The new issue of EAA Sport Aviation (April) has an interesting story about a Waco CG-4A being restored. The glider was found in the Menominee Ranger Historical Museum in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Originally it was in the woods where it was used for a hunting shack. After World War II Ford who made them, sold them to anyone who wanted them. Most people wanted the wooden crates they came in, not the glider itself. Some of the skeletal remains were taken to Wausau, Wisconsin. where it is being restored. The group in Wisconsin is working on the front of the fuselage. Another group in Michigan is working rear of the fuselage, the wings and tail. It is being restored with parts identical to the original pieces. The restorers estimate the project will take four years to complete. Some of those working on it are the children of gliders troops and consider the project a tribute to their fathers. When completed it will not be flown. It will be sent to a museum for display. This has to be one of the few left in the country. The museum at Fort Bragg has just the front part of the fuselage. If you know someone in the EAA ask them if they will let you borrow this issue so you can read the complete story.
About 4 yrs ago I read an article about a Commercial Pilot who discovered the remains of one also on a farm. Had great pictures and it was restored as a cutaway. I remember my Uncle telling me about riding in them how sick everyone would be from the fumes and turbulance. The article also made mention of this. I have a couple models of the CG-4A Glider waiting to be built.
Thaks for the heads up on this one. [tup]
The Cradle of Aviation Museum in New York restored a CG-4A about 7 or 8 years ago, and it is in their museum. It’s nice to see a few put back together, they were a very intense part of the war for those involved in that program.