Glider snatch pick-up technique

The glider snatch pick-up technique was used by the Allies of World War II. It allowed military gliders to be launched from a stationary position on the ground by a low-flying powered aeroplane (the tow or tug), flying low overhead but which did not have to land.

The snatching aircraft - typically a Dakota had a 20 ft arm that was hanging down at 45 degrees from the plane, supporting a hook at the tip. The hook was attached to a steel rope attached to an automatic winch, containing 1000 ft of steel cable, aboard the tow plane. On flyover, the hook engaged in a square shaped loop of nylon tow rope, supported on two poles about 20 ft apart and 10 ft off the ground. This loop was attached to a 180 ft nylon tow rope which was attached to the front of the glider. The special design of the hook meant it was less likely to snag the ground but would grab the loop.

When the hook engaged in the loop, initially the rope paid out from the winch, and then gradually a brake was automatically applied until up to typically 800 ft max of cable had been paid out. This, and the stretch in the nylon rope, reduced shock loading to less than 1G and for a duration of around 3 – 6 seconds by which time the glider was airborne. The steel wire was then winched in. It was possible for one plane to pick up two gliders in this way - first one, and then another. Gliders were retrieved for re-use in this way after combat operations.

Some casualties were evacuated from the D Day landings back to UK using this technique. Several rescues of downed aircraft passengers were also performed by landing gliders to pick up survivors and then snatching them from remote locations.