In Episode 68 of Military Tales, join host Mike Thornton and historian Monique Taylor, author of “Suicide Jockeys,” as they delve into the fascinating and often-overlooked story of World War II glider pilots. Based on actual documentation, Monique shares the true experiences of these airmen who navigated incredible dangers with “no engines, no parachutes, no second chances“, serving as the critical “supply line” delivering essential equipment like 75mm pack howitzers and Jeeps Behind Enemy Lines amidst mass chaos and perilous landing zones, highlighting their unique role and eventual recognition with the Glider Badge for their bravery and vital contributions.
In the latest episode of Military Tales, we had the profound privilege of hearing a often-overlooked chapter of World War II history come to life through the eyes of an expert. Episode 68 features Monique Taylor, historian and author of the book “Suicide Jockeys,” a definitive account of the World War II glider pilots. Joined by our host Mike Thornton, they delve deep into the sacrifices, challenges, and vital contributions of these unique airmen.
Monique’s journey into this subject began close to home; her father was a combat glider pilot. Growing up, she only knew they “flew in the air and crashed Behind Enemy Lines”. This simple, stark image spurred her to research for her graduate degree, revealing a fascinating and largely untold story. Her book, based entirely on actual documentation, aims to put the glider pilots “back in history,” dispel myths, and tell their true story through official records and their own interrogation reports.
The nickname “Suicide Jockeys” hints at the incredible risks they faced. General Westmoreland famously captured their perilous role with the quote: “Glider Pilots: No engines, no parachutes, no second chances“. While they trained with parachutes, these were taken away for missions. As Monique’s father explained, he couldn’t run past the 13 armed infantrymen in his glider who didn’t have parachutes.
Unlike powered aircraft pilots or traditional infantry, glider pilots occupied a unique, often unacknowledged space. They started their military careers typically as privates, gaining rapid promotion to Sergeant and later Flight Officer if they had prior flight training. Flight Officer was often a terminal rank, not due to lack of qualification, but a shortage of higher officer slots in Troop Carrier commands. This sometimes led to frustration and a feeling of being in limbo, particularly when they spent months in “glider pools” waiting for missions, contributing to discipline problems that ironically led to the development of their crucial combat training.
The core mission of the glider pilot was critical: they were the supply line. Before the advent of advanced parachutes for heavy drops, gliders were the only way to get essential equipment like 75mm pack howitzers, 57mm anti-tank guns, Jeeps, ammunition, medical supplies, and even bulldozers and mules (in the China Burma India theater) to airborne troops already Behind Enemy Lines. This role was a precursor to what is now known as vertical envelopment. Hitler himself used gliders effectively early in the war to overcome static defenses, notably taking the formidable Fort Eben-Emael in just one hour. Seeing this, and after shifting to an offensive stance post-Pearl Harbor, America developed its own glider program.
Operating the gliders, primarily the American CG-4A (Waco) and, less successfully in Normandy, the British Horsa, was fraught with danger beyond enemy fire. Landings were often “mass chaos”. Pilots flew low, navigating based mostly on the tow line from the C-47 tug plane in poor visibility. Glider quality control was a serious early issue, with parts coming from diverse subcontractors, sometimes even a coffin company, leading to tragic accidents. Landing zones were often too small, filled with unexpected obstacles like the massive Norman hedgerows that could tear wings off and cause cargo to shift and kill the crew. Germans also employed tactics like Rommel’s asparagus (poles with mines) and deliberately flooded fields to stop them.
Pilots showed incredible ingenuity and courage. Worried about heavy cargo like Jeeps and artillery breaking loose and crushing them upon impact, they rigged the glider’s hinged nose section to spring open prematurely, despite this being against initial design and potentially leaving them upside down in the cockpit. They also developed techniques like deliberately flying through trees or executing sharp loops to slow down in difficult landing zones.
Specific battles highlight their impact. At La Fiรจre Bridge in Normandy, gliders delivered vital anti-tank guns and mortar ammo that allowed the depleted paratroopers to hold the crucial causeway against German armor. Glider infantry charged directly across this heavily contested bridge, changing the paratroopers’ perception of them forever. The sacrifice of PFC Charles de Glopper, a glider infantryman who single-handedly covered his company’s retreat during this battle, earned him the Medal of Honor.
Beyond specific missions, the episode shared powerful human stories, like that of “Lucky” Bud Olson, a technical sergeant with the 325th Glider Infantry who survived multiple near-death experiences, including a crash and a mortar attack, becoming a reluctant “lucky charm” for pilots. We also heard about the tragic loss of General Pratt, killed in a glider crash in Normandy due to an unauthorized modification to his plane.
Glider pilots often had to fight as infantry after landing. They weren’t always issued escape kits, maps, or compasses, relying on their wits or joining nearby units. Their bravery eventually led to the creation of the Glider Badge, retroactively awarded to those who participated in the D-Day missions, solidifying their place within the Airborne tradition.
Today, the legacy of these “Suicide Jockeys” is preserved. Air Force Academy cadets still train in gliders, continuing a tradition born in necessity. Museums like the Silent Wings Museum in Texas and the Airborne Museum in St.-Mรจre-รglise, Normandy, display the fragile CG-4A gliders and the equipment they carried. In Normandy, French citizens still tend monuments to American soldiers, remembering that they “saved our life“.
Monique Taylor’s work, and this episode, serve as a vital reminder of the courage of these men. As Mike Thornton advises all veterans, it’s crucial to “Write Your Story down, tell your story” because history depends on it. The story of the glider pilots is one of ingenuity, resilience, and essential sacrifice that deserves to be known and remembered.