D-Day Squadron Advances Normandy Flyover Plans

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Plans for a contingent of vintage C-47 aircraft to fly across the Atlantic and then cross the English Channel on June 6, 2019, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, are now officially underway, the Tunison Foundation announced on Monday. The Foundation also announced the launch of the D-Day Squadron, which will organize the event, to honor the citizen soldiers who helped liberate Europe and end World War II. “Few veterans of D-Day are still with us, and this celebration marking the 75th anniversary may be our last chance to honor these brave war heroes,” said Moreno Aguiari, executive director of the Squadron. “We are committed to ensuring their significance and sacrifice is fully appreciated for generations to come, and are developing an education program to honor these citizen soldiers and their impact on D-Day, and ultimately the Allied victory in World War II.” The Squadron’s website is now live online.

The D-Day Squadron fleet, consisting of American C-47s, will depart from the Oxford Airport in Oxford, Conn., in late May 2019. The public is invited to see them off. They will join other C-47s from Canada, Australia and Europe in the U.K. for a flight across the English Channel. Paratroopers will jump from the aircraft above the Normandy coast. Leading the fleet will be the Commemorative Air Force’s That’s All, Brother, which flew for the first time since its restoration just last week. That’s All, Brother led the formation of 925 C-47s in the massive drop of 13,000 paratroopers behind enemy lines on D-Day, hours before the first troops stormed the beaches. About 30 C-47s are expected to participate in the event.

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