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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  World War II Glider Pilots and Air Assault Personnel Memorial, Maxton. Photo courtesy of Rusty Long

  • Monument Name

    World War II Glider Pilots and Air Assault Personnel Memorial, Maxton

  • Type

    War Memorial

  • Subjects

    World War II

  • City

    Maxton

  • County

    Scotland

  • Description

    The memorial bronze plaque is attached to a flat arched granite slab standing approximately five feet tall. In relief above the inscription is a World War II era military glider. In relief below the inscription are representations of an Army Glider Pilot badge and an Army Airborne Glider badge.

    Images: Bronze plaque

  • Inscription

    IN MEMORY OF COMBAT GLIDER PILOTS AND OTHER / AIRBORNE ASSUALT PERSONNEL WHO TRAINED AT THE / LAURINGBURG-MAXTON ARMY AIR FIELD DURING WORLD / WAR II. THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THE BRAVE / YOUNG AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO IN / LARGE NUMBERS GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF / FREEDOM DURING THE BLOODY AIRBORNE OPERATIONS / OF WORLD WAR II.

    THE LAURINBURG-MAXTON ARMY AIR FIELD WAS ONE OF / THE MAJOR COMBAT GLIDER TRAINING BASES IN / AMERICA BETWEEN OCTOBER 1942 AND APRIL 1945, / DURING WORLD WAR II.

    ERECTED BY: SCOTLAND COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF MILITARY RETIREES AND / NATIONAL WORLD WAR II GLIDER PILOTS ASSOCIATION 11-11-1989

  • Custodian

    Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission

  • Dedication Date

    November 11, 1989

  • Decade

    1980s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    34.796540 , -79.368490 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Laurinburg-Maxton Air Base," The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accessed February 3, 2016) Link

      “The National World War II Glider Pilots Association, Inc.,” The National World War II Glider Pilots Association, www.ww2gp.org/, (accessed January 27, 2016) Link

      “World War II Glider Pilots And Air Assault Personnel Memorial,” Waymarking.com, (accessed January 27, 2016) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze, granite

  • Sponsors

    Scotland County Association of Military Retirees and National World War II Glider Pilots Association

  • Subject Notes

    This air field was given to the towns of Laurinburg and Maxton after World War II. It is still used by the US Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights, when training and practicing for competitions.

  • Location

    The airport street address is 16701 Airport Road, Maxton, NC which is a Robeson County address, although the airport proper is in Scotland County. This airport is used for local and commercial purposes with no passenger service.

  • Landscape

    The marker stands to the left of the airport terminal in front of a chain link fence that surrounds the runways.

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