Friday October 18, 2002
Lubbock Avalanche Journal
Posted here from source for preservation purposes
PICTURES

Silent Wings Museum Pays Tribute to Glider Pilots
Friday October 18, 2002

" ...they say they're not heroes, that they were just doing their jobs..."

Fifty years ago, glider pilots flew silent airships through the skies of the South Plains, bringing the bulky craft back to earth on the runways of the South Plains Army Airfield. Today, the South Plains honors their deeds and the unique contribution these men made during World War II with the opening of the Silent Wings Museum.

"This museum is a chance to educate people about what happened, the unique role of gliders in combat during World War II," says Otto Lyons, a veteran glider pilot and advisor on the museum's board.

During World War II, the U.S. Army's combat glider program was a vital part of the airborne strategy that led to victory in Europe, as well as military successes in the Pacific and China-Burma-India theaters of operation. Approximately 6,000 glider pilots received their wings, and 80 percent of those pilots received their advanced training at South Plains Army Airfield.

The Silent Wings Museum is an opportunity for visitors to learn about the combat glider program and the men who served as glider pilots.
" It's a chance to see how people came together to meet the challenges of the war," says Joe Hays, museum director.

"Lubbock and the South Plains had a part to play. People came here from all over the country to learn aviation, and they fought all over the world. International lives were impacted by these American soldiers.
" These pilots also became a part of the fabric of the community," Hays adds. "The museum gives us an opportunity to celebrate this regional history, the connections and relationships."

The Silent Wings Museum houses a collection of 9,000 items, not including photographs and documents. Much of the credit for the collection goes to the veteran glider pilots themselves. After the war, the pilots sought to preserve their legacy and began a project to restore one of the gliders they had flown.

In 1984, the National World War II Glider Pilots Association expanded and operated the Silent Wings Museum in Terrell, Texas through an affiliated non-profit group, the Military Glider Pilots Association.

A need for long-term stewardship of the collection and the history of the glider program was recognized, and in September 2000, ownership of the museum was transferred to the City of Lubbock.

After two years of relocating artifacts, cataloging, renovation and construction, the Silent Wings Museum opens to the public this weekend. On Friday, Oct. 18, members of the National World War II Glider Pilots Association and guests will preview the museum at a private event.

The ribbon cutting ceremony, by invitation only, will be held on Saturday, with the museum opening to the public on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Located north of the intersection of Regis Street and Interstate 27, the Silent Wings Museum is housed in one of the original terminal buildings of Lubbock International Airport, former site of the South Plains Army Airfield.

Extensive remodeling has transformed the site into a 40,000 square foot museum featuring three display galleries, a theater, a library and archive, a gift shop and office space.

Within the museum, timelines, photographs and interactive exhibits will guide visitors through the development of combat gliders, the training program at South Plains Army Airfield, and the role of gliders and their pilots in numerous military campaigns.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum will serve as a library and archive. National and international scholars will have access to the research materials available.

The museum also will provide age-appropriate, curriculum-based educational programs for students.

The contributions of time and energy made in the past and that continue to be made by the glider pilots and their families make the Silent Wings Museum truly special. These individuals have been collecting and preserving this unique heritage for a number of years in order to share their story with the next generation.

"They are trusting us as stewards of their legacy," says Hays. "It's an exceptional opportunity. We have the firsthand knowledge and experience of the glider pilots themselves on how everything should look, how it worked. We have the responsibility to be accurate.

"These pilots say they're not heroes, that they were just doing their jobs," he adds. "This museum serves as a reminder that freedom comes at a price."