WWII USAAF TG (Training Glider) Designations

A pet peeve are online designation lists perpetuating the same old myths/errors. One example is US WWII Training Glider designations. Fortunately, Raul Blacksten's 'Clio Whispers' site covers each of the TR designations. So, mixing that and few other sources with Joe Baugher (just for the USAAF serials), I hope I've come up with an improved TG list. Any and all additions/corrections most welcome!

http://web.mac.com/clio.whispers/iWeb/US%20MILITARY%20TRAINING%20GLIDERS/ABOUT%20TRAINING%20GLIDERS.html

1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-50027 to 42-57212)
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_3.html

1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-57213 to 42-70685)
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_3a.html

US Army Air Force TG (Training Glider) Designations

[NB: Many of the X for experimental designations for impressed civilian gliders may be post-WWII suppositions. Those not confirmed by near-contemporary sources (eg: XTG-7) are shown with coloured prefixes (eg: XTG-20). The same applied to suspect model designations.]

TG-1 - 1941 Frankfort Cinema IIB tandem 2-seat training glider
- XTG-1: 3 prototype Cinema IIs for USAAF assault-glider training program
-- Authority for Purchase from Materiel Division, Wright Field, Sept 1941
-- XTG-1 (revised) addressed structural & all-moving surfaces problems
- TG-1A-FR: prod. model, structural changes, revised flight controls
-- TG-1A-FR 42-52884/52923, 42-57159/'198 impressed Cinema IIs
- TG-1B-FR: impressed Cinema IA,* 42-57164, 42-57169, 42-57190, 42-57203
- TG-1C-FR: impressed single-place Cinema IIB, 42-57173, 42-57184, 42-57186
-- NB: although also desig. Cinema IIB, AAF prod. TG-1As were 2-seaters
- TG-1D-FR: impressed single-place Cinema IIPC-2 (or'IIA/PC-2), 42-57179
-- NB: Blacksten lists TG-1B as impressed Cinema IIA with all-moving tail

TG-2 - 1941 Schweizer SGS-2-8, tandem 2-seat trainer, fabric-covered aluminum
- XTG-2-SW: 3 delivered to AAF, militarized version of 1938 SGS-2-8
- TG-2-SW: 45 built* before replaced on prod. line by 'non-strategic' TG-3
- TG-2A-SW: 7 impressed SGS-2-8s (incl: 42-57189/42-57201/42-57205)
- LNS-1: US Navy desig. for SGS-2-8, 13 ordered (for USMC training) 12 built
-- * 57 SGS-2-8s built, Blacksten says only 32 commissioned (incl. XTG-2s)

TG-3 - Schweizer SGS 2-12/-12A (SGS 2-8 dev. with wooden wings), 114 built
- XTG-3-SW: Schweizer SGS 2-12 prototype, 3 built
- TG-3A-SW: SGS 2-12A production model, 110 built (163 ordered)
- TG-3A-AG: Air Gliders licenced prod.,* 50 ordered, 1 built (1943)
-- * Air Gliders, Inc. Akron OH completed 1 'AG after contracts cancelled
- SGS 5/6-14 ** [Project]: 1943 TG-3-based 5-6 seat troop glider
-- ** Desig. for 'Schweizer Glider Sailplane, 5/6 place, Design Number 14'

TG-4 - Laister-Kauffmann, LK-10 Yankee Doodle 2, 2-seat training glider
- XTG-4-LK: prototypes for AAF (LK-10A model), 3 built
- TG-4A-LK: prod. model, 150-154-or-156 built [see Shrike's comment, Reply #14]
- TG-4B: impressed Laister-designed LIT 3 Blue Bird* single-seat glider**
-- * built at Lawrence Institute of Technology, owned by an LK employee
-- ** Baugher says single-seat LK10 Yankee Doodle impressed as 42-57191
---- (this may be confusing LIT 3 with the LIT 4, the basis for the LK-10)

TG-5 - 1942 Aeronca Defender, 3-seat conv. of Aeronca L-3, 42-57229/57478
- XTG-5-AE: prototype TAS Defender, Model 65 Grasshopper conversion, 1 built
- TG-5-AE: semi-completed L-3s* (spoilers added), 250 converted (3 cancl.)
-- * This may apply only to the first a/c (250 engineless L-3s seem unlikely)
-- Cancelled airframes were for three further XTG-5-AEs, 42-68302/'305
- XLNR-1: US Navy designation for 3 x tranferred TG-5s (BuNo 36422-'424)
- LNR-1: [Project] 28 prod. TG-5s for the US Navy, unbuilt/cancelled [?]

TG-6 - 1942 Taylorcraft ST.100, 3-seat conv, of Taylorcraft L-2, 42-58561/58810
- XTG-6-TA: 3 prototype L-2 Grasshopper conversions
- TG-6-TA: production version, 250 built (note, some were L-2 conversions*)
-- NB: comp. with L-2, TG-6 enlarged fin, spoilers, and simplified u/c
- XLNT-1: 10 x TG-6s for US Navy; BuNo 36428-'430 and 67800-'806
- LNT-1: 1943 production US Navy version, 25 built, BuNo 87763-'787
- LBT-1: USN 'glomb' (2000 lb glider bomb) conv., tricycle gear, 25 built
-- * For a list of conversion contractors (to SRR No.188), see:
http://luscombeassoc.org/tc/Taylorcraft/TG-6%20conversion.pdf

TG-7 - 1942 Warsztaty Szybowcowe w Warszawie* Orlik II, single-seat sailplane
- XTG-7: single example of 1938 WSW Orlik II (SP-1373), impressed as 42-53519
-- * Aviation Workshops of Warsaw, Orlik II designed by Antoni Kocjan
-- aka 'Orlick', often atrib. to then non-existent SZD, 15m span

TG-8 - 1942 Piper Grasshopper (Cub), 3-seat glider trainer converion, 250 built
- TG-8-PI: Piper Model J-3C-65 (same desig. as per powered O-59/L-4 series)
- XLNP-1 - 3 TG-8-PI to US Navy (BuNo 36425-'427), later returned to USAAF
-- Note: L-4s also used (power off) for gliding training (Atterbury AAFB)

TG-9 - 1942 Briegleb (Sailplane Corporation of America) BG-6 1-seat glider
- XTG-9-BR: 3 factory-built BG-6s impressed as 42-62603/'62605
-- NB: one XTG-9-BR was formerly the company demonstrator, NC 28369

TG-10 - 1942 Wichita Engineering TG-10-WI 2-seat side-by-side training glider
- XTG-10-WI: wooden construction prototype assigned 42-57197 [uncompleted]
-- Unable to complete work, firm asked that XTG-10 contract be cancelled

TG-11 - 1942 Schrempp-Schering* (Göppingen Gö 3) Minimoa 1-seat sailplane
- XTG-11: single Schrempp-Schering-built Minimoa (N1306) impressed as 42-53518
-- * Correct in Baugher; often mis-listed as "Schempger" in TG lists

TG-12 - 1942 Bowlus XBM-5* 2-seat tandem-seat, mid-wing training glider
-- * XBM-5 = Experimental Bowlus Military, Design number 5
- XTG-12-BS: 2 completed (Baugher lists only 42-57200), 3 ordered
- XTG-12A-BS: conflicting info., poss. side-by-side one ordered/poss. civil impress.
- TG-12A-BS: [Project] production model, contract cancelled
- TG-12B: unrelated Bowlus-DuPont built M1PU3** 'Utility', 1 impressed
-- ** Poss.: [designer Heath] McDowell, 1-place, Utility, 3rd design [?]

TG-13 - 1942 Briegleb (Sailplane Corporation of America) BG-8, 3 ordered,
- XTG-13-BR: 1st w/o on tests, 2nd deliv. 2 months late,* 3rd canc. Feb 1943
-- * Destroyed Lamesa TX, Oct 1943; Baugher lists 42-57180 and 42-57188

TG-14 - 1942 Stiglmeier* S 24 sailplane, impressed as 42-57183 (for $800)
- TG-14: served with 5AAFGTD, written off 25 July 1942, Wickenburg, AZ
-- * Most TG lists cite "Steiglemeier" a typo for Herman J. Stiglmeier
-- aka Stiglmeier 'Stick'; Grunau Baby mated to Bowlus Baby Albatross wing

TG-15 - 1942 Franklin-Stevens Model PS.2 utility glider, 8 impressed by USAAF
- TG-15: listed as either Franklin or Franklin-Stevens Model PS.2
- TG-15s impressed: 42-57174/'177/'178/'187/'194/'199, 42-57206/'207
-- NB: US Navy used 6 x PS.2s for training at NAS Pensacola, 1934-'36

TG-16 - 1942 Schultz ABC single-seat glider, 2 impressed as 42-57172/42-57202
- TG-16: both ABCs served with 18 AAF Glider Training Detachment
-- 1937 long-span (14.78 m) version of Midwest MU.1 (see TG-18 below)

TG-17 - 1942 [Stevens?] Franklin PS.2 utility glider impressed as 42-57193
- XTG-17: a modified Franklin (poss. assoc. with Don Stevens, see Jos' note below)
-- Assumed assoc. with Stevens Technical Institute almost certainly mistaken

TG-18 - 1942 Midwest MU-1 1-seat glider, impressed as 42-57166/57167/42-57176
- XTG-18: MU = Midwest Utility, designed by Arthur B Schultz, see TG-16
-- aka Schultz Midwest Utility, Schultz MU, and Midwest MI-1

TG-19 - 1942 Schweyer Rhönsperber single-seat sailplane, impressed as 42-57165
- XTG-19: Rhönsperber, ex-NC 17898, built by Jacobs-Sweyer Flugzeugbau, Germany
-- aka 'Rhinsperber', 'Rhonsperber', etc., sometimes mis-attrib. to Schleicher

TG-20 - 1942 Göppingen Gö-1 Wolf sailplane, 4 impressed as 42-57168/'175/'195/'204
- XTG-20: 1 US home-built, 3 built by Martin Schempp Flugzeugbau, Germany
-- NB: Most TG lists mistakenly show TG-20 as "Laister-Kauffman Gippingen-type"

TG-21 - 1942 Notre Dame University Model ND.1 glider, impressed as 42-57170
-- XTG-21: built by NDU Aeronautical Engineering in 1941, donated to USAAF

TG-22 - 1942 Mehlhose M-4 glider (by Emerson Mehlhose, Wyandotte, MI), 1 impressed
- XTG-22: impressed as 42-57181 (ex-NX18463); NB: 'M-4' may simple be c/n not model no.
-- Confusion reigns: Blacksten list TG-22 as a single Mehlhose LIT 3, see TG-4B

TG-23 - 1942 Harper-Corcoran Cinema home-built glider, impressed as 42-57192
- XTG-23: original 1936 Hollywood-built Cinema (led to prod. Cinema I, see TG-1)

TG-24 - 1942 Schempp-Hirth* (Göppingen) Gö-5, aka Hütter H-17, 1-seat sailplane
- XTG-24: single 1936 Schempp-Hirth Gö-5 impressed as 42-57185
-- * XTG-24 often mis-listed as a 'Bowlus-DuPont'** Senior Albatross
-- ** Note: Richard du Pont later became head of the USAAF glider program

TG-25 - 1942 Wolcott Plover single-seat primary glider, impressed as 42-57182
-- TG-25: home-built, open cockpit training glider by stunt pilot Frank Wolcott

TG-26 - 1942 Blackhawk Universal 2P-2* sailplane, impressed as 42-57188
- TG-26: Universal 2P-2 built by Blackhawk Glider Club, Highland Park, MI
-- TG-28 grounded after 28 hours service, considered "faulty design"
-- * Variously listed as 'BT.2' and 'Universal-Blackhawk'

TG-27 - 1942 Sanborn-Grunau 8 training glider NX16029, impressed as 42-65552
- XTG-27: 1936 Schneider Grunau 8 built by Daniel Sanborn and Hawley Bowlus

TG-28 - 1942 Haller-Hirth Junior Hawk single-seat glider, 1 impressed as 42-65555
- XTG-28: ex-NC13134 (a US-built example), w/o Wickenburg, AZ on 10 Oct 1944
-- aka Kassel 20; Haller Junior Hawk; Haller-Hirth K-20; Hawk Junior; etc.

TG-29 - 1942 Jensen J-10* side-by-side training glider, 1 impressed as 42-65553
- XTG-29: single prototype of a design intended for military glider training
-- * aka VJ-10; NB: designer Volmer Jensen (Burbank CA) not "Vollmer-Jensen"

TG-30 - 1942 Smith Bluebird home-built (NR19991, 1940), impressed as 42-65554
- XTG-30: w/o Wickenburg, Az, 8 Nov 1943 after only 22 hours flying
-- Melvin Smith's Bluebird was built in 1940 using components from a wreck

TG-31 - 1942 Aero ITI G-2, 1940 single-seater (N19965), impressed as 42-57171
- TG-31: assigned to contrator, Twenty-Nine Palms Air Academy
-- Aero ITI = Aero Industries Technical Institute, all-metal G-2 built 1939

TG-32 - 1943 Pratt-Reid*, ex-US Navy LNE-1, 2-seat (side-by-side)
- XLNE-1: USN prototype (Pratt-Reid PR-G1), 1 built
- LNE-1: US Navy desig., 74-76 built, 10 delivered (for USMC training)
- TG-32: USAAF ex-USN LNE-1, 73 transferred [see Jos' note below]
-- * Actually by the Gould Aero Division of Pratt, Read & Company

TG-33 - 1944 Aeronca XTG-6 (No. 2 prototype) conv. to test prone-pilot position
- TG-33-AE: mod. at Clinton County Army Air Field for prone-pilot G force tests
-- As Blacksten notes, TG-33 is an odd designation for a test vehicle

Apophenia, you rock! Incidentally, I very recently started to sort out all my Laister-Kauffmann and Schweizer gliders, and the TG-series was on my to-do list... You did a MUCH better job than I possibly could have come up with, for which I'm grateful!

Please note however that "the same old myths/errors" also include the spelling of Laister-Kauffmann, which had double F and double N.

Evidence can be found on this document, for instance:

Thanks for this useful information.
Here is some additional information I have in my files:

TG-7
On the outbreak of the war in 1942, a single aircraft with the Polish registration SP-1373, was in the US and was impressed as XTG‑7 with serial 42‑53519. Eventually it was returned to civil use as NC23727 and remained in use in 2006.

TG-10
A two seat side-by-side training glider of which one was ordered on 25 June 1942 as XTG‑10 with the serial 42‑57197. Some reference sources suggest that two aircraft were ordered. The contract was cancelled on 1 March 1943 before the aircraft was completed. Wichita Engineering was a company located in Wichita Falls, TX.

TG-11

One XTG‑11 was impressed with serial 42‑53518. The glider was purchased from Lt. Chester J. Decker in 1941. The Minamoa was a widely built German Goeppingen design that was also known as Minimoa. It flew for the first time in 1935. The glider was registered as N1306 and was c/n 56. At a later date this aircraft was also registered as N16923 (c/n 56) when it was no longer owned by Decker.

TG-12
Side-by-side trainer of which three examples were ordered on 28 April 1942 as XTG-12. Serials 42-96830/96832 are known. No aircraft were built and the order was cancelled on 5 August 1943. In addition one XTG‑12 was impressed with serial 42‑57200. It has also been reported that a XTG‑12A was ordered but no serial is known.
Other reference sources also state that three civil aircraft were impressed but not necessarily as XTG‑12A or with serials.
The designation may have been used for the Bowlus XBM-5, a two seat glider (shown in the picture) that was registered NX28386 and which flew in 1942.

TG-13
Tandem two seat glider of which three were ordered in June 1942 as XTG‑13. In November 1942 one was delivered with serial 42‑96829 with the remainder cancelled on 8 February 1943.
In addition one was impressed as TG-13 with serials 42‑57158 (was NX33636) and another as TG-13A with serial 42‑57180 (was NC18299). Some references have suggested that the latter were type BG-6 but that is incorrect.

TG-14
This may have been the glider registered as N15539 (c/n 2)

TG-17
Stevens may refer to the glider pilot Don Stevens. At least one Stevens Franklin glider has been recorded in the US civilian register as N13256 (c/n 2-S).

TG-18
Three single seat TG‑18s were impressed with serials 42‑57166, 42‑57167 and 42‑57176. It has not been possible to find references to these gliders in US civil register listings that are still available. There is, however a reference to a Midwest MI-1 (c/n 1) registered as NC18474.
Also referred to as the Schultz Midwest Utility (MU), the aircraft was designed approximately 1934.
In July/September 1941 a Midwest Utility glider, with a weighted dummy pilot, was used to test glider pick-up techniques with a civilian Stinson SR.10C as pick-up/tow aircraft.

TG-22
One TG‑22 was impressed with serial 42‑57181. The glider was the only one built by Emerson Mehlhose of Wyandotte, MI (note different spelling) and had the registration N18463 and c/n M4. There is evidence that Mehlhose built at least one more glider registered as N11391 (c/n 10) although that glider was not impressed. I have serial 42-57182 associated to the TG-25.

TG-23
One TG‑23 was impressed with serial 42‑57192. It was probably the HC-1 which had the civilian registration N18133.

TG-31
The Aero Industries Technical Institute was located in Glendale, CA and was sponsored by Lockheed, Northrop and Consolidated.

TG-32
It is believed that most of them were never operated by either the US Navy or the USAAF and instead went directly to civilian operators. Some of them were used in a thunderstorm research project.

Finally I have some concerns about the use of the XTG designation for some of the gliders obtained from private persons. Based on contemporary references, such as James Fahey's US Army Aircraft 1908-1946, I believe they were simply designated as TG and that some of these XTG designations you have quoted are later 'inventions'. But may be there are better reference sources from that period that substantiate the use of the XTG designations for those gliders.

Apophenia, allow me to correct a typo: "RG-10" should read "TG-10" of course... :
Also, I believe "LIT 4, the basis for the LT-10" should read "LIT 4, the basis for the LK-10. Can you confirm?

Stéphane: many thanks for the proofing! That Laister-Kauffmann gaff is exactly the sort of thing I was trying to correct -- hoist with me own petard! And quite right, 'LT-10' should, of course, read 'LK-10' :-[

I have also played fast and loose on the wobblier firm names. Eg: Briegleb -- should that be Sailplane Corporation of America, or Briegleb Sailplane Corporation, or ?? And when?

Jos:

On the TG-12: I'd seen mention of side-by-side seating too but assumed that this came from claims that the unseen TG-12 'resembled' the TG-10. Are you saying that the tandem-seat XBM-5 (canopy details attached) was not an actual prototype for the TG-12?

http://web.mac.com/clio.whispers/iWeb/US%20MILITARY%20TRAINING%20GLIDERS/TG-12.html

Thanks for pointing out the serial duplication for TG-22 and TG-25. That makes more sense now

I had the TG-23 down as the HC-1 too but wasn't sure if HC-1 and the original Cinema were one and the same machine.

Jos Heyman said:

Finally I have some concerns about the use of the XTG designation for some of the gliders obtained from private persons. Based on contemporary references, such as James Fahey's US Army Aircraft 1908-1946, I believe they were simply designated as TG and that some of these XTG designations you have quoted are later 'inventions'. But may be there are better reference sources from that period that substantiate the use of the XTG designations for those gliders.

Click to expand...

I suspect that you're right about a later 'rationalization' of XTG designations for impressed gliders. ARMY AIR FORCES HISTORICAL STUDIES: No. 47 DEVELOPMENT & PROCUREMENT of GLIDERS in the US ARMY AIR FORCES 1941-1944 mentions "... XTG-7 (Purchased from private owner) 2,700 No XTG-11 (Purchased from private owner) 2,000 ..." but no other impressments.

And, of course, no guarantees that official histories aren't the source of designation 'rationalizations' in the first place!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46043948/Development-and-Procurement-of-Gliders-in-the-Army-Air-Force-1941-1944-USA-1946

Just discovered a WONDERFUL website on USAAF and USN training gliders!

http://web.mac.com/clio.whispers/iWeb/US%20MILITARY%20TRAINING%20GLIDERS/TG-1.html

It seems to be very well researched, and although the core data is the same, some info contradicts what you guys have previously posted, which makes the task even more complicated!!

Stargazer2006 said:

Just discovered a WONDERFUL website on USAAF and USN training gliders!

http://web.mac.com/clio.whispers/iWeb/US%20MILITARY%20TRAINING%20GLIDERS/TG-1.html

It seems to be very well researched, and although the core data is the same, some info contradicts what you guys have previously posted, which makes the task even more complicated!!

Click to expand...

Stéphane: that's the Raul Blacksten website that I mentioned above ;D

What contradiction stood out for you? I noticed a few (but they got sifted out in the sorting process). It's a pity that Raul didn't include more USAAF serials -- then he'd have done all the work for us

.... and specifically the TG-12.
In my records I mention the XBM-5 NX28386 as a possible XTG-12A mainly as the photo shows typical USAAF markings on the tail, next to the civilian registration. My mention is really to prevent somebody from claiming that it is XTG-12A without contemporary proof (trying to avoid the 'inventions').
Hope this makes my statement clearer.

Thanx, my list ended with Piper TG-8. Now I have to check all the information of later types believing You are right.
Orlik means little ( young ) eagle
By Jos : On the outbreak of the war in 1942 What a war begun in 1942 ???

Thanks Jos. I've made a note about impressments with 'X' prefixes unconfirmed by "near-contempory" sources (a hedge to include that 1946 USAAF history).

Now all those suspect 'X' assignments are coloured Teal (as is the XTG-12A-BS).

Boogey said:

What a war begun in 1942 ???

Click to expand...

Americans consider they only really were at war after December 7th, 1941. That's why 1942 is pretty much considered as the outbreak of World War Two for them...

Apophenia said:

US Army Air Force TG (Training Glider) Designations


TG-4 - Laister-Kauffmann, LK-10 Yankee Doodle 2, 2-seat training glider
- XTG-4-LK: prototypes for AAF (LK-10A model), 3 built
- TG-4A-LK: prod. model, 150 built (two orders of 75), Blacksten says 156
- TG-4B: impressed Laister-designed LIT 3 Blue Bird* single-seat glider**
-- * built at Lawrence Institute of Technology, owned by an LK employee
-- ** Baugher says single-seat LK10 Yankee Doodle impressed as 42-57191
---- (this may be confusing LIT 3 with the LIT 4, the basis for the LK-10)

Click to expand...

S/N 151 is the highest known to exist. According to Baugher's the second block of serial numbers run out with S/N135.

Thanks Shrike. The confusion compounds ;D

That c/n suggestions 151 airframes. The USAF Museum says 150 TG-4s. The National Soaring Museum says 156 TG-4As built, agreeing with Vintage Sailplane Association archivist, Raul Blacksten. But who is right?

The first serial number of the first block (according to Baugher) was assigned to S/N 4. My cross check for that is that I own S/N 67.
According to Army Air Forces Historical Study #47 Development and Procurement of Gliders in the Army Air Forces LK was contracted to provide four examples of the XTG-4 under contract AC 21767.
I'll assume that the first prototype may not have had a serial number and that the three additional examples were S/N's 1,2&3.
Contract W535 AC 25850 was let for 75 examples - This has the first block of serial numbers run out at S/N 78 - which seems to be correct.
Contract W535 AC 28995 was let for an additional 75 examples and completed in June 1943.

The second block of serials runs out with S/N 135, leaving the rest in limbo. S/N 151 exists, and is currently registered in the US

So....... I make it perhaps 154 produced. One prototype, three pre-production, 131 production, and the final fifteen built, but accepted as spare parts rather than assigned AAF serials as complete aircraft.

Apophenia said:

Thanks Jos. I've made a note about impressments with 'X' prefixes unconfirmed by "near-contempory" sources (a hedge to include that 1946 USAAF history).

Now all those suspect 'X' assignments are coloured Teal (as is the XTG-12A-BS).

Click to expand...

Just for the record: The only teal-coloured X in your list, which also appears as an X-prefix in the Army document http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/original-docs/army1945-part3.pdf , is the one for XTG-9.

Andreas: many thanks. One less set of ugly Teal coloured Xs to deal with ;D

Hi, following on from this, I wonder if anyone can furnish me with a pic of the TG-14, because I seem to have drawn a blank from most sources!

For my US Military Aircraft work I have extensively searched for a pic of TG-14 without too much success. Also Bill Norton's book on US military gliders lacks a pic of the TG-14 in its military guise.

First of all thanks for that Jos. Will have to keep searching I suppose!
The other one I would like to see is the TG-17, if possible!

It is more or less the same story for the TG-17. To see what I have on the TGs etc go to my website at https://usmilitaryaircraft.wordpress.com