G stands for guts by Richardphotos
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yesterday I was out all day showing my friend from Manchester, UK around Dallas.we finally went to the Frontier of Flight museum.His father was a glider pilot during WWII.I told him about a Englishman that volunteers at the museum.this is him.he is a very spry 88 years old
this is Wing Commander Rick Brown Retired RAF.he volunteers at the Frontiers of Flight at Love Field,Dallas, Tx.he was a Glider pilot(inset) in world war II .he entered the service in 1938 at fifteen years old.he took part in perhaps the Horsa's finest hour came in the early stages of the Normandy Invasion when six Horsas loaded with infantry descended in the darkness of the morning of June 6, 1944, to capture and hold bridges over the Orne and Caen Canal, bridges that would allow German reinforcements to counterattack the Normandy landings. Carrying a company of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, six Horsas piloted by members of the famed British Glider Pilot Regiment found their insertion points. This exceptionally difficult and dangerous mission, so critical to the success of the beach landings, was accomplished due in no small part to the skilled airmanship of the six Horsa aircrews. (Source: The Wings of Pegasus by Brigadier George Chatterton, D.S.O., O.B.E. pages 136-140)
Rick Brown was personally congratualated by Prince of England many years later
Gib Endrizzi was a Design Engineer for Consoweld. Each mosaic piece in the artistic Glider rendering is made from the original Consoweld product that was used in WWII.
The Consoweld product was the precursor of plastic. The original material was a phenol-saturated sheet of "papreg." Papreg had been developed by the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory in Madison and shipped to paper manufacturers in the state. The phenol-saturated sheets, when heated, bonded together is a hardened product. Today, we know the product as the trade name "Formica." Consoweld and Formica were competitors
The Story of the Gliders that were used in World War II is overshadowed by the glamour of the evolving powered aircraft, both propeller and jet. After the success of the German capture of Eben Emael in 1940, the interest in Gliders was heightened. During WWII, five (5) major types of Gliders were put into production in the U.S.: the CG-3A, CG-4A, CG-10A, CG-13A, and the CG-15A . By far the greatest effort was put into the CG-4A. Of the various glider models built, the total number exceeded 14,400. Only three powered aircraft models built in WWII exceeded the CG-4A gliders in total production: 1) P-47, 2) P-51, and 3) B-24. The Gliders were used in every Theater of Operation during WWII. There was also the HORSA Glider that was developed and built by the British
(I HAVE A SIGNED RELEASE GIVING ME PERMISSION TO POST THIS PICTURE OF RICK BROWN)
Comments (56)
Richardphotos
The story of the Glider Program is remarkable story itself. Requirements of the Glider Program specified that NO powered aircraft manufacturer could be involved in building Gliders and aluminum was specifically reserved for the powered aircraft production. To accomplish its goals, the Glider Program would have to accept the aircraft design and materials that had been used to produce aircraft prior to the use of aluminum. The program was not only restricted in materials, but also severely restricted to use available labor. The necessity for fighting men severely diluted the male workforce and opened a great opportunity for Women to enter the labor pool, and the emergence of "Rosie the Riveter". All sixteen of the Glider prime contractors and hundreds of sub-contractors for the Glider Program employed thousands of women in production and assembly. http://www.2ndwwiiglidersymposium.org/ The British Horsa glider was considerably larger than the American Waco CG-4A. It could carry as many as 30 troops and a substantially larger supply load compared to the CG-4A's maximum load of 13 Glider Infantry troops . It also differed from the CG-4A in that it was constructed almost completely of wood. Its tow line harness yoke was attached to both wings, unlike the CG-4A the tow line of which attached to the nose of the aircraft.
GARAGELAND
Dont make em like they used to!! Great shot, super story.
flaviok
Narrativa impressionante meu amigo ,um trabalho magnifico no todo, excelente, aplausos (5)
Madbat
I'm curious as to what the glider pilots did after they landed! It's not like they could take off again.
carlx
Excellent story and portrait, Richard!!!
greyone
Excellent work Richard. There are so many stories like this that get left untold or forgotten, and bringing them forward like this is a wonderful job.
Trifid
Great shot combined with a great story, Richard!!!
flavia49
splendid portrait and story!! Thank you for sharing!!
Umbetro38
Thanks for this story and capture - very interesting Infos ( my Son loves Wing Commanders )
KateBlack10
Great shot and narrative - I am curious too about what the pilots did after they landed just like madbat asked. What did they do when they landed? It isn't like they could get in the air again. I hope you post some pictures of the actual gliders themselves, I am assuming they still have some at the museum. Also the woman who was the inspiration/model for the "Rosie the Riveter" artwork died in December. We are getting to the very tail end of having living history like this. Great narrative and I hope you will post more.
STEVIEUKWONDER
Great story Richard. I will send you my Father's story. Steve ;o)
farmerC
Exellent work.
magnus073
Richard, this is such a fantastic dedication to this great Hero. I had nevre heard the story of the gliders before, and was fascinated by it and the bravery he and others showed.
eekdog
cool pic richard.
OrphanedSoul
Great info and story!
Flint_Hawk
A great character & information!
ontar1
Awesome, outstanding capture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
monjo71
Interesting story/ capture. Well done!
Faemike55
Wonderful photo and very fascinating story.
lyron
Great story and shot!!!
lwperkins
What a gorgeous photo and a great story! Thank you for sharing it!
drifterlee
Wonderful story and shot, Richard!!!!!!!!
kbrog
Excellent portrait of him, he looks like a gutsy guy! :)
rainbows
A wonderful portrait and story, dear Richard. Hugs. Diane. xx
tennesseecowgirl
Thank you for posting this story and photo Richard, I am sending it to a friend here that is a glider pilot himself and I know he will enjoy reading this story.
brycek
Wonderful capture and story..nicely done, Richard!!
gaius
Great narrative, Richard and good shot too. Like Madbat, I'd like to know what these guys did when they touched down...no engine to take off.
Bampster
Not only is this a superb portrait study of an exceptional man,it is also a fascinating story.Richard. you have truly outdone yourself on this one!!!!!
kleinhoon
Excellent shot and impressive story..!!
claude19
SPLENDID story ! Thanks Richard !