United States Navy Pratt Read LNE-1 Glider Trainer

Pratt Read LNE-1 known serial number ranges:
XLNE-1 BuNo 31505 - 31506
LNE-1 BuNo 31507 - 31585 (Contract cancelled at Serial Number 31580)
and
BuNo 34115 - 34134 (Not Delivered)
Army Air Force Serial Numbers: TG-32-PR 43-39509 - 43-39578 and 43-43329 - 43-43331

Known surviving examples:
#31506 Factory prototype: Wings of Eagles Discovery Center,
Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY.

#31508 (The first TG-32): Under restoration for flight-status at Tehachapi, CA.

#31509 Cockpit Only: In private storage in California.

#31518: Under restoration: Seattle Museum of Flight in Renton, WA.

#31521: THE ONLY AIRWORTHY LNE-1: Scott Airpark in Lovettsville VA.

#31523: In storage: National Museum of the United States Air Force Dayton, OH.

#31525 Cockpit Only: In private storage in California.

#31527: Under restoration for flight status: Sandhill Crane Soaring, Richmond Field Gregory, MI.

#31537: On public display: Hoosier Warbird Museum,
DeKalb Regional Airport Auburn, IN

#31540: In storage: Southern Museum of Flight in Birmingham, AL.

#31542 In storage: Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, TX.

#31543: In storage: Tehachapi, CA

#31556 Cockpit Only: QuestMasters Collection.

#31558 In storage: Silent Wings Museum in Lubbock, TX.

#31561: On public display: New England Air Museum
Bradley International Airport in CT.

#31569: In storage: Sandhill Crane Soaring: Richmond Field near Gregory, MI.

#31570 Fuselage Only: In private storage in Tennessee.

#31572: On display: Bonanzaville Aviation Museum in Fargo ND.

#31577 Cockpit Only: In private storage in MI.

#31578: On display: Aviation Museum of Kentucky; Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, KY.

United States Navy
Pratt Read LNE-1 Glider Trainer Aircraft
Bu No: 31556

LNE-1 Glider
Mfg: Pratt Read & Co. Inc., Gould Aero. Div., Deep River Connecticut
Mfg’s Model No.: PR-G1 Serial Number: 52
U.S. Navy Serial Number: LNE-1 BuNo 31556
U.S. Army Serial Number: TG-32-PR-43-39557
Date Produced: 23 March 1943
Maximum Glide or Dive Speed: 86 Knots; Wingspan: 54’ 6”; Length: 26’ 3”

History:
In 1943, a contract was ordered for 100 Type LNE-1 Gliders for the U.S. Navy from the Gould Aero Division of
the Pratt Read Company.
The LNE-1 was a two seat glider trainer. The proposed design was made for the training of Navy/Marine
Corps glider pilots to land Marines in the Pacific during World War Two. The Navy glider program was quickly
disbanded, as glider landings in the Pacific during WWII was not practical and 73 LNE-1’s that were produced
were transferred to the United States Army Air Force. These LNE-1's were re-designated TG-32's. All 73 TG-
32’s were put into storage at Souther Field, Americus Georgia through the end of WWII and sold through the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
By 1944, the LNE-1's (now designated U.S.A.A.F. TG-32's) were selling for $500 (FOB Americus GA). The
price could be reduced if the buyer went to Americus, assembled the glider at Souther Field, and flew it away
as a complete aircraft.
The only thing left behind was the shipping crate. These crates were then sold to local African-American
share croppers who would use them for components to build houses.

Markings/Paint:
The LNE-1 had a fabric covered forward metal frame with wooden wings and tail.
The LNE-1 Glider was painted in overall Navy training yellow.
“U.S.NAVY” was painted in black on both sides of the tail boom. The U.S. Navy Serial Number (BuNo) was
painted in black on both sides of the vertical stabilizer. "LNE-1" was painted in black on both sides of the
rudder. No national insignia has been noted to have been painted on either side of the wings.
When the LNE-1 Gliders were transferred to the U.S.A.A.F. the aircraft remained painted in Navy yellow with
the addition of A.A.F. serial number painted on the shipping crate. The LNE-1/TG-32's were not uncrated by
the U.S.A.A.F.
The instrument panel was painted black. Interior cockpit was painted “interior green” to include the plywood
seats. Release knob was painted red. Several LNE-1’s have been noted with black group markings painted
forward of “U.S.NAVY” on the tail boom.

LNE-1 BuNo 31556 still retains the original nose tire, release knob, control sticks and rudder pedals.
The fabric covering, windows and plywood seats have long since rotted away.

Pratt Read & CO. data plate for LNE-1 31590, above left photo.
This plate is interesting since the serial number 31590 was not assigned to the LNE-1 production contract.
Maximum speed and load data plate, above right photo.

Photo believed to be LNE-1 31558, above left photo.
LNE-1 production at the Pratt Read & Co. Inc., Gould Aero. Div., Deep River Connecticut, above right photo.
(Photo credit: Ludington Family Archives via Jim Moffett)

LNE-1 production at the Pratt Read & Co., above left photo.
(Photo credit: Ludington Family Archives via Jim Moffett)
LNE-1 mock-up at the Pratt Read & Co., above right photo.
(Photo credit: Ludington Family Archives via Jim Moffett)

LNE-1 mock-up at the Pratt Read & Co., left photo.
(Photo credit: Ludington Family Archives via Jim Moffett)
Photo believed to be LNE-1 31508, above photo.

LNE-1 31570 cockpit in private storage in Tennessee, above left and right photo.
This cockpit is unrestored and shows the original colors of the cockpit interior and instrument panel.