To War on Tubing and Canvas

The combat glider was effectively used by German, British and US forces in World War II (WWII). Each country had unique doctrines of development, pilot training, and force employment. Germany, restricted by the Treaty of Versailles, saw the glider as an effective means of training future Luftwaffe pilots and only in the mid-1930s realized the gilders combat potential. The British and American military did not embrace gliders until Germanys dramatic early WWII successes in Poland and the European Low Country. British doctrine closely resembled Germanys by using gliders in commando raids of limited size. The US used gliders primarily as air-trailers for resupply missions. The study reviews each forces combat glider experience and analyzes it in light of the glider doctrine, or lack thereof, with which each began the war. While military cargo gliders have seen their day, recent technological advances in gliders make them a viable platform for certain missions requiring stealth and silence.