The photos on the homepage will change when you enter or refresh the page. The WWII photo caption on the back of photos is not always accurate. Secrecy required censorship; locations were left out and ink marks on the photos disguised unit designations. These photo descriptions are part of the photo’s history, so we have chosen to leave the captions as written. In cases where we have accurate information about the photo we fill in the correct information using [brackets].

Courtesy National Archives/ NWWIIGPA Collection

This photo was in the June 1944 Air Force Magazine
Service Command mechanics attach a wing to one of the gliders at Crookham Common England.

Courtesy National Archives/ NWWIIGPA Collection

Preparations for the Invasion of France -- CG-4A gliders and Douglas C-47s of the 9th Troop Carrier Command lined up along the runway await take off time at an air base in England [Greenham Common] prior to taking part in the invasion of France. 6 June 1944. "Note: #1 tailup & tow rope taut = they're on their way."[88th TCS 438th TCG]

Courtesy National Archives/ NWWIIGPA Collection

ALLIES LAND IN FRANCE.....Gliders loaded with essential supplies land on a partially completed airfield somewhere in northern France. Despite the steady stream of gliders bringing in men and equipment from England, the work on the airfield goes on uninterrupted. 10 June 1944

Courtesy National Archives/ NWWIIGPA Collection

Gliders loaded with American men and equipment land in a field somewhere in Holland behind German lines. 9/18/44 101st Airborn, near Zon, Holland

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

I researched this for the 313th TCG on the Holland mission. The windmill is still standing, although without the top (and wind catchers). The gliders..two of them, and most probably all three, are 313th Troop Carrier Group. They landed there on 23 September 1944. The men in the gliders were able to make it to the LZ area through the corridor. -Hans den Brok

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

A CG-4[A] cargo glider [Chalk #3 piloted by Gans Morris Albert, 91t TCS, no copilots were used] of the 439th Troop Carrier Group takes off from an air base somewhere in France [Châteaudun A-39], 27 December 1944. [One of 50 gliders heading for a Landing Zone near Bastogne to resupply the 101st Airborne Division]
[This is the 439thth Troop Carrier Group, serials A17 and A18 headed for Landing Zone-N on single tow. There is frost on the top of the wings]

Courtesy National Archives/ NWWIIGPA Collection

Douglas C-47's and GC4A's, Tow planes and gliders of the U.S. Troop Carrier forces line a field in France, all loaded and ready to take off in what was perhaps the greatest air borne operation in the history of the war, the dropping of para-troops and air borne infrantry over the British 2nd Army front. War Theater #12 (France). Print ETO HQ 45 4051 rec d 27 April 1945 from Signal Corps. Stamped: “Passed for pub., SHAEF Press Censor.”

[What is known by looking at this photo is that the air field is A-39 Châteaudun France. We know this by the squadron code on the nose of the aircrafts; L4 is the code for the 91st Squadron. This means this field is the residence of the 439th Troop Carrier Group consisting of the 91st, 92nd, 93rd and 94th squadrons. Because they are in France and marshaled for dual tow on the runway, this is Operation Varsity, the invasion of Germany. The shadowing shows it is a sunny morning. It was sunny on the morning of 24 March 1945. The squadrons are divided into two serials, A14 and A15. They are headed for Landing Landing Zone-S just north of Wesel, Germany,a key intersection north of the vital Ruhr industrial area. Seventy two C–47s towed 144 CG–4A gliders across the Rhine. It stands today that this Group along with Troop Carrier Groups on twelve airfields throughout France was part of the largest one day air lift in history.]

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

Mar 24, 1945 - Some Landings - tragic. Wesel, Germany.
F/O Thomas Pleger comments/donated by daughter Marian Klieber.

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

GLIDERS DOT THE GERMAN LANDSCAPE -- Allied gliders dot the German landscape behind the German front lines on the Rhine. Parachute troops were dropped, 24 March 1945 in advance of the Rhine-crossing ground troops by 1500 transports and gliders. The 1st Allied Airborne troops landed across the Rhine to support Gen. Montgomery's troops crossing the Rhine. Almost immediately after the airborne troops landed, 240 consolidated B-24 Liberators of the U.W. 8th AF Second Air Division were on the scene to supply them and vital weapons, food, and medicine.

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

Several gliders preparing for take off. They are staged on the Bricy Airdrome A-50, Orléans France. --Lt. Col. George L. Theis
[This is the 440th Troop Carrier Group, serials A17 and A18 headed for Landing Zone-N on single tow.]

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

A Douglas C-47 of the 9th Troop Carrier Command, wings its way at low level toward the upright standards where it will snatch up the nylon tow rope attached to the CG-4A glider, lower left, during glider snatch pickup after Operations in Wesel, Germany. 17 April 1945.

Courtesy National Archives/NWWIIGPA Collection

Back Captions: Members of the 9th Troop Carrier Command hold a last-minute briefing session prior to another glider mission in Holland. 2 September 1944. [These are actually 101st glider riders B-Battery, 81st AA&AT Battalion. Note no invasion stripes on the Glider Wings.].

Courtesy National Archives/ NWWIIGPA Collection

CG-4A Glider of the 9th Troop Carrier Command comes in for a landing at Remagen, Germany, To pick up wounded personnel. 21 May 1945