The invasion of Normandy, also known as D-day, was one of the most horrific days in history, but it was also the beginning of the end of a horrific war — World War II. Most of the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children who died on that day remain nameless in the history books. The same is true for the airplanes that led the heroic efforts.The attacks came from several fronts on that fateful day, with ships dropping troops on the beaches of Normandy and airplanes deploying droves of people and ammunition from the skies. Once the war was over, most of those aircraft were destroyed or recommissioned, and their historic significance evaporated like the fuel that burned in their engines. Even some of the most notable airplanes fell into the shadows of the past.
Return to the Front Line
Key Takeaways:
- "That's All, Brother," the lead C-47 aircraft for the D-day paratrooper invasion, was nearly lost to history and slated for conversion into a modern turbine aircraft before its original historical significance was rediscovered.
- Through a series of serendipitous events, including a historian's inquiry and a reporter's story, the aircraft was saved from conversion, leading to a meticulous restoration by Basler Turbo Conversions and the Commemorative Air Force.
- The fully restored C-47, authentically returned to its D-day condition, is set to lead a formation of Dakotas back to Europe for the 75th D-day anniversary and will continue to serve as a flying museum to preserve its story.
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