NWWIIGPC-Conference

National WWII Glider Pilots Association Legacy Organization of veterans National WWII Glider Pilots Association. Discover our History, Preserve our Legacy

SICILY BURMA NORMANDY SOUTHERN FRANCE HOLLAND BASTOGNE RHINE CROSSING LUZON

World War II Glider Pilots Symposium

Due to COVID we presented a virtual Symposium, World War II Glider Pilots Symposium, to substitute until we can hold our 50th reunion, hopefully, in 2022. Our virtual symposium was held on October 8th starting at 10 AM (1000) to 3:30 PM (15:30). We had a two hour block in the morning with a 45 min lunch break and two and a half hours block in the afternoon.

Invitations were sent to members and past members as well as the 94th Flying Trainin Squadron Cadets.

Symposium Presentations:

Silent Saviors: Gliders for American Reinforcement Operations in Normandy, June 1944
Presented by Cadet 1st Class Cole Resnik, USAFA

Silent Wings Museum - Telling the Story Every Day
Presented by museum curator, Sharon McCullar

General Gavin's Special Force
Operation Market narrated by Bruce Overman and Fred Lunde

Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin
Video by award winning author Scott McGaugh

Lunch Break: Watch the sights and sounds that happened at the Air Force Academy as the 94th Flying Training Squadron, 306th Flying Training Group, hosted WWII Glider Mechanic, Curtis Cameron. An amazing welcoming from 4000 Cadets during our symposium.

Operation Thursday: Long Range Penetration in the China-Burma-India Theater
Presented by Captain Trevor Shimulunas, USMC

Invasion of Southern France
Presented by World War II Glider Pilot, Roger Smith

Maintenance and Reclamation of Gliders from Combat Zones.
Interview with Glider Mechanic Curtis Cameron by Lt. Col. Jeremy Lushnat, USAF Ret. Hosted at the 94th Flying Training Squadron, United States Air Force Academy

The State of the 94th

Presented by 2nd Lt Andrew Crites, USAF

Tale of Two TG-3s: Preserving the Legacy of Air Force Glider Training
Presented by Lt Col Colin Henderson and Major Brodie Henderson

Fallen Comrad Table
Poem read by our Chaplain E. Susan Pinter

Traditional Toast, "Hear! Hear!"
A 50 year tradition used to close all National WWII Glider Pilot Reunions

Information on our 50th Reunion:

The Executive Council met in a special session and a decision was made not to have the Reunion in person this year due to the high level of Covid cases in Lubbock.

We are very disappointed to have to make this decision but felt we had a responsibility to safeguard our members and their families. We do however, look forward to 2022! See you in person then.

R Bruce Overman
Chair, Executive Council

REUNION HOME

BECOME A MEMBER

SUMMERIES OF PAST REUNIONS

COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE 52TH RUNION

SPECIAL BRIEFING OF THE 51ST REUNION

COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE 50TH RUNION

2021 Symposium

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NATIONAL WWII GLIDER PILOTS ASSOCIATION
47th Reunion - October 12-14 2016

Hosted by Mid America Flight Museum
Mount Pleasant, TX

Group Photo Glider Pilots of WWII and Glider Pilots of today.

The officers in the back row are from the 94th Flying Training Squadron, Air Force Academy.
This is the only squadron in the Department of Defense whose instructor pilots and Officers still hold the military special occupation of Glider Pilot.

BACK ROW Left to right: 2nd Lt. Ashley Torres, a recent graduate on her way to flight school; Lt. Colonel Glen Whelen, 94 FTS Director of Operations; Captain Robert Johnston, 94 FTS/ADP; Major Charles Kaiser, 94 FTS/ADO
FRONT ROW Left to right WWII Troop Carrier Veterans: We were honored with the attendance of eight Association veterans. They were:
Jean CRAWFORD, Power Pilot,100th TCS/441st TCG, Mayfield KY; Bill CHEOLAS, Dual Rated Power Glider Pilot, 86th TCS/437th TCG and 72nd TCS/434th TCG, Melvin MI; John LAMM, Glider Mechanic, 99th TCS/441st TCG, San Lorenzo CA; Otto LYONS, Glider Pilot, 15th/35th TCS/61st/315th TCG, Germantown TN; John GEIST, Power Pilot, 309 TCS/315 TCG, Satellite Beach FL; Richard (Dick) T. FORD, Power Pilot, 310th TCS/315th TCG, Portland OR; Tommy GREEN, Power Pilot, 7th Air Force HQ, CBI, Hawaii Air Depot; Gerald PARKER, Power Pilot, 53rd TCS/61st TCG, Sun City West AZ

Missing is Warren ARTHUR, 62nd TCS/314th TCG, Ft. Worth, TX;

[Photo by Bruce Overman]

NATIONAL WWII GLIDER PILOTS REUNIONS

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NATIONAL WWII GLIDER PILOTS ASSOCIATION 46th Reunion - October 13-15 2016

Hosted by Mid America Flight Museum
Mount Pleasant, TX

back row Left to right: George Parker (53/61), George Theis (98/440), John Vannatta(80/436), Bill Cheolas (86/437), Donald Ehr (INS), Gilber Weiss (97/440), James Winnie (45/316), Jean Crawford (100/441)
Front Row Left to right: William Fasking (83/437), John Lamm (301/441), John Whipple (83/437), Thomas Kilker (85/437), Mel Pliner (82/436), Otto Lyons (15/61 & 34/315), John McConnell (91/439), Howard Reik (91/439) Photo by MIKE SKIDMORE

NATIONAL WWII GLIDER PILOTS REUNIONS

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National WWII Glider Pilots 45th Reunion - October 1-3 2015

2015 Memphis, TN Reunion
Standing: Earl Neal (77/435), Howard Riek (91/439), Roburta Trexler (Medical Corps), Jean Crawford (100/441) and John Lamm (301/441). Sitting Glider Pilots: Claude Berry (91/439), John Whipple (83/437), George Theis (98/440), John McConnell (91/439), Don Ehr (Instructor), John Vannatta (80/436) and Otto Lyons (15/61). Photo by BRUCE OVERMAN

NATIONAL WWII GLIDER PILOTS REUNIONS

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National WWII Glider Pilots 44th Reunion - October 1-4 2014

Top Row [left to right]: George Theis, Don Ehr, Charles Van Pelt, Otto Lyons Front row [left to right]: Bill Waggoner, Lynus Ryan, John McConnell, John Whipple, John Vannatta, Cliff Underwood

WORLD WAR II TROOP CARRIER and INFANTRY VETERANS
2014 Bloomington Minnisota Reunion
Top Row [left to right]: John Shcumacher 17th ABN, Jean Crawford P, Howard Riek P, Woody Sproul P Front row [left to right]: John Lamm GM, Maj Gen. George Johnson P, Earl Neal P, Dick Ford P, Cliff Underwood P
Photos by MICHAEL SKIDMORE

NATIONAL WWII GLIDER PILOTS REUNIONS