Suicide Jockeys: The Making of the WWII Combat Glider Pilot
On May 10, 1940, the Germans neutralized one of the most heavily fortified fortresses in Europe with a new weapon: the combat glider—an aerial vehicle capable of carrying men and equipment in close proximity to each other and crash landing behind enemy lines. The Army Air Corps soon established its own glider pilot program, but the glider pilots were not considered power pilots nor infantry. The end result was a group of young men looking for adventure—belonging seemingly to no command other than on paper—that through the course of the war went into combat with varying amounts of equipment, training, survival gear, or none at all.
Suicide Jockeys: The Making of the WWII Combat Glider Pilot delves into the making of the glider pilot and the logistical, strategic, and tactical use of the plane they flew. In their “flying coffins,” these glider pilots were the independent bastards of the Army Air Corp, demonstrating sheer guts, talent, skill, and luck in their missions, and ultimately helping to turn the tide of the war.
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Monique Taylor is an avid researcher who focuses on little-known areas of history. She holds a BA in English literature, an MA in history, and a JD in law. Monique was previously a college-level history instructor. Her father’s stories about his time as a combat glider pilot piqued her interest in the glider program of WWII. She has been engaged in public speaking on a number of subjects, most recently at the National Glider Pilots reunion. While not writing, Monique enjoys hiking with her husband on their ranch.