WWII Glider Troop Training – CG-4A Waco – Victorville Army Flying School, 1943 Press Photo

This original February 24, 1943 WWII press photograph captures an interior view of a CG-4A Waco troop glider during training at the Victorville Army Flying School in California. The image offers a rare and intimate look inside one of the U.S. Army Air Forces’ most dangerous and underappreciated wartime operations—silent insertion of troops and equipment behind enemy lines.

In the foreground, Lt. Palmer (pilot) and George Whitten (co-pilot) occupy the utilitarian cockpit, while rows of glider students in heavy, fur-lined flight suits sit shoulder-to-shoulder on wooden benches, facing inward. These men were preparing for missions where survival was far from guaranteed—gliders had no engines, offered no second chances, and often landed in hostile territory under fire.

The reverse includes a detailed press caption noting the training curriculum:

• Flight Time: 8 hours as pilot, 3 hours as co-pilot, 4 hours as passenger

• Ground School: Identification, camouflage, map reading, and glider maintenance

• Coordination: Communication via three-way radios linking tow planes and control towers

Details:

• Date: February 24, 1943

• Location: Victorville Army Flying School, California

• Aircraft: CG-4A Waco troop glider

• Condition: Excellent tonal contrast; light edge wear from editorial handling; original press caption on reverse

• Historical Note: Glider forces played pivotal roles in operations like D-Day, Market Garden, and the Rhine Crossing, delivering troops and equipment silently into enemy territory.

Why This Photo Matters:
Interior CG-4A shots showing troops in position are far less common than exterior images. This photograph is both technically informative and emotionally powerful—illustrating the tense anticipation of soldiers moments before launch into a combat zone simulation.