D-Day Veteran C-47 to Fly at Warbirds Over the Beach

(photo by Alan Wilson via Wikimedia)


As we mentioned in August, the Military Aviation Museum in Pungo, Virginia will be holding their Warbirds Over the Beach Air Show over the weekend of October 2nd and 3rd, 2021. The event, one of the best warbird shows on the entire U.S. east coast, is always a major draw… Indeed, as the museum itself states: “There are only a handful of air shows in the world that feature the rare and historic aircraft that the Military Aviation Museum maintains in our collection.”

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The show usually features aircraft from further afield as well, and this year will be no different, with a particularly special visitor taking part, the Tunison Foundation’s Douglas C-47A-40-DL 42-24064, better known as Placid Lassie. This combat veteran Skytrain saw a lot of action during WWII, participating in most of the major Allied airborne operations over Europe, including Operation Neptune (June 6, 1944 – Normandy Invasion), Operation Market Garden (September 17-25, 1944 – Netherlands), Operation Repulse (Dec. 23-25, 1944 – Relief of Bastogne during Battle of the Bulge), and Operation Varsity (March 23, 1945 – Crossing the Rhine). Placid Lassie will be open over the weekend for cockpit tours as well…

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A gorgeous study of the D-Day veteran C-47 Skytrain, Placid Lassie. (photo by Rich Cooper/COAP)

Warbirds Over the Beach is also the Military Aviation Museum’s most important fundraiser, with its revenue helping maintain the facility and expand its educational programming. Unusually for this particular event, aircraft from the museum’s ultra-rare World War I collection of original and replica biplanes and triplanes will fly at the show. Furthermore, nearly every flying example within their significant fleet of WWII fighters, bombers, amphibians, and trainers will take to the skies over the weekend.

For a prime view of the show, this year, the museum will have a VIP Chalet. Chalet guests enjoy admission to the show, front line access to the flight line, shaded view of the air show, pilot meet & greet, chairs, free water, and snacks. Seats within the VIP Chalet are only available via pre-purchase through September 26th. However, Chalet ticket sales  have been particularly brisk, and may run out soon… so get ’em while their hot, as the saying goes! Early-bird tickets to the show itself are still available at discount prices through September 26th HERE.

In addition to the above mentioned details, other features at Warbirds Over the Beach will include…
  • An original WWII Sherman Tank rip roaring in action
  • New Kid’s Exploration Station with fun, hands-on activities
  • We drop the ropes each morning so you can get up close to your favorite planes
  • The swinging sounds of the Grace Street Seven, the beautiful voice of Theresa Eaman and the crooning of Frank Sings Frank
  • A new sound system throughout the show grounds and a special guest announcer from EAA AirVenture
  • Living History Encampment with reenactors showcasing their uniforms and arms
  • Food & merchandise vendors and plenty of parking

Given the multitude of activities, sights and sounds to witness and be a part of, Warbirds Over the Beach will provide something of everything for the whole family to enjoy!

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The Military Aviation Museum’s annual air show, Warbirds Over the Beach, has been rescheduled to take place over the weekend of October 2-4, 2020. The museum’s Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX, pictured here, will be one of the star attractions, as always! (photo by Richard Mallory Allnutt)

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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.

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About Richard Mallory Allnutt (Chief Editor) 1060 Articles
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.

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