Warbird Information Exchange

One that hasn't really been on the radar yet, but is yet another of the DC-3's from the US scheduled to participate, is N18121, and it appears to be starting its journey across the US (just landed in North Dakota today, following a two-leg flight from Oregon).

A couple more that are supposedly still to be joining from the US as well: the C-41A N341A (which made an hour flight around Oakland, CA today), and the C-47 N150D (which made a half an hour flight around Oshkosh, WI yesterday).

"Miss Montana" headed north today from Goose Bay to Iqaluit, Canada.

"That's All Brother" is in Coventry for the weekend, visiting the fellow D-Day vet C-47 "Night Fright", which is under restoration to fly, and "TAB" is getting its required 100-hr inspection done there.

"D-Day Doll", "Legend Airways", HFF's "Pan Am", "Placid Lassie", "Miss Virginia", "Flabob Express", "Virginia Ann" and "Betsy's Biscuit Bomber" are all reported now in Prestwick, Scotland, getting ready now for "Daks Over Prestwick" taking place tomorrow.

It looks like the C-47 N150D "101st Airborne Tribute" is now on its way as well, having left Oshkosh and heading to New York right now. The owner of the aircraft had it restored by Basler over a two-year period (close to 40,000 man hours) in order to have it ready for the D-Day 75th anniversary/"Daks Over Normandy" (completely rebuilt wings, restored/repaired fuselage and center wing section, overhauled landing gear and fuel tanks, new wiring and plumbing, avionics, etc.). It was just completed back in March.



This brings the total of DC-3's/C-47's/C-53's from the US, that are currently on their way to the UK, or have already arrived, to 14. The 15th, C-41A N341A "Hap-Penstance", appears to be near to starting its journey soon.

"Miss Montana" is currently also in the air right now, heading to Greenland.

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Amazing landscapes:

Pics from the "Miss Montana" Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/missmontanatonormandy/:





Photos from the "Betsy's Biscuit Bomber" Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/gooneybirdgroup/:





Photos from the "Legend Airways" Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LegendAirwaysFoundation/:







Photos from the "That's All Brother" Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thatsallbrother/:

Absolutely epic, thanks so much for these pictures.

Update for this evening:

"Miss Montana" is now at Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (if you go to their Facebook page, they have an impressive video from the cockpit of the approach and landing, dealing with the unpredictable winds there at Kangerlussuaq).

The DC-3 N18121 and C-47 N150D (#13 and 14 for the crossing) are now both at Presque Isle, Maine.

The Hap Arnold C-41A N341A (#15) made a test flight with crew training in California today, and it will be setting off on the journey east tomorrow (Sunday). She's freshly polished and looks amazing!

The C-47 N24320 "Miss Montana" (#12 for the crossing) made it into Prestwick today.

At present, the C-47 N150D "101st Airborne Tribute" (#13) is flying direct from Goose Bay, Canada to Reykjavik, Iceland. This being the C-47 that just came out of restoration in March. Even though it is registered in the US, it appears the owner is based in Switzerland (it is registered to one of the names/trustee groups that allows for the aircraft to be registered in the US but be based in another country).

The DC-3 N18121 (#14) just landed at Narsarsuaq, Greenland.

N341A (#15) made it as far as South Dakota last night - not sure if they'll be able to continue east today or not, as there is a big weather system over Minnesota and Wisconsin, but maybe they'll skirt south underneath it.

Lots of DC-3/C-47 sightings being reported today in the UK, as the aircraft that have already made it to the UK have been heading into Cambridge and Duxford.

The Duxford Diary features some great photos from yesterday for anyone who doesn't check the UK Flypast Forums

All 15 of the US contingent have now made it to Duxford, with the last, the Hap Arnold C-41 N341A, arriving at Duxford this morning. Other European-based DC-3's/C-47's have been making their way into Duxford now as well, including the recently repainted UK-based Aces High D-Day vet C-47 "Mayfly".

9 of the US aircraft are participating in a Shuttleworth Collection event at Old Warden tomorrow. Photos and video I saw posted to Facebook earlier today showed 7 of the aircraft already arriving and on the grounds at Old Warden.

Video:
https://www.facebook.com/peter.baughan. ... 609426727/
https://www.facebook.com/ShuttleworthCo ... 690605076/

The CBS "Sunday Morning" show will have a story on the D-Day Squadron and Daks Over Normandy, tomorrow, Sunday June 2nd: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/this-week- ... 6ohTUoZGtA

For those curious, of the 34 or so DC-3's/C-47's/C-53's participating in "Daks Over Normandy", 9 are D-Day vets:

42-24064 - "Placid Lassie" N74589
43-30647 - "Virginia Ann" N62CC
42-32833 - "Liberty" N25641
42-68830 - "D-Day Doll" N45366
42-92847 - "That's All Brother" N47TB
42-100882 - "Drag-'em-oot" N473DC
42-100884 - "Mayfly" N147DC
42-100971 - "Prinses Amalia" PH-PBA
43-30732 - "Daisy" SE-CFP

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

'Drag em Oot' is not participating. The owner has decided not to play nicely and is taking his toys off to Cherbourg and doing his own thing.

CBS News Sunday Morning had a feature on this project leading with the resto of "Miss Montana" with a clip here...
www.cbsnews.com/news/d-day-75th-anniver ... -normandy/

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I could not imagine being there, with everybody else there, and not taking part. That has regret written all over it.

What was the issue?

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Drag em Oot will be operating out of Cherbourg and will be used for several jumps. The owner declined to join with the other Daks at Duxford or Caen though. A real shame, but they're his toys and he can do as he wishes with them.