D Day Squadron - 80th Anniversary Tour 2024

[Gary]

The D Day Squadron are trying to come back for the 80th anniversary

https://www.facebook.com/DDaySquadron
https://www.ddaysquadron.org/?fbclid=Iw ... lOiEdUdWuc

BOOTS ON THE GROUND
The 2024 Legacy Tour Kickstarter campaign is officially at ‘Boots on the Ground’ status! In only 48 hours we have raised nearly $2000, which is phenomenal! But we still have a long way to go – the planes do too!
Starting from the United States in May of next year, the aircraft must complete six total flight legs to Europe involving crew rest, refueling, proper maintenance, formation planning, and logistics. Can you imagine?
It will take the squadron 15 days, close to 3,000 nautical miles, approximately 15 hours of flight time, 120 gallons of oil, more than 1,400 gallons of fuel, and 150 crew to make this historic transatlantic crossing!
Be a part of history and share the story and campaign. #DDay80 #BerlinAirlift75
Map by the talented Chad Hill Designs Django Studios
Photo of the three-ship formation by Russell Waite Photography
Photo of veteran Dave Hamilton by David O'Connor from Five Oaks Creative

We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again! This time, we’re raising funds for the D-Day Squadron’s 2024 Legacy Tour.

Start-up costs for the Legacy Tour branding and design, mission operation and planning, campaign management, and advance logistics in Europe are significant, and we need your help to get us off the ground! Join us on the commemorative journey from the Normandy Beaches to Berlin, Germany, and beyond.

As always, backers can choose from a variety of reward levels and perks including special edition ball caps, playing cards, commemorative artwork, and model airplanes.
✈︎ You can find them all right here. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fi ... PADdTgMGZs

We have 30 days and a goal of $7,500. Help us start strong and reach our goal! #DDay80 #berlinairlift75 #24LT #2024LegacyTour #DDaySquadron

Photos by Gary Daniels and Xavier Meal

Historical Fact: The photo of General Eisenhower with the 101st Airborne on June 5, 1944, is presumed to be taken by 1st Lt. John D. Moore of the US Army Signal Corps

[Gary]

Update posted on Facebook

D-Day Squadron Announces Participating Aircraft for their 2024 Legacy Tour, Commemorating DDay80 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.

The list of airplanes taking part is changing regularly, as is understandable when juggling such a monumental challenge. Some teams are working to get their aircraft ready to take part, but the complexity of the mission, the logistical challenges and the enormous costs involved inevitably will keep their participation on hold until months shy of the launch.

However, given the difficult socio-economical times we currently live in, the D-Day Squadron is excited to announce that ten historic aircraft will make the journey in 2024. With multiple aircraft still working to prepare, we are expected to roll out a second phase of announcements, featuring nearly a dozen historic aircraft involved in the mission.

Today’s airplanes announced will be joined by at least three UK based C-47s and possibly two more aircraft coming from France and Sweden.
“We’re excited to join the D-Day Squadron to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord. As a U.S. Naval aircraft, READY-4-DUTY and her crew are honored to represent the contributions of the U.S. Navy at this historic event,” shared Chris Volpe, Wing Leader, DFW Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. “This will be our first flight mission with the squadron, a great salute to the Greatest Generation who came before us.”

The mission behind the D-Day Squadron’s 2024 Legacy Tour is assembling a collective of international operators of WWII era aircraft, specifically the DC-3/C-47 type, to honor, pay tribute and commemorate the LEGACY of our WWII veterans, the Greatest Generation, through Europe. With a focus on both DDay80 and Berlin75, the 2024 Legacy Tour symbolizes a special salute to those who served, sacrificed, and gave so much to our great nations
“Having led the DC-3’s journey to Europe in 2019, the D-Day Squadron earned a global presence that’s provided our organization to grow, multiply our DC-3 connections and even launch the DC-3 Society where we actively aid operators, crews and enthusiasts with maintenance, operations, airworthiness, and displays,” shared Eric Zipkin, director of operations and mission chief pilot for the D-Day Squadron.

“We won the War because of our logistical abilities, it’s only appropriate we, as the stewards of this noble aircraft, continue to fly and maintain the very airframe that was the backbone to achieving victory.”
The aircraft which confirmed their participation as of November 10th commemorating Veteran’s and Remembrance Day are:

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

In the coming months, special features will be published across the D-Day Squadron’s social media channels on each historic aircraft, their webpages, and more detailed information on air crews.

We have plans to announce more aircraft soon, as we continue 2024 Legacy Tour mission preparations through the end of 2023, and into 2024.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... tid=WC7FNe

[jasonT1981]

Sunday will see the full fleet in a flypast at Duxford. Only AeroLengends Dakota's on the Saturday.

For an aerial spectacle, join the D-Day Squadron at IWM Duxford (EGSU) for dynamic airshows taking place on both Saturday and Sunday, June 1st and 2nd. Experience the thrill of parachute drops and witness Aero Legends' aircraft perform awe-inspiring flybys on Saturday. The excitement peaks on Sunday when the full fleet, including our treasured DC-3s, take to the skies for a grand parade and individual flypasts.

https://www.ddaysquadron.org/2024-legacy-tour

[thevulcan]

D Day squadron will reposition to duxford from North weald on the Saturday.

[jasonT1981]

I was trying to decide between Cosford and Duxford but after disappointment last year at Cosford I think Duxford will be my early Summer show.

I wonder what the chances are of the F86 Sabre being based at Duxford for that weekend? obviously won't be able to land at Midlands. Duxford seems like a good place for it with Golden Apple having operated theirs from Duxford for many years

[thevulcan]

I'm hoping for Brize for the sabre and drakon that weekend but I am a tad biast. Have a good Christmas all.

[Gary]

Currently planning on being close to the drop zone in Normandy. Hotel already booked and not for the insane prices people are charging

[Gary]

Proposed Timeline​
​​
May 13-18: Kickoff Week (KOXC) at Waterbury-Oxford Airport. Train and cross the North Atlantic
May 18: Departure for Presque Isle, Maine (KPQI)
May 19-20: Presque Isle, Maine (KPQI)
May 20-25: Northern Atlantic Crossing “Blue Spruce Route” Canada - Greenland - Iceland - Scotland
May 25-June 2: UK Tour (other locations TBD)
May 29-31: North Weald (Tickets here)
June 1-2: Imperial War Museum, Duxford Airfield (Tickets here)
June 5-11: Normandy events and jump operations - Cherbourg – Maupertus Airport
June 15-17: Berlin Airlift, Wiesbaden Army Airfield on Clay Kaserne
June 22 -23: Venice, Italy - Aeroporto Nicelli (old DC-3 Base of Operation)
June 21-27: Northern Atlantic Crossing
June 27-28: Presque Isle, Maine (KPQI)
June 28: All DDS planes return to home base
July 19-21: RIAT - Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford in Gloucestershire
July 22-28: EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wis.

https://www.ddaysquadron.org/2024-legacy-tour

[Gary]

Another DC-3 added to the participants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The D-Day Squadron and DC-3 Society are proud to announce the participation of Classic Formations “Swissair” DC-3 for the 2024 Legacy Tour commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift this spring.

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#24lt #24legacytour #swissair #ddaysquadron

[Gary]

The squadron will start the journey 18th May

For Immediate Release

The D-Day Squadron and DC-3 Society are happy to announce we will be returning to the Waterbury-Oxford airport (KOXC), in Connecticut, May 13-18th to kickoff the 2024 Legacy Tour (24LT) in our efforts to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.

We are glad to offer our active DC-3 Society members with a couple treats during the kickoff events, and will be shared with them through our member communications!

Below you can view the tentative schedule. (plans are still fluid and changes could take place due to weather and aircraft maintenance)

May 13-15: Aircraft Arrivals
May 15: Mission preparations, survival training & crew briefings
May 16: Ticketed Public Day
May 17: Media Day, formation flight up Hudson River, NYC
May 17: Exclusive 24LT Partner/Crew dinner. Special ticketing for active DC-3 society members. Only a select number of tickets will become available for general public due to capacity.
May 18: Aircraft launch for first leg of North Atlantic crossing (PQI), Presque Isle, Maine

In addition, we would like to thank the following partners for their ongoing support for these 24LT kickoff events: Atlantic Aviation, Clay Lacy Aviation, Waterbury Oxford Airport, Airdales Airshow Operations, and Tradewind Aviation.

The kickoff event page will be published shortly with more information as well as links to complete proper online ticketing for the public day, media and kickoff dinner.

More to come!

Please stay tuned: https://www.ddaysquadron.org/2024-legacy-tour

[Gary]

Looking for an update on the stars of our 2024 Legacy Tour? Here is the most recent listing of participant aircraft:

C-47 “Placid Lassie” ( N74589) - Tunison Foundation - USA
C-47 “Screaming Eagle” (N150D) - Hugo Mathys- USA
C-47 “That’s All, Brother” ( N47TB) - Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing - USA
R4D “READY-4-DUTY” (151ZE) - DFW Wing CAF - USA (Commemorative Air Force Ready 4 Duty)
C-53 “Spirit of Douglas” (N8336C) - Private Owner - New Zealand
DC-3 “Chalair” (F-AZOX) - Private Owner - France
C-47 “Night Fright” (N308SF) - Night Fright Promotions LTD - UK (The Night Fright C-47 Restoration Project)
C-47 “Drag ‘em Oot” (N473DC) - Aero Legends - UK
C-47 “Pegasus” (G-ANAF) - Aero Legends - UK
DC-3 "Western Air" Western Airlines Inc - USA
DC-3 "Swissair" Hugo Mathys - USA

(This list is of aircraft which confirmed their participation as of May 8, 2024 with the D-Day Squadron and those managed by our organizer - Aero Legends.)

[Gary]

They have started their journey today

[AyrForce1]

R4D “READY-4-DUTY” (151ZE) - DFW Wing CAF - USA (Commemorative Air Force Ready 4 Duty)

N151ZE.

[AyrForce1]

A few of these have departed the US in the last 45 minutes heading for Goose Bay.
(N47TB,N74589,N33644) (...and now N8336C also trailing further behind)

[Gary]

Some have arrived in Greenland

ATLANTIC CROSSING UPDATE

Our crews are touching down in Greenland! Spirit of Douglas, That’s All, Brother, and Western Airlines have arrived in Narsarsuaq!

And to top it off, we have one of two father-son crews on our crossing pictured here - Tim and Job Savage who are flying the beautiful Western Airlines DC-3

Placid Lassie and crew (the other father-sons-filled crew) are making the push straight through to KBIRK in Iceland tonight.

R4D remains at KOCX undergoing maintenance.

More to come so stay tuned.

#2024LT #DDAY80 #BERLIN75 #narsarsuaq #greenland #iceland #bluespruceroute

[thevulcan]

Western airlines is showing as landing at KBIRK now as well.

[plmc135]

N47TB approaching Keflavik from the West.

[Amp]

"Screaming Eagle" now on the way too.
"Ready 4 Duty" having a quick engine change then coming over.
Fingers crossed - Great effort!

[plmc135]

First 3 on their way from Prestwick to Cambridge (FR24). First due in about 30 minutes.

[STN RAMP RAT]

First 3 on their way from Prestwick to Cambridge (FR24). First due in about 30 minutes.

looks like they are actually inbound North Weald. I Imagine that there were a few shocked drivers on the M11 when N33644 overflew the field at 1000ft.