Posted on 05/21/2019 7:46:24 AM PDT by DFG
The planes that dropped 24,000 American, British, and Canadian troops into Normandy on D-Day have taken to the skies once again to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the mission that laid the foundations for Allied victory over the Nazis.
Twelves planes, including five C-47's bearing the black and white invasion stripes of Operation Overlord, left Connecticut on Sunday for their journey across the Atlantic to northern France.
There, they will join 15 more planes to drop 250 D-Day paratroopers to reenact what was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
On June 6, 1944, the planes dropped thousands of troops behind enemy lines in the middle of the night. The ensuing battle for Normandy ultimately helped pave the way for Hitler's defeat and bring the Second World War to an end.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Bump.
FAntastic!
As a kid in New Brunswick, CAnada , I used to watch Grumman TBMs converted to spray planes, roar over the nearby forests every morning and evening when the wind died down. This happened for about 3 months May , June, July, until the whole province had been covered against Spruce Budworm. The passes they made were about 75 feet above the trees. Thrilling to watch and to hear.
I became irretrievably hooked on WWII war birds.
Ping.
May they all make the journey safely.
Super cool!
I though they were getting warmed up for Memorial day. Pretty cool to see they were actually on their way over to Europe.
I spent 3-4 days driving through Normandy a few years ago. Not only the regular sites along the beaches, but through the back villages and roads as well.
More and more it looks like Isolationism was a good idea.
Normandy ... through the back villages and roads as well.
Did the same with my french wife 20 years ago, a friend took us to his friends house / barn about 5 miles back from the beach, they had 2 German uniforms and a few American items...bags, canisters..one helmet; lots of carving on the old timbers by soldiers that stayed there one night.
I was fortunate enough to be at an official briefing @ OSH last yr where the top principals of this event were giving updates as to the status of this venture. You cannot fathom the logistics, planning, and some of the side trips they were planning to honor troops and their service. Utterly fascinating. I hope someone does not just do a documentary of the “flight” but everything it took to make it happen, including coordination with a number of countries and governments, including some of our adversaries in WWII. It is too bad we can’t hand a task like SSI reform to guys and gals like this that get-r-done, and not the 535 that can’t....
It’s out of print now, and my copy is a dogeared paperback held together with a rubber band, but if you can find a copy (digital?), read Martin Caidin’s “Everything But The Flak,” about restoring and flying to Europe a B-17, for the filming of the movie, “The War Lover.” Wonderful story!
Kewl!
Only thing that would make that pic better is if it was a formation of B-17s (with escorts)
https://www.amazon.com/Everything-But-Flak-Martin-Caidin/dp/B000GWZTQ2/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Everything+But+The+Flak&qid=1558452482&s=books&sr=1-1-catcorr Everything But The Flak
Martin Caiden’s “Everything but the Flak” was a book I read more than 50 years ago. I remember it to this day. Hilarious and serious at the same time.
Thanks for the post, redhead.
My wife and I took a private tour of Normandy a few years back. It was given by an ex-British military officer. When i told him what my uncle had said about being a supply guy, he laughed. SAid that 101st and 82nd Airborne guys were the best we had back then. They were trained killers and offered that my uncle just couldn't bring himself to tell us the truth about what he did and what he had to do.
He also was among the 82nd who were relieved by the 101st in Bastogne. We found that out when he died. One of his kids told us a few stories that he finally offered to his family late in life. He died in 2017.
Uncle Joe returned from the war and just settled into a job that never meant much, but he didn't seem to care. He loved to sing and just live life and relax. Can't say that I blame him.
Was stationed at “The Goose” Goose Bay back in the ‘50’s. Interesting aside. FDR’s son was supposed to be the one that picked out the site for the airbase. Short summers, really, really snowy winters. Iffy flying weather. Was still a stopover base and the alternate for Gander Nfld. for flights from Europe in those pre-jet transport days.
I just saw a DC-3 on Sunday fly over...I wonder if that was where it was going...
I think my copy of EVERYTHING BUT THE FLAK is in similar shape. Fun read.
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