U.S. Army Air Corps Tests TG-2 Training Glider – Dayton, Ohio – September 30, 1941 Press Photo

This original September 30, 1941 ACME / N.E.A. press photograph documents the U.S. Army Air Corps’ early experimentation with the TG-2 training glider at Dayton, Ohio, just months before America entered World War II.

The TG-2, with its 52-foot wingspan, 25-foot fuselage, and lightweight 860-pound frame, was designed to train pilots in silent, engineless flight—skills that would later be applied in combat with the Waco CG-4A during major airborne operations like D-Day and Operation Market Garden.

In the image, a ground crew member steadies the wingtip before tow—a common pre-launch safety practice—while the tandem-seat canopy and long tapered wings show the TG-2’s sleek, purpose-built design. The rural backdrop evokes the quiet, controlled atmosphere of early-stage Army Air Corps glider training.

Details:

• Date: September 30, 1941

• Location: Dayton, Ohio

• Aircraft: TG-2 (Training Glider)

• Crew: Two (student + instructor)

• Publisher: ACME News Pictures for N.E.A. (New York bureau)

• Specs:

  • Wingspan ~52 ft

  • Length ~25 ft

  • Gross weight ~860 lbs

  • Standard instruments: speed indicator, altimeter, turn-and-bank indicator, compass

• Condition: Excellent clarity; light edge wear and handling marks typical for period press photos; full caption on reverse with specs

💡 Historical Note: This photograph marks a critical pre-war step in America’s airborne development program, inspired by German glider operations in 1940. Within a year, the Army’s glider forces would be fully operational and deployed in combat.