Silent Warrior

by Goldman, Curtis

• ISBN13: 9780977953585
• ISBN10: 0977953580
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: Carpenters Son Pub
• More Book Details
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Summary

SilentWarrior is the photo journal account of J. Curtis Goldman, a WorldWar II glider pilot who fought in the European Theater of Operations from 1944-45 with the 99th Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group. Goldie, as he was known by his friends, was born looking for a fight. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps because he wanted to be a fighter pilot. After failing his eye exam, the bucksergeant told him that they would give him a waiver if he would fly gliders. J. Curtis Goldman accepted the offer, and began one of the most exciting chapters in his life.This book relives the harrowing and little known experiencesof a small group of fearless daredevils, who flew terrified American soldiers in what were known as flying coffins, into open fields, behind enemy lines in themidst of raging battles. Walter Kronkite would write that themost terrifying experience of his life was when he rode a glider into Holland in September, 1944. The ?G? on their wings, representing ?Guts,? would become a symbol of their heroismin some of the greatest battles fought during the war which included D-Day, Market Garden, and Operation Varsity. The purpose of this book is to honor these brave heroes.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 11
Preface	p. 33
American Suicide Missions: One Way Flights into Enemy Territory	p. 41
The Origins of Military Gliders	p. 51
Learning to Fly Gliders and Sail Planes	p. 55
SPAAF: South Plains Army Air Field	p. 65
Shepherd Field: Wichita Falls, Texas	p. 77
Bowman Field: Louisville, Kentucky	p. 83
Crossing the North Atlantic	p. 95
Merry Field: Tauton, England	p. 99
My BIG Disappointment: D-Day	p. 115
A Combat Glider Mission that Never Was	p. 119
But It Was Not to Be: Italy, Here I Come!	p. 123
Airborne Invasion of Southern France	p. 131
Market Garden	p. 139
One of the Most Interesting, Amazing, and Dangerous Days of My Life	p. 151
A "Yellow Major" Day	p. 167
Next Stop: Epernay, the Champagne Capitol of the World	p. 175
The Winter of 1944-45 in Dreux, France	p. 179
Eldon W. Mueller: February 13, 1923 - February 20, 1945	p. 187
Operation Varsity: Crossing the Rhine	p. 191
World War II in Europe Ends, But Not For Me	p. 215
The Itch and Scratch Crossing of the North Atlantic	p. 227
Welcome Home! Not Quite	p. 231
Epilogue	p. 235
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