The following is a news release from the Silent Wings Muesum:
The 48th Annual National World War II Glider Pilots Association (WWIIGPA) Reunion will be held in Lubbock, TX, Oct. 4 – 6, 2018. The public is invited to participate during Silent Wings Museum open hours on Saturday, Oct. 6, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The WWIIGPA reunion reunites veteran glider pilots, power pilots, glider mechanics and Airborne Infantry, as well as family members and historians. The men who flew on “silent wings” piloted unarmed gliders into the combat zones of World War II, delivering crucial troops, weapons, and supplies. Approximately 125 WWIIGPA members, as well as representatives from the United States Air Force Academy, will be in attendance.
Presentations are planned for Friday, Oct. 5 on World War II glider history and related topics. Scholars and Association researchers will discuss their current projects and areas of expertise. On Saturday, Oct. 6, weather and circumstances permitting, the U.S. Air Force Academy 94th Flying Training Squadron will present a Glider Acrobatic demonstration, which can be viewed from the grounds of the Silent Wings Museum.
Approximately 7,200 individuals were trained as glider pilots during WWII. Almost 5,000 completed
Advanced Glider Training at South Plains Army Air Field in Lubbock, TX. The numbers of
surviving glider pilots are declining as most are now over 90 years old. The glider pilots wore their
“G-Wings” with pride. The “G”, they say, really stands for GUTS. It took guts to fly that glider
behind enemy lines on a one-way mission.
The Silent Wings Museum is located at 6202 N I-27, Exit 9. For more information on the Silent
Wings Museum visit www.silentwingsmuseum.com.
Some veterans may be available by prior arrangement to speak to local media about their
experiences. For more information regarding veterans or the reunion, please contact Mary Roemer at
roemermary@gmail.com or (336) 655-6607.
For information regarding the Silent Wings Museum, please contact Briana Vela at
bvela@mylubbock.us or (806) 775-3331.
(News release from the City of Lubbock)
