NWWIIGPA-St Louis glider Crash
NWWIIGPA-St Louis glider Crash Quick science lesson: Gliders, in order to stay in the air, must have a minimum of two (2) wings, preferably one on each side. On its first public exhibition in St. Louis in 1943, this Waco glider crashed after a poorly-fastened bolt came loose and the starboard wing sheared off. The glider plummeted 2,000 feet onto Lambert field and hit the ground with what one witness described as a dull thud, killing 10 people. A serious glider accident occurred August 1, 1943 at Lambert Field, St. Louis, MO. The sixty-fifth CG-4A, #42-78839, built by the Robertson Company, was towed aloft for publicity demonstration flights. On the first flight, six people were on board and the flight and landing were satisfactory.1 On board the second flight were Capt. Milton C. Klugh, pilot; Pfc. J. M. Davis, co-pilot and mechanic; Lt. Col. Paul H. Hazelton, AAF resident representative, St, Louis area office; William B. Robertson, president; and Harold H. Krueger, VP and production ...