when I was 12 so I am always looking for any glider info. Again thanks
-
Don
Doubek
(Note:
Don's Dad is one of the GPs interviewed in the "Yank Magazine" article
"Airborne Operations In France - July 2, 1944," that is posted on this
site.)
Dear Sirs:
I enjoyed your website. During the 2nd WW, my uncle served as a glider pilot in
the European campaign. Although he has never really spoken of his combat
experience, I know he earned the Air Medal with 5 battle stars. When he returned
from the war in 45 or 46, he was a captain. His insignia was shaped like a
shield with the Air Corps star and wings, a parachute with a glider in the
shield, and patch over the insignia that said, "Airborne Troop
Carrier."
When he retired, Louie had around 28 years of service in the Army Air Corp and
the U.S. Air Force. Unfortunately, I have not had contact with him for over 5
years. When he was young, he was dashing, funny, and very confident in his
demeanor. I mention this because so little is written about glider pilots and
their exploits during the war. The only reference to gliders that I have
recently seen in movies was in "Saving Private Ryan." I
think it would be wonderful if more surviving glider pilots could be interviewed
so that Americans know and understand how brave these pilots were....
Just some thoughts about a historical period that will fade unless we preserve
it....Thank you
Nazario A. Gonzales
My name is Craig Smith. I am seeking contact with
any individuals that may have personally known my dad, Richard R. Smith,
from DeLeon, TX. My dad trained at Vernon Field-TX (Class 42-K),
South Plains Army Air Field-Lubbock, TX, and was in the 18th Squadron
Advanced Glider Training Detachment-Adams Field in Stuttgart, Arkansas. On
D-Day, they flew into Holland behind the German lines and remained
there for approximately 2 weeks before U.S. forces caught up with them.
Please e-mail me with any information at csmith@gpc.admworld.com
- Thanks for your fantastic web-site.
Sincerely,
Craig
We
are looking for any one who remembers Carmon Thompson 11 Th. airborne CO G who
died in April of 1945 in the Philippines--I am interested in knowing where he
took his training also--Thanks -- Email me at carolebacke@aol.com
http://fashion4dolls.com/MamasDolls/index.html
I
am searching for Capt Boyd.
We
lost contact Jan. 1946
Name:
Cor Lof (Dutchman)
E-Mail: bruinshph@chello.nl
Subject: Capt. Robert Boyd R.A.no. 71012 Glider Pilot
Body of Message:
Capt.
Robert Boyd dropped down in summer 1944 and got hospitality by Cor Lof, an
underground
resistance leader, with an other 6 Glider Pilots Sept. 1944 – Feb.1945.
They stay in his house, in Barneveld near Arnhem in Holland , waiting for an
escape, that happened successfully, and all came back home in health.
Robert Boyd went back to his former company in the Royal Artillery, UK, became
the rank of Captain and after a leaf of 6 weeks he was
sent
to the near or far East. Up til now, by rumour we have heard that Robert
was killed in Tripoli. To complete the memoirs of the story of the 7 Pilots we
want the confirmation that Robert was killed, if yes, where and when and under
which circumstance and where he is buried. Can anyone tell what happened with
Capt. Boyd?
Hello,
What started as simply an interest in a subject, grows now to a serious big
thing. I once started to contact veterans of the Troop Carrier
outfits. I started to study the role by the Troop Carriers in the Holland
operation. Things went on and grew bigger. Now, it gets so big, I can't
keep in touch with everyone from time to time. I regret this. Because I
still want to show live signs every time, I decided that this might be a good
way to do this. I will send such reports e few times a year.
The interest has grown such a way, that I decided to write all the
information in book form. I started with this about a month ago. First I
had the idea to write about one squadron only. Things changed.
So far, I have written about the 53rd and most of 52nd Troop Carrier Wing on
the first day of the Holland operation. The main part will handle the
lost C-47s. The fait of the crew and the part played by Dutch and Belgium
underground to help the aircrews. So far, I have 22 pages. Some
parts need some research and will be expended. Also photo's and maps have to
be added. I surely hope to receive your support and interest in such a
project.
Just a short view on things done and achieved the last three years.
First of all are the three visits of veterans to Holland. First one was from
the 315th TCG. He made an emergency landing in Holland during the operation. I
showed him sites related to the Groups history over Holland. Then two of
the 434th TCG visited Holland separately. One became POW. We searched for the
house where he stayed as prisoner, but could not find it. The crash site of
the plane was visited, as well as a museum with a c-47 on display.
The second one evaded capture with Dutch help. We visited on of the people who
helped him back in 1944, as well as one person who's father helped as well.
The father was shot by the Germans a few days later. We also visited a site in
the woods where he stayed for a few nights.
Then I met the cousin of a pilot who was killed in the crash in Belgium. he
was looking for details and I found the people who were able to help him.
although i could not stay with him during the whole visit, I'm sure he
learned a lot. We did see one piece that came out of the wreckage of the
plane, visited the cemetery where the crew was buried.
Help through the internet. Beside helping the American in Holland, I'm also
helping those who can't visit Europe. I did send information to the
historians of several Squadrons and Groups. Some are searching for information
about the people who helped them, their friends or their relatives. I do
the best I can to help them. I think that they have the right to learn and to
know what happened. Sometimes I also see calls for help and get
these people in touch with veterans of their own or their fathers outfit.
Sometimes help in Holland is asked. Recently I received a letter for help
for a monument. There is still some work to do with this.
I'm also helping a local historical society with their exhibition on the 60th
anniversary of the liberation.
With research comes the visit to eyewitnesses in Holland. Those who witnessed
a crash are interested in the fate of the crew as well. Most times they ask me
to keep them informed when I found something about the crew.
There are still some crash sites known where the details like crew members are
unknown.
Over the years, I did receive a lot of information through veterans,
eyewitnesses and books. The new accounts (those received by me0 as well as the
older ones (those in books) are very interesting. As well as the logistic
details of the operation.
Beside this, there are always photo's coming up. From the USA I received
photo's of crews and planes, as well the marshalling of the airborne.
Interesting photo's of crews and planes who were shot down. Also received
a few photo's of wrecked planes. Received such photo's also from a few
collectors.
In Holland, one finds photo's of C-47s flying over a town, dropping
paratroopers in the distance and wrecked planes. Also some photo's of the
first graves of the unlucky ones.
A few weeks ago I started to search for individual crewmembers who were
shot down and survived. I phoned some of them and, after a brief conversation,
wrote a letter to them. I was able to find four crewmembers who were shot down
on the 17th of September. One was already able to answer.
Through local help in the USA, in the town where a veteran lives, I also
contacted two relatives of downed airman of the operation. These inquiry take
a lot of time.
I had the idea to keep you updated on the progress and changes every three
months.
When the project will be finished with a book, it will be written in English.
Most people in Holland are able to read this and those in the USA will surely
be able to do. Only the older people living in Holland, those who witnessed
all what happened, will have problems reading it.
Any help would be welcome.
Best regards,
Hans
Netherlands
My
name is James Theron Connally. My dad and I are trying to find info on my
grandfather. His name is James Theron Connolly. our last names are spelled
differently because the military messed up our last name when Dad enlisted. I
have a picture that says that my grandfather was in the 14th troop carrier
group, 61st group, 9th air force, at Pope Field, Fort Bragg NC on April 1st
1943. Looking for people who knew him or family members who are looking
for people from the same group. My email is jamesconnally@sbcglobal.net
and my address is 3016 Bedford rd #1411 Bedford, Texas 76021
Hi,
I am hoping to find
someone who might remember serving with my father, Albert J. Vaughn, in the
Fall of 1943 through the Summer of 1944. I have very little
information to go on - Dad never talked much at all about his experience to me
or my brother or sister.
We know he enlisted in
1942 in the Army from Chicago, IL and transferred to the Army Air Corps at
some point. He was in training at Fort Bragg, NC in 1942. In November
1942 he was on leave and married my mother. He apparently was also on leave
sometime in January 1944 (I was born in October). A photo is attached of Dad
in his Air Corps Cadet uniform. We do know that he was in a Glider Unit but do
not know which one. It seems the 325th is the most likely.
One thing he told my
step-Mom is that he felt grateful but guilty that he came down with
Tuberculosis and was sent to the hospital just before his unit was sent to the
Battle of the Bulge - apparently most, if not all, were lost. We don't know
where his unit was stationed at when he was sent to the hospital.
There is a family
story, unsubstantiated, that he had been downed behind enemy lines at one
point.
His Army records have,
of course, been destroyed in the fire at the St. Louis archival center. It
would be wonderful for our family to know more about what Dad did in the war
and what he went through that he would not talk about.
If anyone can shed any
light for us we will be most grateful!
Dear
Sir:
I have been trying to learn more about this operation because it was my uncle's
last campaign with the US Army. He was in a chemical warfare battalion. I
don't know how many soldiers are in a battalion as I was not in the army. I
recall that my uncle Peter Zervos from the Southside of Chicago was in a rare
part of the Army that dealt with chemical warfare. He mentioned a jeep and
mortar as being the equipment they dealt with on a daily basis. Being my uncle
passed away in 1979 I can no longer find out first hand where he took off from,
where he was going, and what eventually happened to his unit. He departed
somewhere near Rome in a CG4A glider in tow towards Southern France. The
glider crash landed injuring everybody onboard. I would like to learn more about
the whole operation and the final outcome of the operation. Any first hand
information would be appreciated. Don't know who the glider pilots were either.
I believe both pilots had broken legs after the crash landing. Wonder what
caused the glider to crash too? My uncle was sitting in the jeep with another
soldier when the glider crashed.
Fred
fredricz@attbi.com
MY
DAD, RICHARD F. RILEY, WAS A GLIDER PILOT IN WWII AND WAS IN ONE OF THE FIRST
TRAINING GROUPS AND MADE ALL OF THE GLIDER OPERATIONS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER.
MY DAD DIED IN 1980 AND I HAVE ALWAYS REGRETTED THAT I NEVER DID GET SOMEONE TO
COME AND INTERVIEW HIM AND FIND OUT ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS HE DID. I
WOULD LIKE TO POST MY E-MAIL AND SEE IF SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN MY DAD AND I
COULD GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM. MY E-MAIL IS WRILEY@RILSEN.COM AND MY
TELEPHONE # IS 800-545-5915.
THANKS,
WAYNE
My dad was a glider pilot in
WWII -- John W. Chaney -- invasion into Holland in 44 or 45. These men were
very brave and should be honored for their service. Anyone who remembers my dad can contact me at
spenchaney@aol.com
I would like to contact Howard or Beverly Jackson whose father, Tracy
Jackson, died as a Glider Pilot during the invasion of Sicily. I taught
both of you in high school at the Calhoun Clemson High many years ago. I
am at Keoweefpg@yahoo.com.
Marshall
Dear
Sir:
I
am doing research about my grandfather Frederick E Markus who had an active role
in streamlining the production of the manufacture of gliders used for the
invasion of Normandy.
With that in mind I would like to acquire any information that would help me
elaborate on his involvement in the production process. Myself
being only 37 years of age have no real knowledge of WWII or of the invasion of
Normandy
but I would like to understand more. I don’t know where the gliders were built
or much else and any information would be greatly appreciated. If by chance you
can help I would be deeply grateful. Following is part of some text that my
Father wrote to me about grandpa:
Fred
Markus was an architect and engineer by profession. He was born in Germany
around 1890 and immigrated with his mother, father and 3 sisters
circa 1898 to the USA
.
When
WWII started he went back to the
Sloan
School
at MIT and took courses in “Time and Motion” engineering and I think it was
from that time on that he became most “inventive”.
He
always had a knack for working with wood. He worked as a carpenter to put
himself through high school and college.
I
remember him telling us about the innovations that he made in the production
lines for the building of wooden gliders that were to be used in the invasion of
Normandy.
I don’t know if any of the workstations that he designed were or could have
been patented but they were highly recognized as being important to the success
of the war effort of glider production.
Sincerely,
Eric
My
grandfather was CO Cdr for G Co. 4-325 GIR (4th Bn, 2 Bde - the Falcons), 82d
Airborne Division. His name was CPT John B. (Pop) Sauls. After the
Holland invasion, he was captured and held as a POW for 6 months. His camp
was liberated by an armor unit, which I believe had Gen George S. Patton's son
in it. I am trying to locate any information I can about which camp he was
in, and those he served with. I would be happy to share all the
information I have about him and his unit with anyone interested.
Thank you.
Kimberly
Cyril
TOURS
FRANCE
I'm looking for information about a glider
School in TOURS/Parcay Meslay, France. This is the information I have:
It was created in December with WACO CG4. No
Dakota were affected, but they regularly came from Le Mans , Dreux or
Chateaudun. The Snatching method was regularly employed. One day one
Glider landed in a field outside the airfield, was picked up by a Dak and
finally landed safely at Tours. One Glider crashed, killing its crew,
including a French airman who liked flying.
I think this school was created to train crews for
operation Varsity.
Any information, a unit number...would be
welcomed!
If I can do anything for you for French subject
just ask.
Regards
Cyril
My uncle, Douglas Wayne Seymour, was a flight officer in the 304th
Squadron, 442nd Troup Carrier Group.......he died on September 19, 1944 during
Operation Market Garden.......if anyone has information regarding his service
please let me know.
Thanks,
Mark
To whom it may concern,
I am looking to find someone who is still around who
has participated in the invasion of Normandy and was in the 325, preferably in
either A, B, or C companies. I am currently a LT in 1BN 325 Airborne Infantry
Regiment and am giving a presentation on Charles Deglopper and how and why he
won the medal of honor. If there is anyone that I can contact to speak to and
get a different perspective on what actually happened there I would greatly
appreciate it. I can be contacted via this email address.
Airborne! Let's
Go!
Christopher
2LT, IN
PL, Cco 1-325 AIR
work: 432- 5588
Copied
from the home page of the National World War II Glider Pilots Association:
"The
National World War II Glider Pilots Association, Inc., with headquarters
at 21 Phyllis Road, Freehold, NJ 07728, is a 501(c)(19) non-profit veterans
organization consisting of World War II Glider Pilot members who earned the MOS
1026 and the Glider Pilots wings. Other individuals may apply for
associate membership by virtue of their interest in, contributions to, the
general goals and purposes of the association. If you are interested in
becoming a member, contact S. Tipton Randolph, National Secretary, for an
application at (732) 462-1838 or by e-mail."
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