In the May 1945 issue of RNZAF Contact magazine a snippet reads
“Guiding the towing aircraft of the first Atlantic glider train was a Taranaki airman, Flight Lieutenant Charles William Halliwell Thompson.”
What was the Atlantic glider train? Did Allied aircraft tow gliders right across the Atlantic? Were they loaded with cargo? Surely that wouldn’t have been an alternative to the naval convoys, was it?
Does anyone have any ideas what this would have been? No further info is given in the magazine.
By: Dave Homewood - 30th July 2004 at 11:31
Now I get it, it was a Hadrian. I was thinking it might be like a flying boat or a DUKW when the above reference said it was amphibius.
Link here to CG-4A
http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircraft/WWII/waco-cg4/waco_info/info.htm
By: Dave Homewood - 30th July 2004 at 11:29
Who Do That Voodoo?
Thanks Allan. I guess Flt Lt Thompson must have been the Navigetor since the quote says he guided it. what an incredible trip. The glider must have had wheels I guess, not sure what a CG-4A looks like. Will try to find a piccie.
By: Dave Homewood - 30th July 2004 at 11:09
Hmm, interesting. Does anyone know more, ie why they needed to tow gliders from one side of the Atlantic to the other? How often it was done? Did they actually use amphibious gliders in combat? Sound’s like it could be as dangerous as the ones that crashed onto land if fully loaded.
By: Arabella-Cox - 30th July 2004 at 11:01
One hop across the atlantic? Did the C-47 have additional fuel tanks to see it across the pond, as I thought the normal ferry route was via Newfy and Iceland or was the glider detached in each staging flight? Interesting idea though.
By: allan125 - 30th July 2004 at 10:40
Atlantic Glider Train
Hi Dave – take a look at – http://www.theplanpage.com/esp/tglider.htm – AS a weapon of war the glider has come of age. First successfully used by Germans in the invasion of Crete, these motorless carriers of men and munitions more recently figured prominently in the Allied conquest of Sicily.
Towed to a point near their destination by large twin‑engine transports which likewise carry supplies and even paratroopers, the glider cuts free to make a stealthy approach. Virtues of the glider are numerous: it lands lightly in small space and when necessary even “crash lands” without serious damage to crew or cargo. It is inexpensively and quickly built, thus is expendable. Because of a “whispering” approach, it provides a measure of surprise.
Aside from the glider’s combat importance, it offers great new possibilities in air transport. In England recently a glider descended through the cloud ceiling to make a smooth, graceful landing on an airfield. Utilizing the “sky-train” technique it had just flown across the Atlantic. The glider was towed by a Douglas C-47 transport (similar to the commercial DC-3) and the 3,500 mile journey was completed in 28 hours. (See November, 1943, issue.)
Recognizing its importance in aggressive warfare, the U.S. Navy has developed a unique and efficient glider; it is amphibious, landing either on land or water. As a troop transport it is capable of carrying twelve fully equipped men. Construction is entirely of plastic bonded plywood. These ships are built by Allied Aviation and Bristol Aero and, of course, performance data and specifications are restricted. – only the basics but more is probably out there on Google, but work calls !! 😉 cheers – Allan 🙂
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July 30, 2004 at 10:20 am