Over the past year, the Don F. Pratt Museum staff worked tirelessly to renovate the museum and prepare it for its reopening.
During the renovation, the World War II-era glider that serves as the centerpiece of the museum was damaged by a unit mascot.
Despite this minor setback, Staff Sgt. Ian Thompson, the safety officer for the 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, and a team of seven Soldiers repaired the glider in time for the museum’s reopening.
As one of the few remaining World War II-era gliders in the world, materials and tools used to build and repair the glider were not as readily available as when the glider was built.
“I had to do some research because in the 1930s they used what...
Soldiers with B. Company, 96th Aviation Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade repair a damaged World War II era-glider wing November 20, 2017 at Fort Campbell, Ky. As one of the few remaining World War II-era gliders in the world, many Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) used gliders. (U.S. Army photo taken by Staff Sgt. Ian Thompson, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade)
