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[REV 25-NOV-2014]
Vintage photos of:
May 1942. Parris Island, South Carolina. "Marine lieutenant glider pilot in training at Page Field." A smilier version of the airman seen here. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer, Office of War Information. View full size.
The BT-13 has a triangular window aft of the rear canopy; this one doesn't. Compare to this BT-13 http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=3768
The picture is probably an SNJ (Navy/Marines version of North American AT-6). Here's a whole string of photos from that time and place including the same guy http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179093655/in/set-72157...
The Marine Corps Glider Group 71 was an unusual experiment for the Marines. After watching the Germans take Holland in 1940 with gliders, the Marines thought some catching up was in order, so they set up a glider training group at Parris Island in 1942. After a year, it was shut down when they realized it would not be effective in the Pacific theatre against the Japanese. Today Page Field is thick with vegetation and no longer has aircraft, but is used as a training ground for Marine recruits. Each Marine must pass a greuling multi-day combat trial at Page Field known as "The Crucible" in order to become a US Marine.
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