South Dakota WW2 Glider Pilots To Be Discussed on June 14
When the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group meets again on Flag Day, June 14, glider expert Charlie Summers, a much-decorated F-100 Super Sabre pilot in Vietnam, will share his knowledge of the role of gliders during World War II.
Simply-made and cost-effective, they were widely used in Europe and the Pacific. South Dakota had 40 glider pilots during WWII, with a 10% loss rate in Belgium, Holland, and at Normandy and Bastogne in France, including Operation Varsity as the Allies crossed the Rhine River.
Summers says that he has rebuilt a training glider from WWII with the name of South Dakota’s “Lt. Joe Gamet” on the side. Col. Lynus Ryan of Custer is a glider survivor of the war. Aberdeen was the state’s training center. All in all, there were more than four major US glider battles in Europe and 2 in the Pacific.
Lt. Col. George Larson will also be at the meeting to add supporting details from his book Aerial Assault into Burma which discusses the role of gliders in the retaking of Burma from the Japanese in savage jungle combat. At the end of WWII, America had more than 12,000 glider pilots and 6,000 gliders.
You are invited to the Western Dakota Technical Institute in Rapid City, 9-11 am, on Saturday, June 14.
Dear Charlie Summers. I have tried contacting you for many years on a business card you gave me when we were flying in Jayton for a guy called Mike Norris. As one of the finest pilots that I ever flew with would very much like to get in contact with you again. I trust that you are well and have no doubt that with your attitude to life in general, probably are! All the best. Martin Wise.