“When the kids came over in 1944, they didn’t have GPS…they didn’t have 500 hours of time in the cockpit between them,” says Doug Rozendaal, pilot of That’s All Brother, a Douglas C-47 joining the 2019 D-Day Squadron in an epic trip across the Atlantic Ocean this week. He considers his crew very fortunate: Not only did they have advanced tools and weather reporting (and 50,000 hours of experience in the cockpit), but they also didn’t see much of the water during the entire crossing. “We were on top of the clouds nearly the entire way. As an Iowa farmer, it was easy to imagine that there was nothing but cornfields underneath.” The psychological boost he found was incredible.
D-Day Squadron Marks Milestone Atlantic Crossing
Key Takeaways:
- The 2019 D-Day Squadron, consisting of a dozen Douglas C-47/DC-3 aircraft, is undertaking a historic transatlantic crossing along a North Atlantic route.
- The fleet is traveling to England and France to participate in commemorative events honoring the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
- Modern pilots, equipped with advanced navigation and extensive experience, highlight the stark contrast with the challenging conditions faced by the original 1944 crews.
- The expedition's primary mission is to use these historic aircraft as a means to honor World War II veterans and keep their stories and sacrifices alive.
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