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'That's All... Brother' leading 'Betsy's Biscuit Bomber' into the Sannerville Drop Zone near Caen, France. A fleet of Douglas Transports re-enacted the paratroop drops over the D-Day Drop Zone on June 5th. (photo by Mike Killian)
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While we were able to present some fabulous photographs and video from the days leading up to the D-Day 75th Anniversary Celebrations yesterday, we have just received some marvelous images from the D-Day Squadron’s photographer, Mike Killian, depicting the trip over to France on June 5th, and the release of re-enactors in WWII era parachutes and uniforms over the Drop Zone in Sannerville, near the French port city of Caen, so central to the initial D-Day operations 75 years ago this week. Rather than do a full article on these events, we will let the pictures, along with their captions tell the story of the journey over from Duxford, England to their final destination at Caen-Carpiquet Airport. Many thanks indeed to Mike Killian for these dramatic images! We hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Mark Levy and Andy Wilson’s Harvard Mk.III flying over the British countryside soon after takeoff from Duxford. The aircraft escorted the fleet of Skytrains, Skytroopers, DC-3s and Dakotas across the English Channel to France. (photo by Mike Killian)
Mark Levy and Andy Wilson’s North American Harvard Mk.III decked out in ficticious D-Day markings joined the D-Day Squadron formation flight heading out to Normandy for the recreation of the parachute drop on June 5th, 2019. This aircraft was originally constructed as an AT-6D serial 41-33908, but diverted to Britain’s Royal Air Force as EX935. However, there are no records showing that it actually entered RAF service, but instead she flew with the South African Air Force, eventually receiving the serial (post war) of 7504. Following SAAF service, the aircraft joined the Portuguese Air Force as 1508. The aircraft first joined the civil register in England as G-BGOR in 1979 with Euroworld International Airlines Operations. (photo by Mike Killian)
The Museum of Mountain Flying’s ‘Miss Montana’ (C-47A-90-DL 43-15731) flying in the gloom on her way to France. (photo by Mike Killian)
The D-Day Squadron’s Legend Airways DC-3 (C-47-DL 42-32833) is shadowed by her far rarer wingman, a Hungarian registered Lisunov Li-2T, essentially a license-built Soviet variant of the Douglas DC-3. Not many of these aircraft still exist, and this is likely the only one still flying! (photo by Mike Killian)
‘That’s All… Brother’ with her jump door open on the parachute drop flight over France. Note the black tape over the doors hinges and protuberances aft of the door. This was likely put in place to limit the abrasive damage from trailing static line straps which would be flapping vigorously against the aircraft’s paintwork after the ‘paratrooper’ make their jump. (photo by Mike Killian)
D-Day veterans C-47 ‘Placid Lassie’ and C-53 ‘D-Day Doll’ flying in formation as they approach the Sannerville Drop Zone. (photo by Mike Killian)
‘That’s All… Brother’ leading ‘Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber’ into the Sannerville Drop Zone near Caen, France. A fleet of Douglas Transports re-enacted the paratroop drops over the D-Day Drop Zone on June 5th. (photo by Mike Killian)
‘Paratroopers’ dropping from Ace’s High’s Douglas Dakota ‘Mayfly’ over France. (photo by Mike Killian)
Mayfly and Placid Lassie dropping ‘paratroopers’ over one of the D-Day Drop Zones in France. (photo by Mike Killian)
Another great shot of the paratroopers exiting Placid Lassie. Note the static line straps trailing from the exit door from the half dozen or so paratroopers who’ve already departed the aircraft. (photo by Mike Killian)
Some of the paratrooper re-enactors exiting Placid Lassie over France. (photo by Mike Killian)
A perfect illustration of the initial stages of parachute deployment as the re-enactors exit Placid Lassie over the Sannerville Drop Zone in rapid succession. (photo by Mike Killian)
‘That’s All… Brother’ banking over the French farmland while other C-47s release their ‘paratroopers’ over the Sannerville Drop Zone in the background. (photo by Mike Killian)
Back at higher altitude now following her delivery run, ‘That’s All… Brother’ is framed against another flight of C-47s releasing their ‘paratroopers’. Note that the aircrew has pulled the static line straps back inside the fuselage to prevent them causing any further paintwork damage, or from catching on the runway during the landing. (photo by Mike Killian)
‘That’s All… Brother’ banking over the drop zone. Note the static line straps trailing from the open door signifying that her ‘paratroopers’ have already exited the aircraft. Below, you can see many of the public onlookers crowding the roads. (photo by Mike Killian)
A flight of C-47s over France. Note the heavy cloud. This got much worse in the coming days as bad weather from Storm Miguel approached the region. (photo by Mike Killian)
The CAF’s C-53-DO Skytrooper 42-68830 D-Day Doll releasing her stick of ‘paratroopers’. (photo by Mike Killian)
Another shot of the C-47s with ‘paratroopers’ floating to the ground below them. (photo by Mike Killian)
Placid Lassie cruising along after her drop while another C-47 turns for her landing at Caen-Carpiquet Airport in the background. (photo by Mike Killian)
Here is a nice video of the take off from Duxford Aerodrome as well!
… and the view from the ground at the DZ in Sannerville, France.
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
