I was reminded the other day, while having a conversation with several other iModeler members, about a historic event coming up next year.
The 75th anniversary of D-Day is on June 6, 2019. Of course, most of you are aware of this fact, but you might not be aware that there will be an American contingent of DC-3/C-47 variants (17 at the moment) flying over France on this historic day.
I'm bring this to your attention because one of the aircraft that I supported in restoration is going to be making this trip. "Nearly 75 years ago, "That’s All, Brother" carried the first of the paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions. Piloted by Lt. Col John Donalson, the plane led over 800 C-47s which dropped over 13,000 paratroopers into a battle that changed the course of mankind."
To get to Europe safely, the aircraft will follow a North Atlantic route, as weather permits. Stops include:
Oxford, Connecticut
Newfoundland, Canada
Narsarsuaq, Greenland
Reykjavik, Iceland
Prestwick, Scotland
Duxford, England
Normandy, France
To learn more and possibly support, visit the following websites:
Thats All Brother https://thatsallbrother.org/
D-Day Squadron http://ddaysquadron.org/
CAF D-Day Wing https://www.cafddaywing.org/
The photo is my cap, autographed by Jim "Pee Wee Martin", 101st Airborne Division / 506th PIR / 3rd Battalion / G Company. Jim Martin jumped into France over Utah Beach the night prior to D-Day and fought for thirty-three days in the Normandy campaign. In September, 1944 he participated in the invasion of Holland ("Operation Market Garden") and was one of the defenders of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne Division finished their part of the war by securing Berchtesgaden, Germany.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
