Sylvan Ralph Lucier, to whom this blog is dedicated, was in the first or second class of pilots to earn the wings of a glider pilot in August of 1942. The first class was not large, and the program was just being developed. His wings have the G (for glider, but some will say for guts) attached instead of part of the mold.
As a man of 26 years, with a college business degree when he joined , Sylvan probably felt fortunate to be able join the Army Air Force where he could become an aviator. He had a fascination for airplanes and seems to have enjoyed soaring as much as the enthusiasts today.
Although he later flew much less graceful gliders in missions (the CG 4A & the British Horsa) I know his early training was something he enjoyed sharing with his folks at home. For a few months, he was "on eagles wings"all over the south west. A time line of his training, following the pictures, shows the many locations where he flew.
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