Schneider DFS SG-38 gliders pre and post war
In post war BAOR, SG 38 gliders were put to recreational use by British personnel as a means of sporting entertainment and for teaching those with an interest to fly.
My father was a keen and competent pilot, both of gliders and small powered planes such as the Tiger Moth. He was delighted to be posted near Hamelin where ridge soaring on gliders was possible and after 6 years of war, very pleased to be airborne again. He met Hitler's pilot, Hanna Reitsch and was impressed by her flying skills, if not her politics.
The SG 38 was designed as a simple glider to teach novices to fly and also comply with the terms of the Versaille treaty whereby Germany could not re-arm. They provided a means of rapily increasing the number of pilots so that when Germany was put on a war footing there were many pilots available.
These simple daVinci-like gliders were launched using rubber bungees, winches and by towing them behind a car/jeep, and as per the photographs - all methods were used. Most had no protection for the pilot, but some were fitted with canopys and the wind protection would have been welcome in winter.
As well as the SG 38's, other more modern gliders were available and soon competitive gliding was organised. There was keen rivalry between the Army and the RAF and one of the photos below shows my father ( a Sapper), being presented with the winning trophy by...an RAF officer!
My mother was not keen on leaving terra firma, but my sister and I were both taken up in gliders, needing lead bags for ballast as we were so small.
