The D-Day squadron, an update

The 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion on 6 June 2024 is rapidly approaching. The aerial commemorations around it have seen their kick-off in the United Kingdom on 31 May. On that day, the four Douglas Dakotas that have so far crossed the Atlantic took off for a trip from North Weald to Duxford.

The four US registered Daks, N47TB That’s All Brother, N8336C Spirit of Douglas, N33644 Western Air and N74589 Placid Lassie, were accompanied by Aero Legends C-47 G-ANAF Pegasus.

Other Dakotas that should have arrived from the US until now have not showed up. N150D Screaming Eagle is being held up in Narsarsuaq, Greenland, waiting for a meteorologically safe moment to continue its trip to Reykjavik, Iceland.

The second one that was expected, Commemorative Air Force owned Douglas R4D-6 N151ZE Ready-4-Duty, will unfortunately remain in the USA. It experienced a malfunction in the #2 engine while doing a formation flight over the Hudson River on 18 May. After careful examination an engine change was found necessary and Ready-4-Duty has remained at Oxford (CT) since then. The colleagues of The Tunison Foundation have even generously offered their spare engine to N151ZE. Despite this offer the CAF took the difficult decision to cancel their trip to Normandy.

Two British based Dakotas have not taken part in the commemorations either: N473DC Drag ‘m Oot had some engine snags too, while the restoration of N308SF Night Fright has not been finished in time.

Photo: Aviation Media