Re: Gilders set after WWII
From History of the World's Glider Forces:
Page 44-45 (UK)
With the end of the war, gliderborne troops and glider pilots were no longer needed and units began to be run down. By 1948 only two operational Horsa squadrons were left, at Waterbeach and Netheravon. One Hamilcar squadron remained at Fairford and glider training was concentrated at RAF Upper Heyford as No. 1 Parachute and Glider Training School. The RAF airborne squadrons were also run down: 46 Group was disbanded in March 1950, and 38 Group in February 1951.
By 1950 the Glider Pilot Regiment was reduced to a single squadron. It continued to fly Horsas, but the writing was on the wall for the glider pilots, and helicopters began to take over. On 31 August 1957 the Glider Pilot Regiment was disbanded. Next day the Army Air Corps began life. Gliderborne forces had lasted but a short time in military history: from the dark days of 1940, through the long years of trial and error, to the epic Operation 'Varsity' in 1945, then a slow decline to a redundant end in 1957.
Page 222 (USA)
Only one regiment, the 325th GIR, retained several CG-15A transport gliders, their last use being in April 1949, on exercise at Fort Bragg. On 1 January 1953, the use of gliders for carrying combat troops ended. Helicopters took over the role, but lacked the great advantage of gliders: silence.
Page 291 (USSR)
After the war ended the Glider Training School at Saratov continued to train glider pilots for the Yak-15 and KT-25 gliders but, as in other countries, the glider became obsolete and in 1954 the school became the Suran Officers Institute for powered flight.
|