In the early hours of June 5-6, 1944, more than 13,000 American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions boarded C-47 Skytrain transports and took off from England, bound for Normandy. The airborne assault that preceded the D-Day beach landings was one of the most dramatic aviation operations in history.
The transport pilots of the Troop Carrier Command flew through intense anti-aircraft fire, cloud, and darkness to drop their paratroopers over occupied France. Many aircraft were hit. Formations scattered in the clouds. Paratroopers were dropped miles from their intended drop zones — but they fought anyway, and their scattered presence actually confused the German defenders.
The C-47 Skytrain — the military version of the Douglas DC-3 — was the workhorse of this operation. Unglamorous, unpressurized, and unarmed, the C-47 carried paratroopers, towed gliders, and hauled supplies throughout the war. Over 10,000 were built, and many are still flying today. It is arguably the most important transport aircraft in history.
The glider pilots who flew the CG-4A Waco gliders into Normandy have their own heroic story. They delivered troops and equipment to the battlefield with no engine, no second chance, and often under fire — then picked up a rifle and fought alongside the paratroopers they had just delivered.
The night before D-Day, the sky was filled with C-47s and brave men. At Cleared4Tees, we honor every aviator who flew that mission.
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Blue skies and tailwinds — The Cleared4Tees Crew ✈️
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