The C-47 that led the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, was recently discovered in a boneyard. Jim Koepnick photo courtesy of the Commemorative Air Force
Posted on 06/06/2015 2:43:37 AM PDT by Kartographer
Late on the night of June 5, 1944, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain commanded by Lt. Col. John M. Donalson launched with 15 paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division on board. They were the very tip of the Allied invasion spear, leading a formation of hundreds of aircraft carrying thousands of troops. Just after midnight on June 6, That’s All, Brother navigated through intense German fire and low clouds to drop the first Allied troops to land in Normandy, France, on D-Day, commencing Operation Overlord.
Seven decades later, Staff Sgt. Matt Scales of the Alabama Air National Guard was researching Donalson’s story when he discovered the aircraft—serial number 42-92847—was in a boneyard, slated to be cut up and converted into a modern turboprop. Basler Turbo Conversions LLC of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, alerted to the historic significance of the aircraft, put the brakes on that conversion, and ultimately struck a deal with the Commemorative Air Force, which plans to purchase and restore That's All, Brother to airworthy condition, in detail just as it was on the day it led the Allied invasion.
(Excerpt) Read more at aopa.org ...
I have all the filmclips in my head ... women assembly lines, scavenging for metals to be turned in and melted down, kids lieing about their age so they can fight the enemy, the 1940's music .... just a whole jumble of thoughts that coelesce at the sight of WW2 flying technology
My dad flew a C-47 in the war. He dropped out of college in ‘39, he could see the war coming to America..enlisted, and after getting his wings....he wanted to fly fighters, but at 6’6” he was too tall...so, a cargo plane..he was actually at Wisconsin on a basketball scholarship when he enlisted. He spent two years based in Iceland ( he always said that was gawdawful...they flew the cover missions over the convoys...before Pearl Harbor, the US didn’t have armed aircraft with the convoys....but they were allowed to radio sub sightings, and too some extent made life harder for the U-boats..He went to England with the 8th USAAF in 42..he dropped the pathfinders on June 5th, was shot down after they jumped.he and his crew landed in the Channel..all recovered safely..
Great story. Thanks for the post. And we all thank your father and his crewmates for their service.
Thank you for posting this article.
One of the forgotten hero vets is Wally Jero Sr. who has passed away. Jumped in behind German lines to set beacons, etc. to guide supply planes in. The media doesn’t seem to care about the real courageous heroes, only the Godless immoral people who are doing stupid things they want to call heroic.
“knowing this country could never do the same today.”
Maybe; maybe not. We were in pretty tough shape as country before WWII and figured it out.
This is still a very unique and amazing nation in spite of many things going on.
ping
I drove my 1976 two door hatchback Ford Pinto (chick magnet) down to Florida, from Illinois, during the middle of winter, with 3 skydiving friends on-board. There's nothing like the rumble of big noisy oil spitting smoke belching 1,200 hp radial engines.
Thinking back to those combat air missions; the aluminum skin didn't stop much if any hot lead.
I'm heading out to the local American Legion later today- I will raise a glass to the greatest generation ever!
10 Minutes!
1 Minute!
Outboard Personnel Stand UP!
Inboard Personnel Stand UP!
Hook UP!
Check Static Line!
Check Equipment!
Sound Off With Equipment Check!
OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! OK! All OK Jumpmaster!
Stand In The Door!
GO!
AIRBORNE!!!
My great grandpa was a lt. colonel and flew a C-47 and was the lead plane in Operation Varsity. After dropping the paratroopers near Wesel, his plane was hit and started on fire. He kept control of it long enough for the rest of the crew to bail out, and then went down in flames. He died less than a month and half before V-E day.
Thanks for the ping. I am very glad this plane was found and will be restored.
This morning, maybe as part of D-Day Commemoration, there have been several C-47’s flying over.
I’m with you. The American people are often guilty of pinhead focus on frivolity, but when push comes to shove, those who underestimate America do so at their own peril.
Saying a prayer for your Great Grandpa and all who were lost going down in the air in WWII.
My Great Uncle was a Navy reserve aviator who was lost after a collision at an air show at the launching of the aircraft carrier Wasp in 1939 right before the war...and rode his plane away from the crowds before bailing out too low...
May the memories of the greatest generation continue to live on.
We also survived FDR; a radical socialist who had an openly Communist leaning VP at his side.
http://www.conservapedia.com/Henry_A._Wallace
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