Kenneth Drasher — Glider Training Death — 1944

February 25, 1941 General Henry “Hap” Arnold commissioned the development of an effective Glider Pilot Training and tactical application/function planning program. Use of Glider Infantry in a Commando Assault Role became a prime concern of allied commanders when Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium was taken during the German blitzkrieg. On May 10th 1940, during the German Operation Fall Gelb (Case Yellow) or Battle of France, German Glider Infantry Commandos landed on and around the Fort and the three bridges it protected, resulting in the elimination of defenses and acquisition of effective control within 20 minutes of landing!

The initial plan was for 1000 Glider pilots but this eventually grew to 5500 by the end of the war. The Glider program was a bottom up task as the USAAC and the USAS prior, had rejected Glider Pilot training as ineffective in the prosecution of war. In fact, 1931 the War Dept restricted ALL Air Corps personnel from engaging in powerless flight. This order was recinded in 1941 and the program got under way. The enlisted men who volunteered and completed training, as it was a volunteer assignment, were elevated in rank to Staff Sergeant or maintained current rank if same or higher. On Nov 21, 1942 it was amended in response to valid requests and reasoning regarding authority required in flight scenarios, that all successful candidates would be made Flight Officers upon completion of succeful training.

Kenneth Drasher was born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania in 1907 as the oldest of 7 kids in an all-American family. After High School in Pennsylvania, Ken spent time in further studies living with his family in Pennsylvania.  When Ken enlisted in the Army Air Force, he was stationed in Hawaii and spent a few years on the island during the war. Eventually Ken, in his 30s at the time, decided that he wanted to take the offer for enlisted men to become Glider Pilots which elevated them automatically to the rank of Warrant Officer or Flight Officer. Ken would have been likely, with men’s harder affection as comrades, called Gramps or ol’ timer by the vastly more younger candidates in training.

In 1944, Ken traveled to Lubbock, Texas where he was billeted at Lubbock Army Air Force Base and was assigned to training at Abernathy Field which was an ancillary training field in the Lubbock Army Air Force Base complex. Abernathy Field was given the moniker Glider Training School along with South Plains Army Air Field and others around Lubbock Army Air Force Base.  He began training for the purpose of replacing the Glider Pilots and shoring up the ranks of those glider outfits who flew on D-Day.  On June 8, 1944, 2 days after D-Day, Kenneth Drasher was killed in a glider training accident wearing the wing pictured below. There were 140 men who gave their lives for the purpose of saving other men’s lives who would enter the pilot and copilot seats of these “Silent Wings”.  These were very dangerous machines and there were factories turning out these gliders which were not oriented around aeronautics. Companies such as furniture makers, kitchen appliance makers and other companies which had nothing to do prior to the war with aeronautics manufacturer.  Therefore, as the Glider Pilots of World War II webpage rightly discerns, these men who gave their lives revealed defects in manufacture and necessary improvements and fixes that save lives subsequently.

I saw pictures of Ken’s time in a Hawaii, from a lot I lost on eBay of his war time memorabilia gathered during his service on the islands.   Just from what I saw of the pictures he gathered and the smiles he flashed, Ken was a vibrant young man of his early 30s which was ancient for the boys flying  the CG – 4 A standard glider for America’s combat missions.   In fact, is that person who acquired Kenneth Drasher’s material from eBay reads this, please contact me that we may work together to complete this display page….. Thank you for your sacrifice Warrant Officer Kenneth Drasher ….. May God bless your memory and your sacrifice be sanctified in this nation becoming worthy of it again ……..

The Shield of this wing was professionally ground to a smooth surface and the jeweller then inscribed the “G” on the shield. Drasher accepted the offer to become a Warrant Officer/Glider Pilot to prepare for the Normany and other Glider Assaults. He died with this wing on, in preparing to defend onur nation. God Bless his Family with hearts of Gratitude and Joy in being the descendants of one who made such a selfless choice, wrought with danger.