Air Force’s First ‘Social Media Reenactment’ of the D-Day Invasion

June 5, 2018 Moreno Aguiari Uncategorized 0
On the evening June 5 and the early morning of June 6, 2018, Joint Base Charleston will conduct a real-time historical reenactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 p.m., both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion is happening in real-time, as it did 74 year ago, through the eyes of their predecessors, the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups.


In an interesting ‘virtual’ re-enactment of the D-Day airborne operations over the night of June 5th/6th, 1944, Joint Base Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina will be conducting a real-time historical reenactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 pm EST (or midnight in England), both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion were happening in real-time, noting precisely the actions of their brethren from 1944, when they were known as the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups. “This is a great way for us to celebrate our heritage,” said Col. Jimmy Canlas, commander of the 437th Airlift Wing. “This project will give the public a glimpse of a day in the life of some real heroes that did what our nation needed them to do 74 years ago.”

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C-47 Skytrains of the 83rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 437th Troop Carrier Group. C47 No 42-100578 ‘WAGS WAGON’ so called as the first pilot was 1st Lt Frank W Wagoner (SN )-801350), possibly the man standing far left with hands in pocket. Commanded by Lt Wagoner the A/c participated in Mission Detroit the 437th’s initial glider tow into Normandy on June 6th 1944. Flying Formation Position 9, the Co-Pilot was FO Kenneth L A Gavin (SN T-122873), Navigator 2d Lt Ernest B Lampron (SN 0-1017653), Crew Chief T/Sgt Francis J Fallon (SN 37152383) and Radio Operator S/Sgt James W Rudd (SN 34447203). (image & caption via American Air Museum, Duxford)

During the D-Day invasion of June 5th/6th, the predecessors of today’s active duty 437th Airlift Wing flew from RAF Aldermaston in England. Their C-47 Skytrains towed troop-laden gliders over Normandy, France. Meanwhile, antecedents of the current Air Force Reserve’s 315th Airlift Wing flew C-47s from RAF Spanhoe, also in England, dropping paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division near St. Mere Eglise, France.

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Captain Richard Bettis, Sergeant Pappas and Warrant Officer Robert Barnes, all engineers of the 315th Troop Carrier Group with a CG-4A Glider. Image via William Brinson. Written on slide casing: ‘Spanhoe, Spring 1944, Cpt Dick Bettis, Sgt Pappas, W/O Barnes (Robt).’ (image via American Air Museum, Duxford)

Both wings will use their official social media to post real-time accounts and photos of events that unfolded for their respective units on D-Day. These perspectives will be drawn from historical and personal observations as well as the official histories of both wing. The “social media re-enactment” will start at 7 pm EST and run until 6:30 am the following morning. All historical posts will use the hashtag #DDayRemembered.

The 437th Airlift Wing can be found on Facebook and Twitter at 437AW and the 315th Airlift Wing can be found on Facebook and Twitter at 315AW.

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A total of 821 Troop Carrier C-47s took off at planned intervals from the above bases in England. They all passed over check point Bill of Portland at their assigned altitudes at their designated times in a long string headed toward Normandy. On the evening of June 5th and the early morning of June 6th, 2018, Joint Base Charleston will conduct a real-time historical reenactment of the D-Day invasion, solely on social media. Starting at 7 pm EST, both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings will start Facebook and Twitter posts as if the D-Day invasion were happening in real-time, much as it did 74 year ago, for their predecessors in the 437th and 315th Troop Carrier Groups. (U.S. Air Force Graphic)

Edited from Joint Base Charleston press release.

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Moreno-Aguiari
Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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About Moreno Aguiari 3383 Articles
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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