1944 Firestone CG-4A Gliders – Willow Grove, PA – WWII, Production Photo with Certificate of Authenticity

This original January 15, 1944 press photograph shows a line of newly built Waco CG-4A troop-carrying invasion gliders outside the Firestone Aircraft plant in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, ready for shipment to Allied invasion centers across multiple theaters of WWII.

The Waco CG-4A was the backbone of U.S. airborne glider operations during the war, carrying troops, howitzers, Jeeps, and other heavy loads silently into combat zones. It played a key role in major operations including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Rhine crossings.

The attached original press caption highlights the glider’s combat service and the troop-carrier command’s multiple citations for gallantry.

This photograph comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from The Baltimore Sun / Tribune Photo Archives (Photo ID AFC-114-BS), confirming its provenance as an original archive image.

• Date: January 15, 1944

• Location: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania – Firestone Aircraft plant

• Aircraft: Waco CG-4A troop-carrying glider

• Format: Original gelatin silver press photograph with typewritten press caption and COA

• Condition: Excellent detail and tonal range, minimal handling wear, COA included

A rare combination of WWII military production history, American industrial heritage, and certified provenance — perfect for advanced collectors and museum displays.