THE MOST TRAVELED MEN OF THE WAR:

If anyone in Troop Carrier got to see the world during the war it was Glider Pilots and Glider Mechanics. I came across a photo in the 15th Troop Carrier Squadron war diaries while I was doing some research. I thought it would be perfect for the Glider Pilots\', Troop Carrier website. We talk about the glider pilots frequently being on detached service (DS) to other Groups throughout the war. They were not alone and frequently when the glider pilots of a Troop Carrier Group were transferred to another TC Group so were the glider mechanics. In the diaries of the 88th Troop Carrier historical document it was mentioned that in February 1945 when the 438th moved from Greenham Common, England to Prosnes, France, their glider pilots and glider mechanics were detached and sent to three different TC Groups. Two reasons for this action: first, 438th TC Group was only tasked with dropping paratroopers in LZ W for the invasion of Germany, the next combat mission; second, the airfield was too small to handle the C-47s and all the gliders they had accumulated over the year they had been in England (Of course the gliders followed along too). This was not uncommon throughout the war.

The following photo is of the 15th Troop Carrier Squadron Glider Mechanics. In 1945 the Operations Officer agreed that they were frequently on detached service and wrote this in the historical diary:
The most-traveled men of the outfit - the glider mechanics - were photographed one day recently when outside influences had left their ranks practically untouched - all but six of the boys were on hand to look at the bird.

The glider sliders have pulled DS on every hole from d'Jerba to Chipping Ongar - most of the time DS being spent as detail-material for other units. I was also re-reading Gale Ammerman’s book, An American Glider Pilot’s Story, and he had this to say about the 81st Troop Carrier Glider Mechanics when he and Joseph Graves were sent to Troy, Ohio, to pick up a new CG-4A glider from the WACO Company:

…I was always just a little more apprehensive when I had to fly a glider the 81st glider mechanics had not had a chance to examine. A graduate airplane mechanic myself, I was fully aware of the level of competence of the 81st glider mechanics, but more importantly I was aware of the fact that they cared about their responsibilities and did their job in a completely professional manner.

Thanks to all those Crew Chiefs and mechanics who kept things running smoothly even under very difficult conditions.

The boys are:
(rear) Zahringer, Alfredson, Mason, Bryant, Wojnar, Dunaway, Daniels, Wacaser, Matthews. (front) Hauser, Pufont, Efron, Palo, Cavacini, Nichols.
Missing are:
Sergeant’s Moffitt, White, McKinney, Meacham and Corporals Berry and Glasscock.
Prepared by Thomas A Davis, 2nd Lt., 15th TCS [source is Air Force Historial Research Agency]