Glider Snatch Pick-up on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Glider snatch pick-up was a technique used by the
Glider snatch pick-up was a technique used by the Allies of World War II
The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. ...
to launch a military glider
Military gliders (an offshoot of common gliders) have been used by the militaries of various countries for carrying troops (glider infantry) and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were ...
with a low-flying powered aircraft (the tow or tug), which did not have to land.
The snatching aircraft, typically a Douglas C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF, and SAAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in ...
("Dakota"), had a 20 ft arm hanging down at a 45-degree angle, supporting a hook at the tip. The hook was attached to a steel rope
Steel wire rope (right hand lang lay)
Wire rope is several strands of metal wire twisted into a helix forming a composite
''rope'', in a pattern known as ''laid rope''. Larger diameter wire rope consists of multiple strands of such laid rope in a ...
attached to an automatic winch
A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjust the tension of a rope or wire rope (also called "cable" or "wire cable").
In its simplest form, it consists of a spool (or drum) attache ...
containing 1000 ft of steel cable. On flyover, the hook engaged in a square-shaped loop of a nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic.
Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from petro ...
tow rope supported on two poles about 20 ft apart and 10 ft off the ground. This loop was attached to a 180 ft nylon tow rope attached to the front of the glider. The special design of the hook meant it was less likely to snag the ground but would grab the loop.
When the hook engaged in the loop, the rope initially paid out from the winch, and then gradually, a brake was automatically applied until up to 800 ft of cable had been paid out. This, and the stretch in the nylon rope, reduced shock loading to less than 1 g for a duration of around 3 to 6 seconds, by which time the glider would be airborne. The steel wire was then winched in. It was possible for one plane to pick up two gliders in this way, in two passes. Gliders could be retrieved for re-use in this way after combat operations
Combat operations area - process is undertaken by armed forces during military campaigns, major operations, battles, and engagements to facilitate the setting of objectives, direction of combat, and assessment of the operation plan's success.
...
.
Some casualties were evacuated from the D-Day landings back to the United Kingdom using this technique. Several rescues of downed aircraft passengers were also performed by landing gliders to pick up survivors and then snatching them from remote locations.
https://www.mylubbock.us/docs/silent-wings-museum-file-library/retrievalsystem.pdf
See also
*1945 New Guinea Gremlin Special rescue
The Gremlin Special was a Douglas C-47 Skytrain that crashed during a sightseeing flight over the Baliem Valley (also known as Shangri-La valley) in New Guinea in the eastern part of Netherlands Indies in 1945. The recovery of the three survivors ...
References
{{Reflist Snatch pick-up technique Airborne warfare