The War Gliders

Before the Nazis came to power, Germany was limited to commercial aircraft and gliders. The Allies considered both to be harmless, but they were wrong. This mistake would allow the Wehrmacht to subjugate most of Western Europe in a matter of months.

Although vulnerable, the glider proved versatile and economic—virtues that the Allies learned to exploit in their return to France and on to the war with Japan. Today, the glider is limited to recreational enjoyment for a lucky few, a far cry from its past.