Silent Wings: The American Glider Pilots of WWII

A little-known group of airmen receive long-overdue recognition in Robert Child's documentary Silent Wings, which focuses on the contingent of glider fliers hurriedly formed by the United States in response to the surprising success of a similar German squad in taking a supposedly impregnable Belgian fort at the very beginning of World War II. Combining archival footage and stills, narration by actor Hal Holbrook, and newly-recorded interviews, the film traces the history of the corps from its formation by General Hap Arnold through its roles in Sicily, D-Day, the invasions of southern France and Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and in Germany itself, along the way detailing operational successes and failures. Drawing on the recollections of veteran pilots and the reporters who flew with them—most notably Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney (who's extraordinarily honest about his initial doubts regarding America's involvement in the war)—Silent Wings offers a good deal of insight about the dangers of glider combat missions, which usually entailed flying at night to land men and weapons behind enemy lines. The documentary concludes with footage of a recent reunion of survivors and a belated campaign to secure congressional recognition of the men's contribution to the American war effort. DVD extras include an interview with Child, and a video “walk-through” of the Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, TX. A fine tribute to an often-overlooked segment of the Greatest Generation, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)