D-Day Squadron Announces The First Participating Aircraft For Their 2024 Legacy Tour
D-Day Squadron announces the first participating aircraft for their 2024 Legacy Tour, Commemorating D-Day80 and Berlin75
After the successful mission in 2019, the D-Day Squadron - the American contingent of Douglas C-47 and DC-3 transports participating in the celebrations of D-Day and the Berlin Airlift - is preparing to embark upon their journey to Europe to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasions and 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.
On May 18, 2024, the D-Day Squadron is expected to depart Oxford-Waterbury Airport in Connecticut and head East to cross the Northern Atlantic along the original Blue Spruce route.
Dakotas on the ground at Duxford in 2019
In late May 2019, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the 15 US-based WWII-era C-45 Skytrains and DC-3 Dakotas formed the independent ‘D-Day Squadron’ and departed to Europe following the North Atlantic route to the UK. In the UK the D-Day squadron was joined by many European-based Dakotas and performed at different flyovers, warbird-themed airshows and aviation events such as the Daks over Duxford and Daks over Normandy.
In mid-May 2024, DC-3 variants representing World War II and Cold War vintage aircraft will once again ‘cross the pond’ from the United States to the United Kingdom, cross the English Channel to Normandy, France, and then fly on to Berlin, Germany, and beyond.
The first ten aircraft announced to take part in the tour include the;
C-47 “Placid Lassie” ( N74589) - Tunison Foundation - USA
C-47 “That’s All, Brother” ( N74TB) - Commemorative Air Force Centex Wing - USA
C-47 “ Screaming Eagle” (N150D) - Private Owner - USA
R4D “ Ready 4 Duty” (151ZE) - Commemorative Air Force Dallas - Ft. Worth Wing - USA
C-53 “Spirit of Benovia” (N8336C) - Aerometal International - USA
C-41A “ Hap*penstance” (N341A) - RM Group LLC - USA
DC-3 “Chalair” (F-AZOX) - Private Owner - France
C-47 “Night Fright” (N308SF) - Night Fright Promotions Ltd - UK
C-47 “Drag ‘em Oot” (N473DC) - Aero Legends - UK
C-47 “Pegasus” (G-ANAF) - Aero Legends - UK
