20 February 2018
A thirty-strong squadron of WWII Douglas C-47 military transport aircraft is being put together, to fly from the USA to the UK, and then en masse across the English Channel, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of D-Day on 6 June 2019.
The squadron will be headed up by That’s All – Brother, the C-47 which led a formation of 925 C-47s on D-Day, to drop 13,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines.
That’s All – Brother recently made its first flight for ten years, following a painstaking, nut-and-bolt restoration by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), a non-profit flying museum. The flight took place on 31 January at Oshkosh, the home of EAA AirVenture.
An estimated 22,000 man-hours went into the restoration of the aircraft, which had suffered extensive corrosion.
“Thanks to the financial support of over 3,000 individuals and organisations, and an extraordinary group of volunteers, we’ve been able to achieve this great milestone with the first flight,” said Bob Stenevik, CAF president.
After flight tests, That’s All, Brother will be flown to CAF’s Central Texas Wing, at San Marcos, Texas, where it’ll be maintained, flown and can be viewed.
The D-Day Squadron is being formed by the Tunison Foundation, which operates WWII aircraft.
“Few veterans of D-Day are still with us, and this celebration marking the 75th anniversary may be our last chance to honour these brave war heroes,” said Moreno Aguiari, director of the D-Day Squadron.
More information at www.ddaysquadron.org
2 comments
I read elsewhere that the C-47s will be leaving from Connecticut next May for the trip to England. Is this true, and if so, from where in Conn. and when? Thank you.
Hi Vicki. The route can be seen here: http://ddaysquadron.org/how-we-will-get-there/ Looks like they will start from Oxford, Connecticut.