12 FLYPAST March 2018
NEWS THE LATEST IN AVIATION HERITAGE
The date of June 5, 2019, really
needs to be highlighted in every
aviation enthusiast’s diary. Marking
the 75th anniversary of D-Day, up to
40 Douglas DC-3 variants will take
to the air from Duxford in a stirring
recreation of that pivotal day in 1944.
The aircraft will fl y to Caen in
northern France, dropping around
300 parachutists over Normandy
before reaching their destination. It
will be possible to visit the aircraft
at both sites – tickets are likely to be
available from the end of May this
ye a r.
This extraordinary venture is being
organised by Daks Over Normandy,
a group of like-minded individualssupported by various partners and
sponsors. At the time of writing, 29
aircraft had already been confi rmed,
with around half fl ying in from the US.
“It’s one of the last anniversaries
veterans are likely to attend, and that
was one of the motivating factors for
us,” aerial co-ordinator Andrew Dixon
told FlyPast. “We started working on
this in 2016, because we knew what a
huge task it would be. Just getting the
aeroplanes here is one big challenge, and
then we have to co-ordinate everything
once they’ve arrived, and tie everything
in with the offi cial commemorations in
France.
“There’s been such a great passion
from all the owners and operators,including all of the many that are
coming from overseas. They’re paying
for themselves to get to Duxford. The
average American participant is having
to invest a serious amount of money just
to participate – but they’re determined
to do so. It clearly means a great deal to
everyone.”
The Daks Over Normandy event will
be held from June 2 to 5 at Duxford,
and from June 5 to 9 at Caen-
Carpiquet Airport. The locations were
chosen because of their facilities and
World War Two heritage. Visitors will be
able to see the aircraft up close and
mingle with the crews – though the
organisers emphasise that tickets are
not yet on sale.“Everyone’s been
so supportive,”
adds Andrew, “but
the biggest challenge,
which is obtaining the
almost £2 million budget, is yet
to come. I can see us ending up
with about 40 aircraft. There are
certainly another four or fi ve that
we know are coming, and there are
still more people we are talking to.
We originally said we’d aim for 35,
but to be honest I think we’re going
to exceed that.”
For more details, including the
latest participation list and ways to
support, see:
http://www.daksovernormandy.comDakotas over Normandy – once in a lifetime
aerial recreation planned for 2019
“Everyone’s beenthe biggest challenge,
which is obtaining theDC-3 variants OY-BPB, F-AZTE, LN-WND
and N74589. MICHAEL PROPHETDouglas C-47 Skytrains ‘Drag ‘em Oot’
N473DC and ‘Placid Lassie’ N74589 over
the Normandy beaches. LYLE JANSMA