Page 6 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2022 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

The Silent Wings Museum

Honoring the Glider Pilot Legacy for 20 Years

by Sharon McCullar

he Silent Wings Museum
contains a unique collection,
Tdedicated solely to preserving
the history of the American WWII
Military Glider Program. The
museum is home to one of the few
accurately and completely restored
CG-4A gliders left in the world.
Founded by the National World
War II Glider Pilots Association, the
Silent Wings Museum accommodates
a growing collection of unique
artifacts and archival material. The
Association established the museum
in 1984 in Terrell, Texas, to tell their p.m., and on Sunday,
unique story. from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.,
closed on Mondays.
Approximately 80% of United There is an admission
States Army Air Forces glider pilots fee of $10.00 for
received their G-wings at South adults, with discounts
Plains Army Airfield, which was for seniors, children,
located on the site of the current students and military.
Lubbock airport. This made the
choice of Lubbock as the permanent “A Legacy
home for the Museum a very personal Remembered,” the
one for the National World War II current temporary
Glider Pilots Association. On October exhibit, runs through
20, 2002, Lubbock once again became April 2023, illustrating
home to the United States World War the perseverance and commemoration ceremony at 11:00
II Military Glider Program. A major determination of the American Glider a.m. The public is encouraged
renovation project transformed the Pilot, first in service to his country, to attend and demonstrate their
former Lubbock Airport Terminal and then to make sure his story lives respect and gratitude to our
Building into a 40,000-square-foot on. nation’s veterans. Following the
museum, featuring exhibit galleries, commemoration ceremony, the
a theater, collection care areas, a gift In 1942, South Plains Army Airfield documentary film, Red Horizon, will
shop, and office space. opened. Explore the accomplishments play in the Theater. Discover the
of South Plains Army Airfield as it inspiring story of a group of intrepid
Exhibits focus on the training of the developed into its Advanced Glider young pilots, supported by the Red
USAAF glider pilots, the airborne Training mission. Tails Scholarship Fund, as they keep
operations in which gliders were the Tuskegee Airman Legacy alive in
used, and the particular history of the In recognition of the 20th anniversary their pursuit of aviation careers.
Allied glider program. The restored of the Silent Wings Museum in
CG-4A glider is the centerpiece of Lubbock, “A Legacy Remembered” This year, a “Hangar Dance” will
the Hangar Gallery. Exhibits change traces the decades-long effort to round out the day. Swing and sway
frequently to address specific aspects restore a CG-4A glider to its former to the music of the Big Band era in
of this unique piece of World War II glory as the jewel of the Silent Wings the shadow of the venerable CG-4A
and aviation history. Museum collection. glider.
The museum is open Tuesday Veterans Day at the Silent Wings
through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 Museum features a solemn

6 Lubbock Senior Link