The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used American troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4A by the United States Army Air Forces, and given the service name Hadrian (after the Roman emperor) by the British.
The glider was designed by the Waco Aircraft Company. Flight testing began in May 1942. More than 13,900 CG-4As were eventually delivered.
The CG-4A was constructed of fabric-covered wood and metal and was crewed by a pilot and copilot. It had two fixed mainwheels and a tailwheel.
The CG-4A could carry 13 troops and their equipment. Cargo loads could be a 1⁄4-ton truck (i.e. a Jeep), a 75 mm howitzer, or a 1⁄4-ton trailer, loaded through the upward-hinged nose section. Douglas C-47 Skytrains were usually used as tow aircraft. A few Curtiss C-46 Commando tugs were used during and after the Operation Plunder crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. Wikipedia
Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-NW, their serial 45-14120. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-NW, their serial 45-14094. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-NW, their serial 45-14116. Assigned to No. 9 (T) Group at Rockcliffe in 1946.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-NW, their serial 45-14118. Assigned to No. 9 (T) Group at Rockcliffe in 1946.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16358. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used by No. 112 (T) Flight to train RCAF and Army glider pilots. Took part in Operation Eagle, mock assault on Fort St. John, BC from Grande Prairie, Alberta, in August 1949. Detachment for this exercise was identified as 112 Squadron.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16333. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used by No. 112 (T) Flight to train RCAF and Army glider pilots. Minor damage on 15 March 1948, when it struck a snow bank on landing at Rivers. This is probably the glider that crashed at Rivers on 1 December 1949, while being operated by the Transport Support School (Air), and was written off. Glider Flight commander, Flying Officer L.N. McGuire, was seriously injured in this crash.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16353. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-146350. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16371. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16386. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16384. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16329. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16393. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16388. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16397. Took part in Operation Eagle, mock assault on Fort St. John, BC from Grande Prairie, Alberta, in August 1949. Detachment for this exercise was identified as 112 Squadron. Used by National Research Council at Ottawa in 1951.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16387. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used to train RCAF and Army glider pilots. Took part in Operation Eagle, mock assault on Fort St. John, BC from Grande Prairie, Alberta, in August 1949. Detachment for this exercise was identified as 112 Squadron. Took part in demonstration air assault at Camp Shilo in October 1950, in support of officer training course underway there. Took part in Operation Blowcol, mock air assault on Shilo in April 1951. With Glider Flight of the Transport Support School (Air) at CJATC, Rivers Camp in March 1952 when it took part in Exercise Brandon IV, mock air assault on Brandon airport. Payload in this glider was a jeep and 6 men.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16382. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used by No. 112 (T) Flight to train RCAF and Army glider pilots. Coded "CA*V" while with this Flight. Took part in Operation Eagle, mock assault on Fort St. John, BC from Grande Prairie, Alberta, in August 1949. Detachment for this exercise was identified as 112 Squadron. Took part in Operation Blowcol, mock air assault on Shilo in April 1951.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16392. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used to train RCAF and Army glider pilots.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16367. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16396. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16390. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16409. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16318. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16366. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16413. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16377. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used to train RCAF and Army glider pilots. Took part in Operation Eagle, mock assault on Fort St. John, BC from Grande Prairie, Alberta, in August 1949. Detachment for this exercise was identified as 112 Squadron. Took part in demonstration air assault at Camp Shilo in October 1950, in support of officer training course underway there.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16391. At Rivers Camp, Manitoba from 1948, used by No. 112 (T) Flight to train RCAF and Army glider pilots. Coded "CA*X" while with this flight. With Glider Flight of the Transport Support School (Air) at CJATC, Rivers Camp in March 1952 when it took part in Exercise Brandon IV, mock air assault on Brandon airport.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-FO, their serial 45-16406. At RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba in 1947. Uncrated there by No. 10 Repair Depot, after shipment from the US on train.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-PR, serial number 42-56424. First assigned to No. 6 Operational Training Unit. Noted as being held pending formation of No. 164 (T) Squadron on 15 September 1945, stored with No. 2 Air Command. This probably referred to the pending split of 164 (T) Squadron into 426 and 435 Squadrons. To No. 8 Repair Depot for modifications, 5 December 1945 to 10 January 1946. Stored at No. 8 RD when completed. To No. 2 Air Command on 2 April 1946, still in storage. Assigned to storage at Gimli, Manitoba on 1 June 1946. Issued from storage on 5 July 1946, to No. 1 Air Command. To Training Command on 18 May 1950, for use at Camp Borden, Ontario, probably as a training aid. To No. 6 Repair Depot for inspection and storage, 3 August 1950. Pending disposal from 27 July 1954. Sold to company in Toronto.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-CM serial number 42-74524. Ex RAF KH945, but delivered direct to RCAF, no RAF history. First assigned to No. 6 Operational Training Unit. To No. 22 Sub Repair Depot at Vancouver on 28 March 1945 for modifications. To stored reserve with Western Air Command on 26 June 1945. Issued from storage on 20 August 1945. Noted as being held by No. 2 Air Command, pending formation of No. 164 (T) Squadron on 15 September 1945, stored with No. 2 Air Command. This probably referred to the pending split of 164 (T) Squadron into 426 and 435 Squadrons. To storage with No. 10 Repair Depot at RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba on 1 June 1946. To No. 1 Air Command on 5 July 1946, for use as training aid at No. 2 Technical Training School at Camp Borden, Ontario. Pending disposal there from 10 February 1949. Noted on 10 July 1949 with 371:15 total time.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A-WO serial number 42-79361. Ex RAF KH946, but delivered direct to RCAF, no RAF history. First assigned to No. 6 Operational Training Unit. To stored reserve with No. 2 Air Command on 15 September 1945, noted as being held pending formation of No. 164 (T) Squadron. This probably referred to the pending split of 164 (T) Squadron into 426 and 435 Squadrons. To storage with No. 10 Repair Depot at RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba on 1 June 1946. To No. 9 (T) Group on 8 July 1946, possibly for Arctic exercise. Back to storage at Gimli on 26 March 1947. To North West Air Command on 3 September 1947, for use by No. 112 (T) Flight at Rivers Camp, Manitoba. Used to train Army glider pilots, and in airborne landing exercises.Known Squadron Assignments:
Ex USAAF CG-4A, History Card reports US serial number as 42-42236, but this was a Vultee BT-13. Baugher reported this aircraft as ex 43-42236, a CG-4A-NW. First assigned to No. 6 Operational Training Unit. To stored reserve with No. 2 Air Command on 15 September 1945, noted as being held pending formation of No. 164 (T) Squadron. This probably referred to the pending split of 164 (T) Squadron into 426 and 435 Squadrons. To storage with No. 10 Repair Depot at RCAF Station Gimli, Manitoba on 1 June 1946. To No. 9 (T) Group on 8 July 1946, possibly for Arctic exercise. Back to storage at Gimli on 26 March 1947. To North West Air Command on 3 September 1947, for use by No. 112 (T) Flight at Rivers Camp, Manitoba. Used to train Army glider pilots, and in airborne landing exercises.