We should not forget the brave souls that flew these transport planes into a war zone without one iota of defensive armament about all they could do is hope for a cloud to hide in or fly & turn as slow as the Skua did.
My uncle flew the C47 in the CBI theater. Inclement weather was a friend keeping Jap zeros on the ground, and foe because the mountains didn't move out of the way. Pilots made their own charts based on their shared experience. Side arms and maybe a Thompson was what they had.
"He which hath no stomach to this fight,/ Let him depart." Henry V
Amazing that after all the years and changing of hands this one is still in one piece. All the sales and jobs they did, this one wasn't even known about, in its history so the odds of it's survival was astronomical... And here it is.
Just watched that Normandy - then and now series of photos. Notice the Padre taking a small Sunday service under the village cross, with the crunchies and some of the locals. Funny how you never really noticed him, never intrusive, but always there with a smiley face and a few words and a home-made cake at Padres Hour. Ours was Capt Paul Kerr....., known to us all as Saint Paul!!! Down in the dumps, been away a long time, I called to see the padre and told him but he told me not to write home and tell them and promised that he'd do it. Got a letter from my mum a couple of weeks later saying how nice it was to get a letter from the Padre and how pleased she was that I was well, bright and breezy and in good spirits........... The lying little toe-rag!
And here's a photo of That's All Brother landing at Prestwick, Scotland a few days ago after its trip over from the USA, in preparation for the mass DC-3/C-47 formation and mass para drop on the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
The 'Dak' has to be the greatest aeroplane ever to be built. Of that, there can be no doubt.
One thing to remember about the Transport pilots who flew each of the 'drops' is that most of them were airline pilots only a few short months previously, Many had very limited night flying experience and even less night flying dead-reckoning navigation experience. Remember too, that airborne operations were in their infancy then too. Much of what was done - and is now 'ancient history', was experimental and first time ever.
Yes we hope to be hosting 40 aircraft on the 4/5th June at Duxford, many coming from the States. What a feat of engineering and airmanship for the old birds which would need to be in "nearly new" condition to make it that far and return.
Lets hope they can all make it over for this very special occasion with many lads training as we speak to jump from them to give a great show at several venues in Normandy on the 6th.
Off to the airshow today at Duxford!!
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA