‘Go!’ By mid-afternoon all the parachutists were loaded in their aircraft
and 44 big radial engines coughed and smoked to life. Hearing and
seeing that many WWII troop transports moving down the taxiway was
a sight to see. I honestly had to stop for a moment just to take it all in.
I was in one of the assigned photoships, a silver 1942 Beech 18. Pilot
Nick Houghton, and co-pilot Simon Barnhard had removed a large
window on the right side of the Beech so that we could shoot through
clear air. We took off early in the line-up and flew with the front third
of the formation during the entire flight. 22 C-47/DC-3 variants, two T-
photoships, two Beech 18 photoships, and two P-51s comprised the
formation. The P-51s flew ‘top cover’ and would swoop down and fly
alongside various aircraft up and down the formation string. The forma-
tion flew in three ship ‘vics’ in trail about 1,500 feet apart.
We left Duxford heading due south toward Sannerville, France. We
were ‘feet wet’ between Eastborne and Beachy Head. I could see cars
lining the roads below to catch a view of the formation. Then, the white
chalk cliffs and the Old Belle Toute Lighthouse once we cleared the
coast. Because of the overcast, there was not much definition between
the water and sky as we crossed the channel. The formation entered
France between Cabourg and Ouistreham and lined up on Sannerville
for the drop. I relayed Nick instructions to position us alongside the
C-47 ‘Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber’ so I could photograph parachutists exit-
ing over the drop zone. Then, I asked Nick to pull out of the formation
and fly abreast so I could shoot wide angle images over the DZ as the
trailing aircraft approached. Three aircraft would drop at a time and
there would be dozens of chutes in the air over the drop zone. I could
see the crowds below lining the perimeter around the historic WWII
British 6th Airborne DZ-K on the outskirts of Sannerville.With all the parachutists drifting towards the applauding crowds, the
formation turned for Caen Carpiquet Airport. Our Beech was one of
the last to land. After the aircraft was secured, I slowly walked in the
lush grass down the line of warbirds that had just completed the flight.
Years in the planning, massive sums of money spent, and countless
hours of man time had just come to fruition. I felt so fortunate to be
standing there as a witness, but I was convicted at the same time.
Convicted because I had just had a fantastic day made possible by so
many that had a very difficult day 75 years ago. This epic flight was
flown to remember and honor those that gave so much so long ago.
On this day, we could only muster 22 aircraft and 200 parachutists
against their 800 aircraft and 13,000 paratroopers. But, an honest ges-
ture of gratitude and remembrance was carried on the wings of the old
warbirds and the parachutists delivered our heartfelt thanks as they
touched down in the French field dotted with red poppies.Aircraft startup for a training flight in Duxford.