WWII-Era U.S. Army Air Forces – Two Sets of TG-2 Military Training Gliders on Tow

This striking vintage photograph captures a rare in-flight formation of six TG-2 military training gliders being towed in two separate sets of three, likely during a U.S. Army Air Forces training exercise in the early 1940s. The scene is set against a dramatic desert backdrop with rugged mountains, suggesting a location such as Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards AFB) or another WWII desert training site.

The TG-2, produced by the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, was the military designation for the company’s SGU 2-22 design. These gliders were used to train U.S. military pilots in the fundamentals of powerless flight before transitioning to large assault gliders like the Waco CG-4A. In the photo, the TG-2s are under tow by light aircraft, illustrating the multi-ship tow technique used for efficiency during mass training operations.

With its crisp aerial composition and clear depiction of rare WWII training methods, this image offers exceptional historical value for collectors of U.S. military aviation, WWII glider operations, and wartime training documentation.

• Date: Early 1940s (WWII era)

• Aircraft: Schweizer TG-2 (military glider) in multi-ship tow

• Location: Likely U.S. desert training base (possibly Muroc AAF or similar)

• Dimensions: Approx. 8" x 10"

• Condition: Very good; clean image with only minimal age-related toning.

• Provenance: From a WWII aviation photographic archive.