Silent Wings at War: Combat Gliders in World War II [Paperback]

John L. Lowden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 2002

The pilots were known as “suicide jockeys” and the aircraft they flew were called “flak bait.” Towed behind modified bombers or transport aircraft, Allied combat gliders were used in some of the riskiest missions of World War II, landing miles behind enemy lines with specially trained assault forces. In Silent Wings at War, John L. Lowden combines his own recollections with those of fellow veterans to create a vivid, gritty, jocose memoir of war as he and other glider pilots and their passengers knew it. These true tales of courage, as well as command blunders, make a substantial contribution to WWII literature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The book is great.”—Walter Cronkite

“Weaving his own often hair-raising experiences and those of thirty-nine other veterans into the narrative, Lowden chronicles the use of Allied gliders in seven major airborne assaults.”—American History Illustrated

“The best and most complete portrayal of [glider] airborne action I have seen.”—George Van Fleet (Lt. Col., USAF, Ret.)

About the Author

John L. Lowden flew as a second lieutenant in the 1st Allied Airborne Army in Europe during World War II. His awards include the Air Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Bronze Arrowhead of initial assault troops, and seven unit battle stars. He lives in Wilmington, N.C.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books (September 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588340341
• ISBN-13: 978-1588340344
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing accounts of previously unreported WWII heroism., February 7, 1998

By 

"choppin6" (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silent Wings at War: Combat Gliders in World War II (Hardcover)

US Army Aviator Veteran Lowden has assembled an amazing collection of first person accounts of WWII glider operations from those, including himself, who lived them. Well written, almost spell-binding tales of unbelieveable heroism under fire and extremely deadly conditions. The book fills in many of the gaps of reporting in other major WWII literature.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational for Glider Pilot research, October 22, 2002

By 

James I. Moffett (Gastonia, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silent Wings at War: Combat Gliders in World War II (Paperback)

I began doing research into glider pilots and ran across John's book. John's book follows you from his entry into the program, his training, combat, and home from the war. It is a great perspective on the glider pilot. John's book will only make you want to know more, more about the glider pilots, and more about the USAAF glider program. Glider pilots were as close to volunteer suicide as it comes, just they didn't realize it. If you don't know about glider pilots, READ THIS! See if you get hooked like I did and learned all I could about the glider program and all the men who were part of it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WW2 Glider Pilots, December 3, 2010

By 

Harold Ochs "N. Idaho native" (College Place, WA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Silent Wings at War: Combat Gliders in World War II (Paperback)

Anyone interested in the work of the glider pilots and the troops they carried into combat will be informed in detail of their dangerous work.