Among the many brave individuals who played their part in leading the Allies to victory in World War II, one undersung but incredibly bold group deserve some attention – the glider pilots and those who journeyed with them. Flying without engines or defences, these remarkable aviators took troops on one-way trips to the heart of the battle. We spoke with Scott McGaugh, author of the new book Brotherhood of the Flying Coffin that chronicles some of the stories of those involved in these daring missions.
What roles did gliders play in WWII?
Gliders led major World War II invasions across Europe, ahead of the Allied ground troops. At Normandy, in southern France, into Holland and across the Rhine into Germany. The volunteer glider pilots were often towed five to ten miles [8-16km] behind the frontlines on one-way
