Silent Wings Museum

The C-47 rests proudly outside the Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, Texas, its nose pointed to the sky and its tail pointing directly toward the museum, as if preparing to tow it off the ground as it did gliders a lifetime ago during World War II. Known more familiarly by its civilian designation, DC-3, the C-47 is not only part of the old airfield, but is also an integral part of the museum it guards. The Silent Wings Museum is dedicated to a branch of service during World War II that saw horrific and honorable action and then faded into obscurity.

Part of an old airport, with the control tower looming behind it, the entrance to the museum is not particularly impressive. Inside, however, is a different story. The remarkably well-laid out and interpreted displays make this a must see destination for anyone traveling near Lubbock, Texas.

The story of the gliders begins with a movie about how these machines and men served the Allies, predominately in the European theater. Quite possibly the best display was the videotaped stories told by the men who flew and rode in the gliders.

The history of the glider service was short but thrilling. Both the Soviet and German armies used gliders and these light weight planes proved deadly in delivering men and material to battle grounds. In 1941, US General Hap Arnold began a study into the effectiveness of gliders and by 1942, the service required 6,000 pilots. Many high ranking officials and military personnel were dubious about the effectiveness of the gliders, especially as the service was put under the direction of a former stunt pilot, Lewin B. Barringer, who had a more than glamorous reputation. Many of these doubters were invited to an outdoor presentation on the effectiveness of the aircraft. After some debate, the men were invited to turn around, only to find themselves facing a squadron of gliders landed silently behind them, and their armed passengers ready to take them prisoner. The glider program received enthusiastic support from that point on.

The Silent Wings Museum details the issues with building a plane light enough to be towed but strong enough to carry troops, jeeps, armament and other equipment, and as importantly, could withstand the stresses of being snatched off the ground by a low flying C-47 equipped with  a tow line. The movies are fascinating and the displays are laid out to help the visitor visualize just how the gliders served. In those pre-helicopter days, the returning gliders carried back wounded men, spies and captured enemy officers.

The gliders were extensively used during the invasion of Sicily. In a particularly awful show of nerves and miscalculation, many of the gliders were released too early as the C-47 tow pilots turned for home and away from anti-aircraft batteries. Many gliders and pilots were lost in the ocean on approach to land. By 1944, glider operations had improved and the gliders served with distinction on D-Day. Because the gliders required open fields to land in, the Germans booby trapped open fields with tree trunks, mounted upright. The GIs called this Rommel’s Asparagus.  One of the pilots recounted a story of coming on for a landing during D-Day. In the dark, they approached a field that their intelligence had assured them was free of Rommel’s Asparagus. For some reason, the pilot ordered the squadron of men in the back of the glider to lift their feet. Seconds later, the glider was gutted by a tree trunk. They landed safely, not one man injured, although the glider had been split in half.

As the war ended, gliders were replaced by helicopters and the glider division was disbanded by 1953. The US Air Force still uses gliders to train cadets, but the history of these magnificent machines and their men was almost lost. Thanks to the Silent Wings Museum, the glider program and its story will never vanish.