Use of Gliders

Discussions on all (non-biographical) aspects of the Luftwaffe air units and general discussions on the Luftwaffe.
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Tim
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Use of Gliders

#1

Post by Tim » 23 Sep 2002, 15:50

Does anyone know where I might be able to find some information on Germany's use of gliders during world war two and possibly a list of glider pilots?

Thanks

Tim

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Ando
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#2

Post by Ando » 24 Sep 2002, 03:10

There is some useful information on this page

http://www.eagle19.freeserve.co.uk/aircraft.htm

Ando


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Matt Gibbs
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Gllider development

#3

Post by Matt Gibbs » 24 Sep 2002, 08:56

The Schiffer published book about the Horten Brothers is an interesting guide to the glider scene in germany and the development made in glider design during and before the war years.
Regards
MG

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Tim
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#4

Post by Tim » 30 Sep 2002, 15:10

Thankyou Ando and Matt for your help! Do you know of anywhere, where it might be possible to find a list of pilots or numbers of pilots?

Thanks again

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Cantankerous
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Re: Use of Gliders

#5

Post by Cantankerous » 14 Jan 2020, 04:52

There are two books about German transport gliders from Schiffer Publishing:

German Gliders in World War II: Luftwaffe Gliders and their Powered Variants by Heinz Mankau
German Gliders in World War II: DFS 230, DFS 331, Go 242, Go 345, Ka 430, Me 321, Ju 322 by Heinz Nowarra

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hucks216
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Re: Use of Gliders

#6

Post by hucks216 » 14 Jan 2020, 13:11

If you can read German then the book you need is Die deutschen Lastensegler-Verbände 1937-1945 by Georg Schlaug which covers the units and operations.

Names of pilots are given within the narrative but I doubt that there is a 100% complete list of pilots anywhere so you might have to dig around in various books and sites and compile one. There are lists of names in The Glider Pilots Badge by David Stijn but again, they are not complete.

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Empiricist
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Re: Use of Gliders

#7

Post by Empiricist » 03 Jun 2021, 13:31

Tim wrote:
23 Sep 2002, 15:50
Does anyone know where I might be able to find some information on Germany's use of gliders during world war two and possibly a list of glider pilots?

Thanks

Tim
The list of the 3rd Reich GPs may be problematic. I doubt that there was a great difference between US and German system of gliderborne operations when it comes to the pilots. In the case of US activities the cargo gliders were piloted by: glider pilots (educated and trained as glider pilots only), liaison (power) pilots, transport (power) pilots and even fighter pilots if it was needed. Majority of the LW pilots had glider background that is why hard to say from today's perspective who sat at the LW gliders controls, i.e. servicemen with glider training only or also other pilots better educated and trained as both power and motorless pilots.

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Cantankerous
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Re: Gllider development

#8

Post by Cantankerous » 23 Jun 2021, 00:09

Matt Gibbs wrote:
24 Sep 2002, 08:56
The Schiffer published book about the Horten Brothers is an interesting guide to the glider scene in germany and the development made in glider design during and before the war years.
Regards
MG
The glider flying wings designed by the Horten brothers were not for transport and were only meant for aerodynamic research and sporting events.

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Empiricist
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Re: Use of Gliders

#9

Post by Empiricist » 23 Jun 2021, 10:52

Yes.

What is more, in 1930s the Germans shared with the US NACA the effects of study of science in the field of tailless flying wing gliders. In 1930 there was "Technical Memorandum No. 564, National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics" where the Germans published their R&D process at glider flying wings.

In 1930s there was such American monthly as "National Power Glider". In January 1931 isuue Alexander Lippisch published there very interesting 5-page article under the title of "Recent Tests of Tailless Airplane".

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Matt Gibbs
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Re: Gllider development

#10

Post by Matt Gibbs » 07 Dec 2021, 12:24

Cantankerous wrote:
23 Jun 2021, 00:09
Matt Gibbs wrote:
24 Sep 2002, 08:56
The Schiffer published book about the Horten Brothers is an interesting guide to the glider scene in germany and the development made in glider design during and before the war years.
Regards
MG
The glider flying wings designed by the Horten brothers were not for transport and were only meant for aerodynamic research and sporting events.
Indeed, though the OP didnt limit his query to transport gliders. Thus the book - as I mentioned - and the Horton Brothers researches into the design of gliders, management of their buisness and relations with the RLM illustrates part of the picture of glider use in WW2. Without research and development technology doesn't move forward 😉
There will surely be some books out there about the behemoth transport gliders of Messerschmidtt, the Gigant series - great weight carriers but extremly vulnerable without air superiority / dense fighter escort!

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