The Commemorative Air Force has just announced that their Douglas C-47 Dakota That’s All, Brother, the aircraft which led a formation of more than 800 C-47s to Normandy to drop paratroopers on D-Day, will take its first post-restoration flight on January 31st, 2018, at 1 p.m. CST in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Their press release continues as below…
After a far-reaching fundraising campaign, supporters made it possible for the CAF to acquire and begin an unprecedented restoration with the goal to authentically restore That’s All, Brother to its original D-Day configuration. It was known early on that the restoration would be massive, due to extensive corrosion. Nearly every inch of That’s All, Brother would need to be restored to full functionality as it was in 1944, in order to permit the aircraft to fly again. A project of this scale never before seen with a C-47 restoration would take a tremendous amount of dedication from a team of mechanics, historians, technicians and CAF volunteers.
“We estimate that we have put more than 22,000 hours into this restoration project so far and the work continues. Thanks to the financial support of over 3,000 individuals and organizations, and an extraordinary group of volunteers, we have been able to achieve this great milestone with the first flight,” said Bob Stenevik, the CAF President/CEO. “Much of the work up until this point has been carried out by Basler Turbo Conversions in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Their skilled employees have unparalleled knowledge of C-47-type aircraft, and have been a major resource, accelerating the early stages of the restoration considerably. The aircraft, once flying, will become a valuable tool for our organization, helping to tell the story of D-Day and the great efforts and sacrifices made on the shores of Normandy.”
Once initial flight operations are complete, That’s All, Brother will head to its new home in San Marcos, Texas. There it will be assigned to the CAF Central Texas Wing, where volunteers will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the aircraft.
In June 2019, That’s All, Brother will participate in the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, flying along with several other World War II aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean to Duxford, England, and then to Normandy, France. “The first flight represents the successful completion of the first phase of our ambitious plan for the C-47 That’s All, Brother’s return to Normandy in 2019, and it is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved in this historic project,” said Central Texas Wing Leader Joe Enzminger. “The Wing is excited to have the aircraft arrive at its new home in San Marcos, and we look forward to the challenge of completing the mission. The next steps are interior and detail work in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and restoring the aircraft exterior to its 1944 appearance.”
Live footage of the first flight is set to be broadcasted via Facebook on January 31, 2018 at 1 p.m. CST. Many determining factors such as maintenance preparation or weather may adjust the date/time of the flight. To receive the most updated information and notifications, please click and follow www.facebook.com/thatsallbrother.
About The CAF Central Texas Wing:
The Central Texas Wing is a unit of the Commemorative Air Force based at San Marcos Regional Airport in Texas. This group of dedicated volunteers strives to keep American aviation history alive so others can see, hear, touch, and smell what the Greatest Generation did for humanity during the crucial days of World War II. Visit https://www.centraltexaswing.org for more information.
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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