1949 Minimoa Sailplane with Walter “Pop” Krohne – Texas Soaring Contest

Striking original photograph of veteran soaring pilot Walter J. “Pop” Krohne standing beside his elegant German-designed Göppingen Gö 3 Minimoa sailplane (registration NC16923) at the 2nd Southwest Soaring Contest in Grand Prairie, Texas, August 1949. The towering cumulus clouds in the background reflect the “tall Texas thermals” Krohne eagerly anticipated for competition flights.

The Minimoa, renowned for its graceful gull wings and world record performances in the 1930s, was a rare and prestigious presence in postwar American contests. This photo—stamped by photographer E.J. Wamy of Fort Worth—captures both the sleek artistry of the sailplane and the optimism of competitive soaring in the golden age of U.S. glider sport.