1942 WWII Troop Glider Boarding Photo – CG-4A with Original AP Caption & COA

This original Associated Press WWII press photograph, dated August 28, 1942 (released September 4), captures a powerful moment in U.S. airborne history: a column of fully armed American paratroopers boarding a Waco CG-4A glider. Part of the Army Air Forces’ new 15-place troop transport program, these gliders were engineered for silent insertion of troops and equipment behind enemy lines, often under the cover of darkness.

The original typed Associated Press caption—still affixed to the reverse—details the glider’s capabilities and its intended role in future Allied invasion operations. This image was issued just before the CG-4A’s operational debut, as part of a coordinated national press release introducing the concept to the American public.

Adding to its rarity and provenance, this photo comes with an official Certificate of Authenticity from The Baltimore Sun Tribune Photo Archives, confirming it as a working press archive photograph used in contemporary wartime reporting.

For collectors of WWII militaria, U.S. Army Air Forces history, or glider-based airborne warfare, this image is a historically rich and visually striking piece.

Historical Note – Waco CG-4A Troop Glider
The Waco CG-4A was America’s most widely used troop glider in WWII, manufactured by over a dozen contractors including Waco, Ford, and Cessna. Capable of carrying 15 fully equipped soldiers and two pilots, it could also transport small vehicles or artillery. The glider’s ability to land in improvised fields made it a critical component of airborne operations such as Normandy (D-Day), Operation Market Garden, and the Rhine crossings.

Key Features:

• Date: Photo taken August 28, 1942; public release September 4, 1942

• Aircraft: Waco CG-4A troop glider

• Photographer/Agency: Associated Press

• Provenance: Baltimore Sun Tribune Photo Archives – COA included

• Medium: Original black-and-white gelatin silver press print with attached AP caption

• Condition: Excellent contrast; light handling marks consistent with press archive storage; reverse retains caption and agency stamps