The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used American troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4A by the United States Army Air Forces, and given the service name Hadrian (after the Roman emperor) by the British. The glider was designed by the Waco Aircraft Company. Flight testing began in May 1942. More than 13,900 CG-4As were eventually delivered. The CG-4A was constructed of fabric-covered wood and metal and was crewed by a pilot and copilot. It had two fixed mainwheels and a tailwheel. The CG-4A could carry 13 troops and their equipment. Cargo loads could be a 1⁄4-ton truck (i.e. a Jeep), a 75 mm howitzer, or a 1⁄4-ton trailer, loaded through the upward-hinged nose section. Douglas C-47 Skytrains were usually used as tow aircraft. A few Curtiss C-46 Commando tugs were used during and after the Operation Plunder crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. (17 mm) nylon, 350 feet (110 m) long. The CG-4A pickup line was 15⁄16 inch (24 mm) diameter nylon, but only 225 ft (69 m) long including the doubled loop. In an effort to identify areas where strategic materials could be reduced, a single XCG-4B was built at the Timm Aircraft Corporation using wood for the main structure. The 16 companies that were prime contractors for manufacturing the CG-4A were: Babcock Aircraft Company of DeLand, Florida (60 units at $51,000 each) For details of operational history Cessna Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas (750 units) The entire order was subcontracted to Boeing Aircraft Company's new Wichita plant. Commonwealth Aircraft of Kansas City, Kansas (1470 units) Ford Motor Company of Kingsford, Michigan (4,190 units at $14,891 each) G&A Aircraft of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania (627 units) General Aircraft Corporation of Astoria, Queens, New York) (1,112 units) Gibson Refrigerator of Greenville, Michigan (1,078 units) Laister-Kauffman Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri (310 units) National Aircraft Corp. of Elwood, Indiana (one unit, at an astronomical $1,741,809) Northwestern Aeronautical Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota (1,510 units) Pratt-Read of Deep River, Connecticut (956 units) Ridgefield Manufacturing Company of Ridgefield, New Jersey (156 units) Robertson Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri (170 units) Timm Aircraft Company of Van Nuys, California (434 units) Waco Aircraft Company of Troy, Ohio (1074 [999] units at $19,367 each) Ward Furniture Company of Fort Smith, Arkansas (7 units) The factories ran 24-hour shifts to build the gliders. For details of operational history and variants, click here.
