Silent Wings Museum

Silent Wings Museum sits on the former South Plains Army Air Field in Lubbock, Texas, one of the primary training grounds for glider pilots during World War II. The museum traces its roots to 1971, when veterans of the U.S. Army Air Force's Glider Program formed the National World War II Glider Pilots Association to preserve the history of military glider operations. After debuting in Terrell, Texas, in 1984, the museum relocated to Lubbock and reopened at its current site in October 2002. At the center of the collection is a fully restored WACO CG-4A glider, discovered decades after the war doing duty as signage atop a Fresno, California tire shop before being returned to its original condition. Permanent and rotating exhibits explore the training, strategic role, and combat experiences of WWII glider pilots. Beyond its exhibits, the museum hosts commemorative programs such as D-Day Commemoration weekend, Spirit of '45 Day, and a Veterans Day observance with a Big Band performance, and its facility is available for private rental for receptions, business meetings, and other celebrations.