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Soaring (not WAR..ing) 1940's   Page 5     Hattie Meyers Junkin

The Depression Thirties found everyone without their financial parachute. The skid was under them. My "skid" was that of a German primary glider under me. also gliding into my thirties.

Betty Huyler (chocolates) Gillies, wife of our Long Island distributor phoned me in Washington, D.C. She was Head of the Powder Puff Club. After a hop in the German glider she wanted me to come/ which I did to the Glider Meet at the Queensboro Country Club at Bayside, L.Is. May 1930.

The glider became my vehicle flying me out of "white heat" molding me into the tool I had to be to raise two WACO children primarily alone. Back in my element, aviation pioneering in its newest phase. Gliding soon became Soaring. Motorless quiet soaring thru the air. What was Soaring and why were licenses sort of reverse.."A" for auto towed then released to a straight glide; "B" for having done (by auto tow) with enough cut-loose altitude, all turns, 180's both ways, 360 both directions, good landings. Everyone thought "A" meant the best. Then we were ready from the Maryland training for Elmira, N.Y. We had studied several nights a week at a W.D.C. college what a little meteorology was known.

You will recall that the Treaty of Versaille deprived the Germans of their right to build motored aircraft. Like human nature, forbidden fruit can inspire ramifications. The Germans built gliders had even chain towed them during World War carrying men or explosives.

The primary glider Betty and I tried was by the German boys shock cord launched to a glide. Just like a bean out of a bean shooter. This flying skids was improved on my adding a nacelle. New word like many in the peacetime growing world of wings. This elliptical structure built around the glider pilot's seat made a streamlined cockpit. This was then a Secondary glider or a Preufling. Wolff Hirth with a few German boys brought these gliders to the United States. [[faded out]]Lt. Ralph Stanton Barnaby, U.S. Navy [[/faded out]]